How to Find Competitors' Keywords for Free

Want to outrank your competitors but don’t have a big budget? You don’t need expensive tools to spy on their SEO strategy. Here’s how to find competitors’ keywords for free.

1. Use Google’s ‘People Also Ask’ & ‘Related Searches’

Search for your competitor’s primary keyword. Scroll down to the ‘People Also Ask’ and ‘Related Searches’ sections. These reveal long-tail queries Google associates with their content.

2. Analyze Competitor Content Manually

Visit their blog or product pages. Look for:

• Repeated phrases in headings
• Bolded/italicized terms
• Image alt text
• URL slugs

3. Leverage Ubersuggest’s Free Plan

Enter competitor URLs in Ubersuggest’s ‘Traffic Analyzer.’ Their free tier shows:

• Top organic keywords
• Monthly search volume
• Difficulty scores

4. Try AnswerThePublic for Question-Based Keywords

This visual tool reveals what people ask about any topic. Enter competitor brand names or niche terms to find question keywords they might be targeting.

5. Use Google Ads Transparency Center

Search competitor domains to see their active ad campaigns. The keywords they bid on often overlap with organic targets.

6. Check ‘Searches Related to’ at Google’s Bottom

After searching a competitor’s main keyword, scroll to the very bottom of Google’s results page for additional keyword ideas.

7. Analyze Their YouTube Video Tags

Right-click on competitor YouTube videos and select ‘View Page Source.’ Search for ‘keywords’ to find their video tags—many match their SEO strategy.

8. Use SERP Simulator Tools

Tools like SERPSim show keyword variations for any URL. While limited in free versions, they can reveal valuable long-tail opportunities.

9. Monitor Their Social Media Hashtags

Competitors often use keyword-rich hashtags on Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn that mirror their SEO targets.

10. Google Autocomplete & ‘People Also Search For’

Start typing competitor brand names or niche terms. Google’s suggestions reflect popular searches. Click results to trigger the ‘People also search for’ box with more keywords.

Pro Tip: Combine these methods in a spreadsheet to identify patterns. Focus on keywords with decent traffic (100+ monthly searches) and low difficulty (under 30) for quick wins.

Remember: Competitor keywords are just one piece of SEO. Always analyze search intent before creating content. Now you’re ready to uncover valuable keywords—without spending a cent!