Google Keyword Planner

What Google Keyword Planner is

Google Keyword Planner is a free tool for advertisers planning Search campaigns. It helps find keyword ideas related to a business’s products, services, or website, then estimates monthly searches and the average cost for an ad to appear on searches for each keyword. Users can start with entered terms or a website, or upload a keyword list in CSV format. The tool can filter and categorize ideas and arrange them into ad groups; ad group organization is available in English only. A forecast estimates clicks, impressions, or conversions from planned spend. Forecasts update daily, using the previous 7–10 days of data with seasonal adjustments, and can be downloaded or shared by enabling access to the plan. The tool is available on the web and through an API, and its listed capabilities include search volume data, keyword difficulty, and competitor keywords. Accessing basic features such as keyword ideas requires completing Google Ads account setup and entering billing information. Keywords may contain up to 80 characters and 10 words. Very low-volume terms and terms in sensitive categories may not be discoverable or forecastable. Google Ads Help provides a contact option and a help community.

Who it suits

It suits advertisers researching terms for Search campaigns who want keyword ideas, monthly search estimates, and cost estimates. It can also help people compare forecasted clicks, impressions, or conversions against planned spend, provided they complete Google Ads account setup and enter billing information.

Limits

The free resource requires completed Google Ads account setup and billing information for basic keyword suggestions. Very low-volume and sensitive-category keywords may be unavailable for discovery or forecasting; ad group organization is limited to English.

Getting started

1. Open the Google Keyword Planner website.
2. Complete Google Ads account setup and enter billing information.
3. Enter keywords or a website, or upload a keyword list as a CSV.
4. Filter and categorize ideas, then organize keywords into ad groups if needed.
5. Build a plan forecast and download it or enable access to share the plan.

Verdict

Choose Google Keyword Planner if you need keyword ideas and Search campaign estimates in a free tool. It can also forecast outcomes from planned spend. Look elsewhere if you need guaranteed discovery or forecasts for very low-volume or sensitive-category keywords.