What is YouTube Keyword Research?
Keyword research means knowing what your viewers are searching for. Thats why its one of the best ways to get consistent views for your videos on YouTube. Thats where tools like Ahrefs Keyword Tool come in handy.
What is the Ahrefs YouTube Keyword Tool?
Ahrefs YouTube Keywords Tool is a feature within the Ahrefs SEO platform that provides valuable insights into YouTube keyword research. It allows YouTube creators to discover relevant keywords, analyze search volume and get competition insights to optimize their video content.
⚠️ Currently the Ahrefs YouTube Keyword Tool is under maintenance and is not usable.
Ranking of Free and Paid YouTube Keyword Tools in 2026
Tools are ranked based on a combination of pricing, data depth, creator relevance, and accessibility for new YouTube creators.
| Keyword Tool | Monthly Price | Search Volume | Competition | Profitability | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| - | Ahrefs | - | - | - | - |
| 1. | KeywordsRocket | Free | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| 2. | RyRob | Free | ✅ | - | - |
| 3. | TubeRanker | $9.9/Month | ✅ | - | - |
| 4. | VidIQ | $19.9/Month | ✅ | ✅ | - |
| 5. | Sitechecker | $79/Month | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| 6. | KeywordTool.io | $89/Month | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
Note: In some cases the following tools offer free plans but only with limited results. Because these tools, who offer paid plans for the Keyword Tools, often only include a limited number of keyword searches, we ranked them for transparency as paid tools.
How we define Search Volume
Search Volume indicates how often a keyword is searched for on YouTube. This helps creators estimate potential reach before producing a video.
How we define Competition
Competition measures how difficult it is to rank for a keyword on YouTube. We evaluate the number and strength of existing videos, channel authority, and typical view performance, focusing on whether smaller or newer channels can realistically compete.
How we define Profitability
Profitability reflects whether a tool helps identify keywords with monetization potential, advertiser intent, and realistic competition for small to mid-size YouTube channels.
Why is the Ahrefs YouTube Keyword Research unaivailable?
Currently the Ahrefs YouTube Keyword Tool is under maintenance and is not usable, and some reports suggest it is no longer actively supported in its previous form. Ahrefs has not provided a clear timeline for when or if the tool will be fully operational again.
Furthermore, Ahrefs Keyword Tool only provides limited data, whereas the paid Ahrefs Keyword Explorer falls under normal pricing terms.
How much does the Ahrefs Keyword Explorer cost?
To understand the pricing of the Ahrefs YouTube Keyword Tool, you need to look at the pricing of the Ahrefs SEO platform. Unlike dedicated YouTube Tools, Ahrefs does not offer a standalone plan for YouTube keyword research. Instead, access to the YouTube Keyword Tool is included as part of their overall SEO platform subscription.
| Tool | Monthly Price | Yearly Price | YouTube Keywords |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ahrefs | $29/month | $249/year | Limited searches |
| KeywordsRocket | $12/month | $99/year | Unlimited searches |
| OutlierKit | $29/month | $199/year | 100 keyword searches |
| VidIQ | $19/month | $199/year | Unlimited searches |
Note: With an Ahrefs subscription, you will basically get access to an entire SEO suite, most of which is not relevant for YouTube creators. Dedicated YouTube Tools offer more features for a fraction of the price. The Starter plan at $29/month is 2.5x the cost of dedicated YouTube tools like KeywordsRocket ($11,99/month).