Keyword Difficulty Estimator
This free keyword difficulty checker runs in your browser, with no sign-up. Estimate how hard a keyword is to rank for without a paid tool. Search the keyword, look at the top 10 results, answer a few questions, and get a difficulty score with advice.
How to estimate keyword difficulty
- Search your keyword on Google in a private window, from your target city if it is local.
- Look at the top 10 organic results and count each type.
- Note the ads, map pack and featured snippet.
- Enter the counts and read the score and advice.
Signs a keyword is easier
| Easier | Harder |
|---|---|
| Forums and Quora in the top 10 | Big brands and portals everywhere |
| Small local sites ranking | Every result has the exact keyword in the title |
| Old or thin pages ranking | Deep, recently updated guides |
| Few or no ads | Many ads, meaning high commercial value |
Paid tools vs manual checks
Paid SEO tools estimate difficulty from backlink data, and each tool gives a different number. A manual look at the real results often tells you more about intent and quality. For local businesses, the map pack and your Google Business Profile can matter more than any difficulty score.
Related tools
Find easier variations with the long-tail keyword generator, check intent with the search intent checker, and preview your result with the SERP preview tool.
More free tools and guides
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is this keyword difficulty estimator free?
Yes. It is free with no sign-up and works in your browser.
Is this as accurate as Ahrefs or Semrush?
It works differently. Paid tools use backlink data; this uses what you see in the real results. Both are estimates.
What difficulty should a new site target?
Mostly easy and moderate keywords, often long-tail and local, until the site builds authority.
Why does my site type change the score?
The same keyword is harder for a new site than for an established one with content and links in that topic.