Top 6 Free Keyword Research Tools That Reddit Says Outperform Paid Options for Small Sites (Soovle, Surfer alternatives)

In the fast-paced world of SEO, small website owners constantly search for tools that deliver results without burning a hole in their wallets. For those starting off or operating on a tight budget, expensive subscriptions to premium platforms like Ahrefs, SEMrush, or Surfer aren’t always feasible. That’s why a growing number of Redditors—arguably some of the most brutally honest users on the internet—have been vocal about their go-to free keyword research tools that offer surprisingly powerful features, especially for smaller websites.

TL;DR

If you’re running a small site and overwhelmed by the steep prices of paid SEO tools, you’re not alone. Reddit users swear by several free keyword research tools that provide real value without costing a dime. This article highlights six of the most frequently recommended free tools, including Soovle and Ubersuggest, that are perfect for uncovering niche keyword opportunities. Bonus: many of these tools require no registration and are incredibly beginner-friendly!

1. Soovle — Simple, Fast, and Highly Visual

Soovle is a crowd-favorite on Reddit, mainly for its simplicity and speed. It aggregates keyword suggestions from several platforms including Google, Bing, YouTube, Amazon, and more, providing a quick glance at what people are searching for across different engines.

• Pros: Lightning-fast results; no registration required.
• Cons: No search volume data or competitiveness metrics.

This tool is ideal for brainstorming content ideas quickly and comparing what various platforms prioritize in search autocompletions.

Best For: Bloggers, affiliate marketers, and niche site owners looking to validate content ideas fast.

2. Google Keyword Planner — A Classic That Still Works

Despite being originally intended for advertisers, Reddit users frequently mention Google Keyword Planner as a solid free choice. With a Google Ads account (free to make), you gain access to keyword suggestions straight from the source—Google itself.

• Pros: Reliable data, raw search volume estimates, and helpful filters.
• Cons: Data ranges are broad unless you run actual ad campaigns.

While the interface is built with advertisers in mind, small site owners can use this tool effectively to identify lucrative keywords and gauge interest levels.

Reddit Tip: Combine Keyword Planner with Google Trends to understand seasonality and trending queries more clearly.

3. Keyword Surfer — A Chrome Extension That Delivers

Yes, it’s different from Surfer SEO, but Keyword Surfer is an incredible free Chrome extension that shows keyword suggestions and volumes directly in your Google search results.

• Pros: Instant keyword data, extremely intuitive, and fast.
• Cons: Limited functionality compared to its paid sibling Surfer SEO.

For many on Reddit, Keyword Surfer serves as a replacement or lighter alternative to Surfer SEO’s full suite. It’s perfect for checking competition and generating content ideas on-the-fly.

Pro Tip: Use it in tandem with other tools like Soovle or AnswerThePublic for richer results.

4. Ubersuggest — Free Tier With Premium Power

Owned by SEO guru Neil Patel, Ubersuggest often gets shout-outs on Reddit for offering surprisingly deep features even in its free version. With a few searches per day (without needing a subscription), it delivers keyword suggestions, SERP analysis, and content ideas.

• Pros: Excellent data quality; great UI for beginners.
• Cons: Daily search limits; upselling toward premium plans.

It’s especially useful for identifying low-competition keywords and understanding backlink opportunities, making it ideal for small blogs and affiliate sites.

Redditor Take: “It’s like a budget-friendly Ahrefs for people who know what they’re doing.”

5. AnswerThePublic — What Are Users Really Asking?

Another strong recommendation from Redditors is AnswerThePublic, which visualizes questions, comparisons, and near-related queries based on a single keyword input. It’s all based on autocomplete data—making it ideal for long-tail keyword discovery.

• Pros: Excellent for content ideation; beautiful data visualization.
• Cons: Limited free searches per day (unless you go pro).

This tool shines for bloggers focused on building topical authority and answering user-specific questions via well-researched posts.

Best Use-Case: Creating FAQ sections or structured blog content that targets user intent in-depth.

6. AlsoAsked — Build Smarter Topic Clusters

Not as well-known as the others but quickly gaining traction on Reddit, AlsoAsked scrapes Google’s “People Also Ask” feature and builds nested visual maps that are perfect for outlining content clusters.

• Pros: Helps you understand how questions are connected through user intent.
• Cons: Limited free searches per month (they reset daily).

It’s perfect for those focusing on semantic SEO and wanting to strengthen their topical relevance without investing in full-scale SEO suites.

Note: Use it alongside AnswerThePublic for 360-degree insights.

Why Redditors Prefer These Tools for Small Sites

So, why do these six tools get so much love on subreddits like r/SEO, r/bigseo, and r/juststart? Here are a few reasons:

• No cost barrier: Most tools require zero payments or accounts to start using.
• Quick learning curve: You don’t need to be an SEO expert to benefit.
• Use-case flexibility: From idea generation to content structuring, these tools offer practical value at every stage of content strategy.
• Complementarity: Many users combine multiple free tools to replicate the functions of paid platforms.

Combining Tools for Maximum Impact

Some of the best advice from Reddit threads revolves around combining two or more of these tools in a workflow to make up for individual shortcomings. For instance:

• Start with Soovle to brainstorm broad ideas.
• Use AnswerThePublic to dive into questions and subtopics.
• Verify keyword data using Ubersuggest or Keyword Surfer.
• Structure your pages with insight from AlsoAsked.

This layered approach can replicate the outcomes of tools like Surfer SEO or Ahrefs without the hefty monthly fees.

Final Thoughts

If you’re a small site owner or blogger just starting out, the arsenal of free keyword tools mentioned above—championed across Reddit—can help you gain traction without spending a dime. While you might eventually graduate to paid platforms as your site scales, these tools are more than enough to get your SEO strategy moving and start showing up in the SERPs.

Take the Reddit route: test, combine, and iterate. Sometimes the best results don’t come with a price tag!