To find the search volume of a keyword for free, enter it in Google Keyword Planner (inside a Google Ads account) and read Avg. monthly searches for your country. Then check Google Trends for seasonality and your own Search Console impressions for real demand, because Keyword Planner's figures are averages and Trends shows only relative interest, not counts.
Three free sources, three different questions. Keyword Planner answers 'roughly how many searches a month?' Trends answers 'is interest rising, falling or seasonal?' Search Console answers 'how often did my site appear for it?' Use all three and you'll make far better calls than any single number allows, and you won't need to pay for a tool to get started.
Method 1: Google Keyword Planner
- Sign in to Google Ads. You'll need an account, though you don't have to run a campaign to open the tool.
- Open Keyword Planner from the tools menu, then choose 'Get search volume and forecasts'.
- Paste your keywords, one per line.
- Set the location and language at the top. Volume is per market.
- Choose the date range. The default is the last 12 months.
- Read Avg. monthly searches in the Historical metrics view.
Google's help page defines Avg. monthly searches as the average number of times people searched for a keyword and its close variants, based on the month range, location and network settings you chose. It also says historical stats like average monthly searches are shown for exact matches only. Accounts with little or no ad spend often see broad ranges rather than precise figures, which is why many people pair Keyword Planner with another tool.
What the other Keyword Planner columns mean
| Column | What Google says it means | Useful for SEO? |
|---|---|---|
| Avg. monthly searches | Average searches for the keyword and close variants over your chosen months | Yes, as a rough guide |
| Competition | How many advertisers showed on the keyword relative to all keywords | No: it's about ads, not organic difficulty |
| Top of page bid (low range) | Roughly the 20th percentile of what advertisers paid for a top-of-page bid | Indirectly: high bids hint at commercial value |
| Top of page bid (high range) | Roughly the 80th percentile of those bids | Indirectly, as above |
Google adds that bid range statistics come from the last 30 days, and that forecasts take bid, budget and seasonality into account while search volume statistics don't.
Method 2: Google Trends
Trends won't give you a number of searches. Google's help page explains that it uses a sample of searches, divides each data point by the total searches for that place and time, and then scales the result from 0 to 100. A 100 is the peak of interest for what you've selected, not a hundred searches.
That makes Trends perfect for three jobs: spotting seasonality (when to publish), comparing two phrasings (which wording people use) and checking whether a topic is growing or dying before you invest in it. Google suggests comparing a term with a common search such as a type of food or the weather to get a sense of scale.
Method 3: your own Search Console data
If your site already appears for a keyword, Search Console's Performance report shows the impressions: how many times your site appeared in results for that query. It isn't total search volume, because you don't appear for every search, but it's measured, not modelled, and it's specific to your market. Sort the Queries tab by impressions to find demand you didn't know you had.
Method 4: third-party keyword tools
Tools such as Semrush, Ahrefs, Mangools, Ubersuggest and Keywords Everywhere publish their own volume estimates, built from clickstream panels, Google data and their own models. They're convenient and give precise-looking numbers, but they're still estimates and they often disagree. Pick one, use it consistently and treat differences between tools as normal. My comparisons of Google Keyword Planner alternatives and Keywords Everywhere alternatives cover the free and low-cost options.
How to read search volume sensibly
- Check the right country. A keyword with big global volume might have very little in the market you sell to, so always set the location first.
- Group close variants. 'how to check website traffic' and 'how to see website traffic' are one topic, so add them up.
- Look at the trend, not just the average. A seasonal keyword can have most of its searches in a few weeks of the year.
- Remember SERP features. High volume means little if an AI Overview or a big brand takes most of the clicks.
- Value intent over size. A few hundred searches from buyers can beat thousands from browsers, every single month.
Low or zero volume isn't always a no
Many tools show zero for new or very specific searches that real people type every day. If a customer asks you a question, someone else is probably searching it. Long, specific searches often convert better precisely because they're specific. Check your own Search Console impressions and Trends before writing a topic off. For spotting rising topics early, my list of Google Trends alternatives is a good next step.
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My verdict
Use Keyword Planner for a rough size, Trends for timing and direction, and Search Console for proof of real demand on your own site. Treat every volume figure as a range, add up close variants, and choose topics on intent first and volume second.
Frequently asked questions
How can I find the search volume of a keyword for free?
Use Google Keyword Planner in a free Google Ads account and read Avg. monthly searches. Check Google Trends for seasonality and Search Console for your own impressions.
Is Keyword Planner search volume accurate?
It's an average for the keyword and close variants over the months you choose, and Google says historical stats are shown for exact matches only. Treat it as a guide.
Does Google Trends show search volume?
No. Google says Trends data is sampled, normalised and scaled from 0 to 100, so it shows relative interest, not the number of searches.
What does Competition mean in Keyword Planner?
It's how many advertisers showed on the keyword relative to all keywords. It's about paid ads, not organic ranking difficulty.
Should I ignore keywords with zero search volume?
Not automatically. Tools often miss new or very specific searches. Check your Search Console impressions and Google Trends first.
