What is the best free YouTube keyword research tool?

OutSpotYT offers a free YouTube keyword research tool that provides difficulty scores, trend analysis, and estimated search volumes — all without requiring an account. Unlike paid tools like vidIQ ($19-49/mo) or TubeBuddy ($9-49/mo), our basic keyword tool is completely free with no signup required.

How do I find low competition keywords for YouTube?

Enter a broad topic into our keyword tool and look for suggestions with an "Easy" difficulty rating (green badge). Long-tail keywords with 4+ words, question-based keywords (how to, what is), and niche-specific terms typically have lower competition. Our tool scores each keyword from 1-10, so you can quickly identify the easiest opportunities.

How to find trending topics on YouTube for free?

Our tool shows the trend direction (rising, stable, or declining) for each keyword suggestion. Look for keywords with a rising trend indicator and high estimated volume — these represent growing topics with increasing search interest. You can also check our trending keywords section for curated lists updated daily.

What is an outlier video and why does it matter?

An outlier video is one that significantly outperforms its channel average views. For example, if a channel typically gets 5,000 views but one video gets 500,000, that video is a 100x outlier. Outlier videos reveal topics and formats that resonate with audiences — studying them helps you create content more likely to go viral.

Is this tool really free? Do I need to sign up?

Yes, the keyword research tool is truly free and requires no account to use. You get the top 5 keyword results with difficulty scores, trends, and volume estimates. To unlock all 20+ results and access advanced features like outlier detection and AI analysis, you can sign up for a free account or upgrade to a paid plan starting at $9.99/month.

How accurate is YouTube keyword search volume data?

Our volume estimates are algorithmically generated using YouTube autocomplete signals and trend analysis. They provide relative comparisons between keywords (e.g., "gaming setup" has higher volume than "gaming desk cable management") rather than exact monthly search counts. YouTube does not publicly share exact search volumes, so all keyword tools use estimation methods.

What's the difference between OutSpotYT and vidIQ/TubeBuddy?

OutSpotYT focuses on outlier detection and AI-powered video analysis at 60-70% lower cost. Our Plus plan ($9.99/mo) includes unlimited keyword research, AI analysis, and outlier detection. vidIQ Boost costs $19/mo and Pro costs $49/mo. TubeBuddy Pro costs $9/mo with limited features. OutSpotYT also offers unique features like Brain Dump analysis and AI thumbnail generation.

How do I optimize my YouTube videos for search?

Start by researching keywords with our free tool to find topics with low competition and rising trends. Use your target keyword in the video title (front-loaded), description (first 2-3 sentences), and tags. Create an engaging thumbnail and write a compelling title that includes your keyword naturally. Our paid plans offer AI-powered title analysis and thumbnail scoring to further optimize your content.

Free YouTube Keyword Research Tool

Find Trending Keywords & Low Competition Topics for Your YouTube Videos

Discover what people are searching for on YouTube. Get difficulty scores, trend data, and volume estimates — completely free.

100% Free

No Account Required

Updated Daily

Try a search:

How It Works

Research YouTube keywords in three simple steps

Step 1

Enter Your Topic

Type any topic, niche, or keyword idea into the search bar.

Step 2

Analyze Results

Review difficulty scores, trend directions, and estimated search volumes.

Step 3

Find Your Keywords

Pick low competition keywords with rising trends for your next video.

Why Use Our YouTube Keyword Tool

Everything you need to find the right keywords for your YouTube videos

Difficulty Scoring

Every keyword rated 1-10 with easy/medium/hard labels so you know what to target.

Trend Analysis

See if a keyword is rising, stable, or declining to time your content.

Volume Estimates

Approximate search volume ranges to prioritize high-demand keywords.

Real YouTube Data

Suggestions powered by YouTube autocomplete — what real people search for.

No Account Needed

Use the basic tool immediately. No signup, no email, no credit card.

60-70% Cheaper

Full features start at $9.99/mo vs $29-49/mo for vidIQ and TubeBuddy.

Save 60-70% vs Competitors

Get keyword research, outlier detection, and AI analysis at a fraction of the cost.

vidIQ Pro

$49/mo

1of10 Pro

$29/mo

OutSpotYT

$9.99

See full pricing comparison →

YouTube Keyword Research FAQ

Common questions about YouTube keyword research and our free tool

Ready to Take Your YouTube Research Further?

Unlock unlimited keyword research, outlier detection, AI video analysis, and more.

No credit card required