Guide · 9 min · Updated 20/05/2026
Keyword research tools 2026: which to actually pay for
Ahrefs vs Semrush vs Sistrix vs Keywords Everywhere — and what each misses.
Ahrefs — best UX, expensive
Best link data, cleanest UI, accurate KD score. Limited free tier; budget £99–£449/month.
Semrush — broadest dataset, busy UI
Broader keyword universe than Ahrefs for many markets. Position-tracking included. Budget £119–£429/month.
Sistrix — best for European markets
Strongest data for German, French, Italian, Spanish SERPs. Underrated for UK + EU work.
Free / low-cost alternatives
Google Keyword Planner (with caveats), Keywords Everywhere ($10 credit packs), AnswerThePublic for question discovery, Search Console for what's already ranking.
Common questions
Do I need both Ahrefs and Semrush?
Usually no. Pick one based on whether link analysis (Ahrefs) or rank tracking (Semrush) is your higher-volume use case.