Tools /
Free Keyword Difficulty
Checker
Discover how hard it is to rank for any keyword. Get instant insights on competition, search volume, CPC, and actionable recommendations — completely free.
What is Keyword Difficulty in SEO?
Keyword difficulty is a metric that estimates how hard it would be to rank in the top 10 search results for a specific keyword. In SEO, keyword difficulty meaning is simple: it's a score from 0 to 100 that reflects competition level. Higher numbers mean more established sites are competing for that term.
The score takes into account the authority of currently ranking pages, the number and quality of backlinks they have, and the overall competitiveness of the search results. A keyword with a difficulty of 20 is something a new website could rank for within weeks. A keyword at 80+ typically requires a well-established domain with years of authority.
The Keyword Difficulty Scale: What is a Good Keyword Difficulty?
Understanding the keyword difficulty scale helps you set realistic expectations. Not every keyword is worth pursuing — what's a good keyword difficulty depends on your website's age, authority, and backlink profile.
Easy
New websites and blogs can rank here. Focus on quality content and basic on-page SEO. These are low competition keywords ideal for quick wins.
Medium
Requires solid content and some backlinks. Sites with 6+ months of age and existing organic traffic can realistically compete here.
Hard
Competitive territory. You'll need high-quality content, a strong backlink profile, and established domain authority to break into the top 10.
Very Hard
Dominated by major brands and authoritative domains. Only attempt these with a well-established site and a long-term content strategy.
How is Keyword Difficulty Calculated?
Keyword difficulty is calculated by analyzing the top-ranking pages for a given search term. The primary factors include the number and quality of backlinks pointing to those pages, the domain authority of ranking sites, and the overall keyword competition score for that term.
Backlink strength is the biggest factor. If the top 10 results all have hundreds of referring domains, it signals that you'll need significant link-building effort to compete.
Our opportunity score goes a step further by combining difficulty with search volume. A keyword with 10,000 monthly searches and difficulty 25 has a much higher opportunity score than one with 100 searches and difficulty 15. This helps you find the best balance between effort and reward.
How to Find Low Competition Keywords
Finding low competition keywords is the fastest way to grow organic traffic, especially for newer websites. A low competition keyword typically has a difficulty score under 30 with decent search volume (100+ monthly searches).
Start with long-tail keywords. Instead of targeting "email marketing," try "email marketing for dentists" or "email marketing automation for small business." These longer phrases have less competition and more specific intent.
Check the related keywords section. After analyzing your primary keyword, look at the related suggestions. Often you'll find variations with significantly lower difficulty that still drive meaningful traffic.
Look for question-based keywords. Queries starting with "how to," "what is," and "why does" frequently have lower competition because they target informational intent rather than commercial.
Low Competition Keyword Checklist
Common Mistakes When Choosing Keywords
Only looking at search volume. High volume means nothing if you can't rank. A keyword with 50,000 monthly searches and a difficulty of 90 will bring you zero traffic if you're on page 5. A keyword with 500 searches and difficulty 15 can bring consistent, targeted visitors.
Ignoring search intent. A keyword like "best CRM software" has transactional intent — people want to buy. "What is CRM" is informational. Make sure your content type matches what searchers expect to find.
Targeting only easy keywords. While low-difficulty keywords are great for quick wins, building long-term authority requires gradually moving up to more competitive terms as your site grows.
Not considering keyword clusters. Instead of targeting individual keywords in isolation, group related terms together. One comprehensive article can rank for dozens of related keywords simultaneously.
Why Use a Free Keyword Difficulty Checker Tool?
Professional keyword difficulty tools like Ahrefs and SEMrush charge $99-$449/month for SEO keyword difficulty data. Our free keyword difficulty checker tool gives you the same core metrics — difficulty score, search volume, CPC, trends, and related keywords — without a subscription.
Whether you're a small business owner planning your first blog posts, a content marketer building an editorial calendar, or an SEO agency evaluating opportunities for clients, this keyword difficulty checker tool gives you the data you need to make informed decisions. Check up to 10 keywords per hour, completely free.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about keyword difficulty and how to use this tool effectively.
