YouTube Keyword Research Tool — Find & Track Keywords

vidIQ's keyword research tool shows YouTube-specific search volume, competition scores, and trend data — used by 30M+ creators to research the right keywords for every video. Unlike Google-focused tools, vidIQ measures actual YouTube search behavior so you can make decisions based on real platform data.

Start with vidIQ's keyword research tool — enter any topic and get search volume, competition level, and related keyword suggestions specific to YouTube's search engine. Then use Keyword Inspector to deep-dive into your top picks, see which videos currently rank, and estimate your chances of ranking based on your chann authority.

Yes, vidIQ offers free keyword research with basic search volume and competition data. You can research unlimited keywords and see related suggestions without paying anything. Premium plans unlock advanced features like keyword tracking over time, AI-powered suggestions, and deeper competitive analysis.

YouTube keywords reflect video search intent (tutorials, reviews, how-tos) while Google keywords cover broader web search. A keyword with high Google volume might have low YouTube volume, and vice versa. YouTube-specific tools like vidIQ measure actual YouTube search volume rather than web search data, so you're optimizing for the right platform.

Yes. vidIQ lets you monitor your ranking position for any keyword over time, so you can see whether your videos are climbing or dropping and adjust your optimization accordingly. Tracking also reveals seasonal patterns, helping you plan content around peak search periods.

The Keyword Inspector explores the complete keyword universe around any root keyword, showing related terms, keyword scores, related videos, and search trends over time. It appears directly inside YouTube via vidIQ's browser extension, giving you real-time keyword data while you browse. It's particularly useful for comparing similar keywords and identifying which ones have the best ranking potential.

The vidIQ Keyword Score measures keyword demand versus competition, evaluating search volume against existing content. Higher scores indicate better opportunities. The ideal scenario is high search volume with low competition, helping you find keywords with strong demand but limited competing content.

Yes, vidIQ's inline keywords feature displays competitor tags directly in YouTube search results. This lets you discover relevant keywords for your content, identify high-performing tags to adapt for your own videos, and understand what's working in your niche.

vidIQ tracks keyword trends over time, helping you identify seasonal patterns and opportunities. You can see when certain keywords start trending, their peak periods, and when they decline. This allows you to plan your content calendar around seasonal trends and create videos that align with when your audience is most actively searching for specific topics.

Start with a seed keyword related to your niche, something broad like "fitness," "Minecraft," or "skincare." Then, build keyword clusters by exploring related phrases, questions, and topics people actually search for. You can do this by typing your seed keyword into YouTube Search and reviewing the autocomplete suggestions, analyzing competitor titles, or using vidIQ's keyword research tools.

For deeper data, use vidIQ's Keyword Generator to see real-time search volume, competition, and trend scores. These insights help you identify high-demand, low-competition keywords and create videos that are more likely to rank and get discovered.