Google Keyword Planner alternative

Keyword Planner shows ranges unless you spend on ads. Here are the three ways to get exact numbers, and what each one takes.

The short answer

Google Keyword Planner is free, but accounts without meaningful ad spend see ranges such as 1K–10K instead of exact monthly averages. The exact numbers come from the Google Ads API, which needs an Ads manager account and an approved developer token.

Our Keyword Search Volume tool returns those Keyword Planner averages, CPC, competition and 12 months of history for a list of keywords, with no Google Ads account: $4.25 per 1,000 keywords, and keywords with no data are free.

Your options

	Keyword Search Volume (Apify)	Keyword Planner (free)	Google Ads API (direct)
Exact monthly averages	Yes	Only with ad spend; otherwise ranges	Yes
Setup	Paste keywords, click Start	Google Ads account	Manager account, developer token approval, OAuth, code
Bulk	Thousands per run; CSV/Excel/JSON	Paste or upload a list in the UI	Up to 10,000 keywords per request
History	12 months per keyword	12 months (chart)	Up to 4 years
Cost	$4.25 per 1,000 keywords	Free	Free API; your engineering time
Automation and AI agents	API, schedules, n8n, Make, Zapier, MCP	Manual	Your own code

Good to know whatever you use

Keyword Planner merges close variants ("desk" and "desks") and rounds into buckets (8,100, 12,100...). Don't add variant volumes together.
Read CPC next to volume. High volume with a low CPC is often informational traffic that won't convert.
For difficulty and ideas, use the Keyword Difficulty Checker and the Keyword Research Tool.

FAQ

How do I see exact search volume in Keyword Planner without spending?

You can't inside Keyword Planner; low-spend accounts see ranges. Use the Google Ads API (needs a developer token) or a tool that calls it for you, such as our Keyword Search Volume tool.

Is there a Google Keyword Planner API?

Yes: the Google Ads API's KeywordPlanIdeaService (GenerateKeywordIdeas and GenerateKeywordHistoricalMetrics). It needs a Google Ads manager account and an approved developer token.

Do I need a Google account to use your tool?

No. You need an Apify account; the charge appears on your Apify bill. Apify's free plan includes $5 of monthly credit.

Sources

Competitor prices are list prices (USD, monthly billing unless noted), checked Oct 22, 2026. Our prices are read from the Apify API when this page is built and are the Apify Free-plan tier; paid Apify plans get lower tiers. Vendors change prices; check the source before you buy. Trademarks belong to their owners; Wrenfield Data is not affiliated with any vendor named here.

Try it on a real list

Every tool has a prefilled example that runs for a few cents on Apify's free plan ($5 of monthly credit, no card).

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