YouTube keyword research · Free, no signup

YouTube Keyword Tool

Free YouTube keyword research from live autocomplete: find the phrases viewers type into YouTube search, then use them for titles, tags, descriptions, Shorts, and channel keywords.

Free keyword tool includes 2 searches per day per keyword source.
Popularity Score and Hot Keywords are relative to your results, not monthly search volume. How scoring works

Trusted since 2010 300,000+ users No card required

Free
SEARCHES: 2 / 2
Keyword Source ?
Country ?
Loading countries...
Language ?
Loading languages...
Enter a Keyword ?

Powered by live YouTube autocomplete

0

Keywords
Filter Applied
X
Filter Frequency
Delete Export Save

Summary

0 Keywords
0 Hot
0 Avg Score
0 Avg AP
0 AP ≤ 3
0 Low 0 Med 0 High
Difficulty
0 Seeds

Enter a seed. Get a scored list.

Developed by the Keyword Tool Dominator founder · SEO practitioner since the AltaVista era · Shipping since 2010 · Updated July 11, 2026

Practitioner-built and still used for live autocomplete research. No invented search volume.

Free YouTube keyword research tool

Answer: This free YouTube keyword tool shows the phrases viewers type into YouTube search. Enter a seed, pick a country, then pull live autocomplete ideas. Use Popularity Score and Hot Keywords to spot stronger phrases, then export for titles, tags, descriptions, and Shorts.

Creators use it for everyday YouTube keyword research, not recycled Google dumps. Suggestions come from live YouTube autocomplete in 50+ countries. Free: 2 searches per day, no signup, no credit card. Trusted by 300,000+ registered users since 2010.

Why YouTube keyword research matters

Viewers find videos through the words they type into YouTube search. When your title and metadata match that language, YouTube can show your video in more relevant results.

Titles & thumbnails

Front-load clear, searchable phrasing viewers already use.

Tags & descriptions

Cover related topics without stuffing every variation.

Shorts & Hot Keywords

Harvest shorter phrases and spot rising terms in your list.

How to find YouTube keywords (keyword search, generator, explorer)

Three steps from seed to export. The same YouTube keyword search works whether you think of it as a generator, a finder, or an explorer.

1. Pick country

Choose country (and language when available) so suggestions match your audience.

2. Search a seed

Enter a topic seed or wildcard (for example best * workout), then search.

3. Filter & export

Sort by score and Hot Keywords, then export winners for titles and tags.

Sort high-score and Hot phrases first. Free tier: 2 searches per day for this keyword source.

YouTube keyword generator, planner, finder, explorer: one tool

People search for a YouTube keyword generator, a YouTube keyword planner, a keyword finder, or a keyword explorer. These are the same job: turn one topic into a list of phrases viewers already type. This tool does that from live YouTube autocomplete instead of a fixed database, so the list reflects what YouTube suggests today in the country you choose.

  • Generator - one seed returns hundreds of related phrases; add an asterisk (best * workout) to fill in the middle of a phrase.
  • Planner - export CSV/TSV and plan a month of titles from one session.
  • Finder / explorer - drill into any result by using it as a new seed to explore deeper longtails.
  • Checker - confirm which autocomplete phrases exist for a topic and compare them by Popularity Score. It checks autocomplete presence, not where your video ranks.

Best keywords for YouTube: how to choose

  • Relevance first - the phrase must match what the video is about.
  • Viewer language - prefer real YouTube search terms over internal titles.
  • Specific beats vague - multi-word niche phrases often rank cleaner than one broad word.
  • Compare inside your list - use Popularity Score and Hot Keywords to rank options you already found.

The best keywords for YouTube videos are usually specific phrases a new channel can realistically show up for, not the broadest head term in the niche. Built for video SEO, not recycled Google lists. YouTube suggestions often differ from Google, so research here when optimizing for YouTube search and browse.

How to use keywords on your videos

Put the right phrases in the right places.

Title

Place the strongest phrase where viewers can read it in search and suggested videos.

Description

Support related phrases naturally in the first lines without stuffing every variation.

Tags

Add leftover relevant phrases as tags. Skip repeats already used in the title.

Guides: How to do YouTube keyword research · How to add keywords to YouTube videos · YouTube tags vs keywords · YouTube SEO guide

YouTube channel keywords

Channel keywords are a separate field from video tags. You set them in YouTube Studio under Settings, then Channel, then Basic info, as a comma separated list within a 500 character limit. They describe what the whole channel is about, so pick 5 to 10 niche phrases you publish on every week rather than every video topic.

To build a channel keywords list, run your niche seed here, then keep the phrases with the strongest Popularity Score that describe the channel as a whole. Want to check another channel's keywords? Open the channel page, view the page source, and search for "keywords". Full walkthrough with example lists by niche: YouTube channel keywords: list, checker, and how to add them.

YouTube Shorts keywords

Keywords for YouTube Shorts follow the same rules as long form, with one difference: shorter, punchier phrases work better because Shorts titles are read fast on a phone. Run your topic here, then sort for short, high-score phrases and Hot Keywords for the Shorts title and the first line of the description.

  • Add "shorts" as a modifier - try your topic shorts or * shorts to see what viewers pair with the format.
  • Hashtags - reuse the top 2 or 3 phrases as hashtags in the description, including #shorts.
  • Trending angles - see trending and viral keywords for YouTube Shorts.

YouTube search volume: what we show instead

Absolute YouTube search volume figures are not published by YouTube, and autocomplete does not include them. We do not invent monthly counts. If you need a YouTube keyword volume checker, what you can realistically get is a relative measure, and that is what Popularity Score provides.

  • Popularity Score (0-100) - compare phrases inside your current result set.
  • Hot Keywords - flag rising terms in that same list.
  • Wildcard (*) - mid-phrase discovery (for example best * workout).
  • Free tier: 2 searches per day for this keyword source - upgrade when you need higher limits or saved lists.

Why does KTD use Popularity Score instead of search volume?

Historical volume numbers are often stale estimates, not a live read of what viewers are typing today. KTD uses Popularity Score and Hot Keywords from YouTube autocomplete so you prioritize current suggest demand.

The tool does not track rankings or estimate keyword difficulty. To check where a video ranks for a phrase, search it on YouTube in a private window.

More detail: Why KTD uses Popularity Score instead of search volume. Pair with the Question Keyword Tool when scripting FAQ-style videos for AEO.

Best practices

  • Write for viewers first; clear, relevant copy beats stuffing.
  • Do not stuff every variation into the title.
  • Use tags for leftover phrases, and skip competitor brand stuffing.
  • Re-check research when seasons, niches, or formats (Long vs Shorts) change.
  • Switch country in the tool so localized autocomplete matches your audience.
  • Re-run seeds before publishing to check that the phrase still appears in autocomplete.

More help: YouTube keyword research hub · How to use this tool · Trending and viral YouTube keywords

Next step: Run free research in the tool above. Then create a free account to save lists and raise daily limits, or compare lifetime plans when you outgrow the free tier.

Sign up for free View plans

Why researchers trust KTD

YouTube keyword research practitioners have trusted since 2010

First Amazon keyword tool, 2012 300,000+ users since 2010

Keyword Tool Dominator has served YouTube creators, SEO specialists, and content teams since 2010 with over 300,000+ registered users. It began as a practitioner-built tool for real SEO and video research, and it still ships the same core promise: live autocomplete data you can act on.

Live YouTube autocomplete research

Research live YouTube autocomplete across 50+ countries so titles, tags, and Shorts match what viewers type right now - including mid-phrase wildcards pioneered for autocomplete research.

Wildcard autocomplete pioneer

First autocomplete keyword tool to popularize the asterisk (*) wildcard on Google, YouTube, and Bing so you can discover what sits in the middle of a query - for example what * cars, best * headphones, or how to * seo.

SEO roots before Google dominated

Built by a practitioner active in SEO since the AltaVista era, before Google defined modern search, who still uses these tools for research. About the founder.

Transparent metrics

We show Popularity Score and Hot Keywords relative to your results - not invented absolute monthly volume. Free tiers state daily limits clearly.

Wildcard tip

On Google, YouTube, or Bing, place * where you want autocomplete to fill the blank: what * cars surfaces mid-phrase ideas competitors miss with plain seeds. See wildcard examples in the FAQ.

Frequently asked questions

Is this YouTube keyword tool free?

Yes. You get 2 free searches per day for this keyword source with no signup. Create a free account or upgrade for higher limits and saved lists.

Is this a YouTube keyword generator, and can I find keywords for YouTube Shorts?

Yes. Live YouTube autocomplete works like a keyword generator for long-form videos and Shorts. Enter a seed (or a wildcard like best * workout), then sort by Popularity Score and Hot Keywords for Shorts titles, tags, and descriptions.

Do you show YouTube search volume?

No absolute YouTube search volume, because YouTube does not publish it. Popularity Score (0 to 100) and Hot Keywords rank phrases inside your current list, which is how you spot trending and viral-leaning keywords in your niche.

How do I find and add YouTube channel keywords?

Research your niche here, pick 5 to 10 phrases that describe the channel, then paste them into YouTube Studio under Settings, Channel, Basic info, Keywords (500 character limit). For each video, put the strongest phrase in the title, support related ideas in the description, and add leftovers as tags.

Is this a YouTube keyword planner, finder, or checker?

All three in practice: it finds live autocomplete keywords, checks whether a phrase is suggested in your country, and helps plan titles. It does not track rankings. Export CSV, CSV for Excel, or TSV; the free tier is 2 searches per day.

New AI Keyword Tools

From one seed to scored keyword maps

Dominator: up to 14,430 keywords in less than 1 hour. AI Intents: up to 55,000+ in little more than 3 hours. Super Keyword: up to 125,000+ in little more than 11 hours. Then cluster top scores or any 100 keywords into Video, Image, and Article prompts.

Premier suite

Long-running AI jobs. Real-world scored suggestions. Clusters for Video, Image, and Article prompts.

AI Keyword Dominator One seed (idea, product, service, any topic). AI + Autocomplete + KTD expansion. Up to 14,430 keywords in less than 1 hour. Flagship AI Intents AI + Autocomplete + Keyword Intents + KTD expansion. Up to 55,000+ keywords in little more than 3 hours. AI Tokens Super Keyword Tool Hot Keyword Search + AI + Autocomplete + Keyword Intents + KTD expansion. Up to 125,000+ keywords in little more than 11 hours. Max plan. Max Keyword Clustering Highest scoring keywords, or any 100, into clusters for Video, Image, and Article generation prompts. AI Tokens AI Article Generator Long-tail H1, H2s, FAQ, meta tags, and JSON-LD from a cluster or list. AI Tokens
Explore AI Keyword Tools See plans & AI Tokens
Starting Keyword Search ...
0.00%
0
Keywords Found
Stop Keyword Search
Keyword tip
Target high-scoring HOT keywords to maximize your online presence.