# Keyword Research Tool — Search Volume, Difficulty & Ideas (`jesting_grass/keyword-research-tool`) Actor

Bulk keyword research API: Google search volume, keyword difficulty, search intent and SERP features (incl. AI Overviews) for up to thousands of keywords, plus related keyword ideas. Optional CPC & 12-month trends. Cheap Ahrefs / Semrush alternative.

- **URL**: https://apify.com/jesting\_grass/keyword-research-tool.md
- **Developed by:** [A J](https://apify.com/jesting_grass) (community)
- **Stats:** 2 total users, 1 monthly users, 100.0% runs succeeded, 0 bookmarks
- **User rating**: No ratings yet

## Pricing

from $3.00 / 1,000 keyword metrics

This Actor is paid per event. You are not charged for the Apify platform usage, but only a fixed price for specific events.

Learn more: https://docs.apify.com/actors/running/actors-in-store.md#pay-per-event

## What's an Apify Actor?

An Actor is a serverless cloud program that runs on the Apify platform. It has two run modes.
In Batch mode, an Actor accepts a well-defined JSON input, performs an action which can take anything from a few seconds to a few hours,
and optionally produces a well-defined JSON output, datasets with results, or files in key-value store.
In Standby mode, an Actor provides a web server which can be used as a website, API, or an MCP server.

Apify vocabulary and the platform model are defined once, in the agent quickstart at https://apify.com/agents.md.

## How to integrate an Actor?

If asked about integration, you help developers integrate Actors into their projects.
You adapt to their stack and deliver integrations that are safe, well-documented, and production-ready.

Do not guess an integration path. Every one of them is in the agent quickstart at https://apify.com/agents.md: the Apify MCP server, Agent Skills with the Apify CLI, the JavaScript and Python clients, the REST API, and the account-free path for an agent with no human to sign in. It also carries the rule on stating cost before the first paid run.

For examples already wired to this Actor's own input schema, see the [API](#api) section below.

Each client library has reference documentation the quickstart does not restate: [JavaScript/TypeScript](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs.md) (`npm install apify-client`) and [Python](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs.md) (`pip install apify-client`).

# README

## Keyword Research Tool — Search Volume, Difficulty & Ideas

**Bulk keyword research without a $100+/month SEO subscription.** Get Google **search volume**, **keyword difficulty**, **search intent** and **SERP features — including whether Google shows an AI Overview** — for thousands of keywords at once, and generate **related keyword ideas** from any seed. Every keyword also gets **official Google Ads search volume, CPC, competition and a 12-month trend**.

A pay-per-keyword alternative to Ahrefs Keywords Explorer, Semrush Keyword Magic Tool and Google Keyword Planner — for SEO, content planning, PPC and AEO (AI search) research.

### Why this Actor

- 📊 **Everything in one row** — volume, difficulty (0–100), intent (informational / commercial / transactional / navigational), SERP features
- 🤖 **AI Overview detection** — see which keywords trigger Google AI Overviews, the #1 question for AEO and content strategy in 2026
- 💡 **Keyword ideas** — up to 1,000 related keywords per seed, each with the same metrics
- 💰 **Google's own numbers** — search volume, CPC with low/high bid range, competition and monthly volumes for the last 12 months come straight from Google Ads data
- 🌍 **17 markets** — US, UK, Canada, Australia, Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, Poland, Brazil, Mexico, India
- 💸 **Pay only for data** — keywords with no data are free; no subscription, no credits that expire

### Input

```json
{
  "keywords": ["protein powder", "keyword research tool"],
  "seedKeywords": ["cold brew coffee"],
  "ideasPerSeed": 100,
  "country": "us"
}
```

### Output example (real, US, September 2026)

| keyword | source | searchVolume | keywordDifficulty | intents | hasAiOverview |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| protein powder | keyword | 368,000 | 72 | informational | ✅ |
| keyword research tool | keyword | 4,400 | 66 | informational | — |
| coffee and cold brew | idea | 40,500 | 32 | informational | ✅ |
| cold brew using french press | idea | 22,200 | 35 | informational | ✅ |

Every row (real output, US; `monthlySearches` trimmed to 2 of 12 months):

```json
{
  "keyword": "protein powder",
  "source": "keyword",
  "searchVolume": 368000,
  "volumeSource": "google_ads",
  "keywordDifficulty": 72,
  "competition": 82,
  "intents": [
    "informational"
  ],
  "serpFeatures": [
    "also_asks",
    "related_search",
    "ai_overview"
  ],
  "hasAiOverview": true,
  "hasFeaturedSnippet": false,
  "hasPeopleAlsoAsk": true,
  "hasLocalPack": false,
  "cpc": 1.7,
  "cpcLow": 0.41,
  "cpcHigh": 2.67,
  "adsCompetition": "HIGH",
  "adsCompetitionIndex": 82,
  "monthlySearches": [
    {
      "month": "2026-07",
      "volume": 368000
    },
    {
      "month": "2026-08",
      "volume": 368000
    }
  ]
}
```

Ideas also carry `seedKeyword`. `volumeSource` is `google_ads` for official Google volumes, or `estimate` when Google withholds the number (e.g. some restricted topics).

### Use it from code

```python
from apify_client import ApifyClient

client = ApifyClient("YOUR_APIFY_TOKEN")
run = client.actor("jesting_grass/keyword-research-tool").call(run_input={
    "seedKeywords": ["cold brew coffee"],
    "ideasPerSeed": 200,
    "country": "us",
})
for row in client.dataset(run.default_dataset_id).iterate_items():
    if row.get("searchVolume", 0) > 1000 and (row.get("keywordDifficulty") or 100) < 40:
        print(row["keyword"], row["searchVolume"], row["keywordDifficulty"])   # easy wins
```

More examples (bulk CSV, easy-win finder, Node.js, cURL): **[github.com/emiohr/keyword-research-api](https://github.com/emiohr/keyword-research-api)** · Tutorial: [Keyword research in Python: search volume, difficulty and AI Overviews in bulk](https://dev.to/jesting_grass/keyword-research-in-python-search-volume-difficulty-and-ai-overviews-in-bulk-2026-3kjj)

### Pricing

Pay per event — see the **Pricing** tab:

- **Keyword metrics** — per keyword with data
- **Keyword idea** — per related keyword returned
- **Google Ads batch** — once per run for every 1,000 keywords (volumes, CPC and trends come from Google Ads data)

Keywords with no data are free. The Actor respects your maximum-charge limit.

### More SEO tools from the same developer

- [Backlink Checker](https://apify.com/jesting_grass/backlink-checker) — every backlink, referring domains and competitor link gap
- [Google Trends Scraper & API](https://apify.com/jesting_grass/google-trends-api) — interest over time, rising queries and regions
- [Bulk Domain Authority & Backlink Checker](https://apify.com/jesting_grass/bulk-domain-authority-checker) — domain rank, referring domains and backlinks
- [Tech Stack Detector](https://apify.com/jesting_grass/tech-stack-detector) — CMS, ecommerce, analytics and payments behind any website

### FAQ

**Where does the data come from?** Search volume, CPC, competition and the 12-month trend come from Google Ads data; keyword difficulty, intent and SERP features (incl. AI Overviews) come from a commercial SEO database. Volumes are 12-month averages.

**Why do numbers differ from Ahrefs or Semrush?** Every SEO tool estimates volume and difficulty from its own data, so figures vary between vendors. Compare keywords within one tool.

**What does "AI Overview" mean?** Google shows an AI-generated answer at the top of results for that keyword. Those keywords often get fewer clicks — and are prime targets for AEO (getting cited by AI answers).

*Not affiliated with Ahrefs, Semrush or Google.*

# Actor input Schema

## `keywords` (type: `array`):

Get Google search volume, CPC, competition, 12-month trend, keyword difficulty, intent and SERP features for these keywords (up to thousands per run). Billed per keyword with data; keywords without data are free.

## `seedKeywords` (type: `array`):

Optional. Find related keyword ideas (with volume, difficulty and intent) for each seed. Billed per idea returned.

## `ideasPerSeed` (type: `integer`):

Maximum number of keyword ideas per seed keyword (1–1000).

## `country` (type: `string`):

Google search database / market.

## Actor input object example

```json
{
  "keywords": [
    "protein powder",
    "keyword research tool",
    "cold brew coffee"
  ],
  "seedKeywords": [],
  "ideasPerSeed": 100,
  "country": "us"
}
```

# Actor output Schema

## `results` (type: `string`):

No description

# API

You can run this Actor programmatically using our API. Below are code examples in JavaScript, Python, and CLI, as well as the OpenAPI specification and MCP server setup.

## JavaScript example

```javascript
import { ApifyClient } from 'apify-client';

// Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token
// Replace the '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>' with your token
const client = new ApifyClient({
    token: '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>',
});

// Prepare Actor input
const input = {
    "keywords": [
        "protein powder",
        "keyword research tool",
        "cold brew coffee"
    ],
    "seedKeywords": []
};

// Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
const run = await client.actor("jesting_grass/keyword-research-tool").call(input);

// Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if any)
console.log('Results from dataset');
console.log(`💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/${run.defaultDatasetId}`);
const { items } = await client.dataset(run.defaultDatasetId).listItems();
items.forEach((item) => {
    console.dir(item);
});

// 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs

```

## Python example

```python
from apify_client import ApifyClient

# Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token
# Replace '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>' with your token.
client = ApifyClient("<YOUR_API_TOKEN>")

# Prepare the Actor input
run_input = {
    "keywords": [
        "protein powder",
        "keyword research tool",
        "cold brew coffee",
    ],
    "seedKeywords": [],
}

# Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
run = client.actor("jesting_grass/keyword-research-tool").call(run_input=run_input)

# Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if there are any)
print(f"💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/{run.default_dataset_id}")
for item in client.dataset(run.default_dataset_id).iterate_items():
    print(item)

# 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs/quick-start

```

## CLI example

```bash
echo '{
  "keywords": [
    "protein powder",
    "keyword research tool",
    "cold brew coffee"
  ],
  "seedKeywords": []
}' |
apify call jesting_grass/keyword-research-tool --silent --output-dataset

```

## MCP server setup

```json
{
    "mcpServers": {
        "apify": {
            "type": "http",
            "url": "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=fetch-actor-details,jesting_grass/keyword-research-tool"
        }
    }
}
```

The hosted server signs you in with OAuth on first connect, so no API token belongs in this config. Clients without OAuth support can send an `Authorization: Bearer <APIFY_API_TOKEN>` header instead, using a token from API & Integrations in Apify Console (https://console.apify.com/settings/integrations).

## OpenAPI specification

Download the OpenAPI definition: https://api.apify.com/v2/actors/85wGlaUBDPCIVYj34/builds/6gB59CK5aS0HNuX8f/openapi.json