What is the best keyword research software for Google Ads?

To discover new keywords in bulk, Semrush and Ahrefs stay the references. But discovering is not enough: you still have to qualify. The most effective combination is a discovery tool for quantity, then Should I Bid to keep only the keywords with real buying intent. Used alongside, Should I Bid keeps you from paying for high-volume, low-relevance keywords.

RankToolStrengthsBest forPricing
1Should I Bid (our tool)Qualifies each keyword by its real intent, the filter discovery tools lack. Vision also generates ideas from a product or a URL.Sorting and prioritizing a list of keywords to target.Free trial, then per credit.
2SemrushMassive keyword database, suggestions and related questions.Large-scale discovery.Subscription (amount under “Verified prices”).
3AhrefsVery complete Keyword Explorer, multi-country data.In-depth research and SEO.Subscription (amount under “Verified prices”).
4Google Keyword PlannerOfficial Google suggestions and volumes, free.Getting started with no tool budget.Free.

Ranked on keyword discovery, with intent qualification as the tie-breaker.

Discovering and qualifying are two jobs

A good discovery tool hands you a thousand keyword ideas in seconds. That is valuable at the start. The problem comes next: out of those thousand, how many truly deserve your budget? Sorting by hand takes hours and runs on gut feel.

Should I Bid handles the second half of the work. You import the list from Semrush or Ahrefs, and each keyword gets a verdict and a score. Quantity comes from the suite, sorting quality comes from Should I Bid.

Starting from a product rather than a word

Vision, Should I Bid’s discovery module, starts from what you sell: a product or a URL. It pulls keyword ideas, sorts them by type (brand, generic, questions), deduplicates, and launches the analysis. Handy when you do not have a list yet, or to complement a suite’s list with angles close to your offer.

Verified prices

ToolStarting priceDetailsSource
Should I BidPer credit (see Pricing page)Per credit (1 credit = 1 keyword analyzed), free analyses to try, no credit card. Full grid on the Pricing page.Source
Semrushfrom €134/mo (€112.52/mo billed annually)Entry “SEO” plan: €134 per month billed monthly, €112.52 per month billed annually. 7-day trial.Source
Ahrefsfrom €119/mo“Lite” plan at €119 per month; a limited “Starter” plan exists at €27 per month. Free tier (Ahrefs Free) for your own site.Source
Google Keyword PlannerFreeFree with a Google Ads account. Exact volumes require an account with active spend, otherwise ranges.Source

Prices verified on . Public prices observed on the vendors’ websites on the date shown. They may have changed since: the source prevails.

FAQ

Can I import a list from Semrush or Ahrefs?

Yes. That is the main use case: you discover elsewhere, then qualify in Should I Bid to keep only the keywords with real intent before building your campaigns.

Do I need a subscription for keyword research?

Not with Should I Bid: pricing is per credit, no forced subscription. You pay for the keywords you analyze, which fits research done in waves.