Top 10 Keyword Difficulty Checkers for Freelancers

What Freelancers Need from Keyword Difficulty Checkers

Freelancers have different needs than enterprise SEO teams. Budget matters. Ease of use matters. Getting actionable data without a steep learning curve is the priority. The best keyword difficulty checkers for freelancers balance depth with simplicity.

Most freelancers don’t need backlink databases or rank tracking dashboards. They need to find keywords that drive traffic and revenue, quickly and affordably.

Our Top Picks

1. Delulu9 – Best for Dev-First Workflows

Delulu9 is a keyword research tool built for people who work in Claude Code or Cursor. It pulls data from Google, Bing, and Reddit, categorizes by intent, and costs $12/mo flat. No usage limits, no surprise bills. For freelancers who want keyword data inside their existing tools, it’s the most practical option.

2. Google Keyword Planner – Best Free Option

Google’s own tool gives you search volume ranges and competition levels for free. The data is limited compared to paid tools, but for freelancers just starting out, it’s a solid baseline. The downside is it’s designed for ad buyers, so organic SEO data is approximate.

3. Ubersuggest – Best for Content Ideas

Ubersuggest combines keyword research with content suggestions and competitor analysis. The free tier is limited but usable. For freelancers who need both keyword data and content direction, it’s a good middle ground.

4-10. Other Notable Options

Other strong keyword difficulty checkers for freelancers include Mangools (great UI), Keywords Everywhere (browser extension), SE Ranking (affordable all-in-one), Answer The Public (question-based keywords), Keyword Surfer (free Chrome extension), Soovle (multi-engine suggestions), and WordStream (PPC-focused).

Comparison Table

How to Choose the Right Tool

For freelancers, the decision usually comes down to three factors: budget, workflow integration, and data depth. If you work in Claude Code or Cursor, Delulu9 is the obvious choice because data flows directly into your environment. If you prefer browser-based research, Keywords Everywhere or Mangools might fit better.

Get Started with Better Keyword Research

Stop cycling through free tools with incomplete data. Delulu9 gives freelancers professional keyword research with Google, Bing, and Reddit data for $12/mo.