YouTube Keyword Research: Complete 2026 Guide
YouTube keyword research is the practice of finding what your target audience types into YouTube search — and then creating videos around those exact terms. Done correctly, it drives compounding search traffic to every video you publish. Done wrong, you create content no one is looking for. This guide covers the 6-step research process, compares the best free and paid tools, and explains how to find low-competition keywords even in crowded niches.
TL;DR — Key Facts
- • Best free keyword tool: YouTube Autocomplete + Google Trends (zero cost, immediate)
- • Best paid tool: OutlierKit (volume data + difficulty + outlier correlation)
- • Target for new channels: Keywords with 300–5,000 monthly searches and difficulty < 40
- • Biggest mistake: Targeting high-volume keywords (>50K searches) before a channel has authority
- • YouTube does NOT publish official search volume data — all third-party volume figures are estimates
- • Keyword placement: Title (first 5 words), first sentence of description, spoken in the video
What Is YouTube Keyword Research?
YouTube keyword research is the process of identifying specific search terms your target audience uses on YouTube, validating their search volume and competition level, and using those terms to inform your video titles, descriptions, tags, and spoken content.
YouTube's search algorithm works similarly to Google's: it matches viewer search queries to video content based on title relevance, description, transcription, and engagement signals. Videos that are optimized for high-demand, low-competition keywords consistently accumulate views long after their publish date.
Important: Search vs. Suggested Traffic
On most YouTube channels, Search traffic accounts for 15–40% of views. The majority comes from Browse/Suggested (algorithm-driven). Keyword research primarily affects search traffic — but a well-titled video also performs better in suggested results because YouTube reads the title to understand context. Both dimensions benefit from keyword optimization.
How to Do YouTube Keyword Research: 6-Step Process
Start with your niche's seed keywords
Seed keywords are broad, foundational terms in your niche. Examples: 'personal finance', 'python tutorial', 'home workout'. You will not rank for these initially — they're your research starting point. Enter them into YouTube's search bar and observe the autocomplete suggestions. These are real searches people are making.
Expand with YouTube autocomplete and related searches
Type your seed keyword into YouTube search and note every autocomplete suggestion. These are ranked by search frequency. Also check the 'Videos' section of Google Search — many YouTube videos rank on Google for informational queries. Tools like Keywords Everywhere show volume data directly on the autocomplete dropdown.
Validate search volume and competition
Use OutlierKit's Keyword Research or VidIQ to get actual search volume data and difficulty scores. Target: search volume above 300/month and difficulty below 40 for new channels. For established channels (10K+ subs), you can target difficulty up to 60.
Find low-competition keywords with the 'search vs. results' method
Type a keyword into YouTube search and check the total video results count. Keywords with high monthly searches but fewer than 10,000 results are underserved. Combine this with a difficulty score check. Channels that systematically target these gaps grow 3–5x faster than those targeting popular high-competition terms.
Analyze competitor keywords
Find the top 3–5 channels in your niche. Use OutlierKit's Competitor Analysis to see which of their videos have the highest views relative to their channel average (outlier videos). The titles of these outlier videos reveal the keywords and topic angles that perform best with your target audience.
Build a keyword-mapped content calendar
Assign one primary keyword and 2–3 secondary keywords to each planned video. The primary keyword goes in the title (within the first 5 words ideally), the first sentence of the description, and naturally in the spoken audio. Secondary keywords go in the description and tags. Plan 20–30 videos before you start filming.
4 Types of YouTube Keywords (and When to Use Each)
Evergreen keywords
Priority: HighConsistently searched year-round. Build the foundation of your channel.
Trending keywords
Priority: MediumSpiking in search volume due to news or events. High views short-term.
Long-tail keywords
Priority: High for new channels3–5 word phrases. Lower volume but higher conversion and easier to rank.
Question keywords
Priority: HighTrigger Featured Snippets and AI Overviews. High CTR from search results.
Best YouTube Keyword Research Tools in 2026: Compared
YouTube does not publish official search volume data. All third-party tools use panel data, autocomplete signals, and proprietary algorithms to estimate volumes. Here is how the major tools compare:
| Tool | Price | Search Volume | Difficulty | Free Plan | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OutlierKit Keyword Research | From $9/mo | Yes | Yes | Yes | Volume data + outlier correlation + niche validation |
| VidIQ | From $7.50/mo | Yes | Yes | Yes | Keyword score overlays + competitor tag research |
| TubeBuddy | From $4.99/mo | Estimated | Yes | Yes | Keyword explorer + tag copier + bulk optimization |
| Keywords Everywhere | $15/100K credits | Yes | No | No | Lightweight volume data on YouTube search page |
| Google Trends | Free | Relative | No | Free | Trend direction and seasonality validation |
| Ahrefs (YouTube) | From $99/mo | Yes | Yes | No | Advanced SEO teams with cross-platform research needs |
Where to Place Keywords in Your YouTube Video
Video Title
Primary keyword in first 5 words. Keep under 60 characters. Make it compelling to click, not just SEO-optimized.
Video Description (first 2 lines)
Primary keyword in the first sentence. These lines appear in search results before 'Show more'.
Full Description
Use primary + 2–3 secondary keywords naturally. Write 200+ words. YouTube indexes the full text.
Tags
Add primary keyword, variations, and related terms. Tags have reduced weight but still provide context signals.
Spoken Audio / Transcript
YouTube auto-generates captions. Naturally saying your keyword in the first 60 seconds helps algorithm understanding.
Chapters / Timestamps
Include keywords in chapter titles where relevant. Chapters appear in Google Search results as individual links.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is YouTube keyword research?
YouTube keyword research is the process of finding words and phrases that people type into YouTube's search bar when looking for videos. It involves identifying keywords with sufficient search volume to generate views, low enough competition for a channel to realistically rank, and alignment with the channel's niche. Proper keyword research determines which topics a channel should cover and how to title videos.
What is the best free YouTube keyword research tool?
The best free YouTube keyword research tools are: (1) YouTube Autocomplete — type a keyword and observe the suggestions, which are ranked by search frequency; (2) Google Trends — shows trend direction and seasonality for free; (3) VidIQ Free — provides keyword scores and basic volume estimates; (4) TubeBuddy Free — includes a keyword explorer with difficulty ratings. For actual search volume numbers, a paid tool like OutlierKit or Keywords Everywhere is required.
How do I find low-competition keywords on YouTube?
To find low-competition YouTube keywords: (1) Use a keyword tool to check difficulty scores — target under 40 for new channels. (2) Type the keyword into YouTube and check total results — under 10,000 results indicates low competition. (3) Check the view counts of top-ranking videos — if they have under 50K views, the keyword is accessible. (4) Look for long-tail variations (3+ words) of popular keywords — they have lower competition while maintaining search intent.
How important is keyword research for YouTube growth?
Keyword research is critical for search-based YouTube growth (discoverability via YouTube and Google search). However, YouTube's largest traffic source is Browse/Suggested traffic (not search), which is driven by CTR and watch time rather than keywords. The ideal strategy combines keyword-optimized titles and descriptions (for search traffic) with compelling thumbnails and strong hooks (for algorithmic traffic). Channels that rely solely on keywords without strong CTR typically plateau.
What YouTube keyword tools are free?
Free YouTube keyword tools include: YouTube Autocomplete (built-in), Google Trends (trend data), VidIQ Free (keyword score overlays), TubeBuddy Free (keyword explorer), and Morningfame (limited free tier). For actual monthly search volume data — which YouTube does not publicly disclose — a paid tool is required. OutlierKit, Keywords Everywhere, and VidIQ Pro are the most widely used paid options.
How do I use keyword research to grow my YouTube channel?
Use keyword research to build a content calendar of 20–30 videos before you start filming. Assign each video a primary keyword (in the title) and 2–3 secondary keywords (in description and tags). Prioritize long-tail keywords with 300–5,000 monthly searches and difficulty under 40. After publishing, use competitor keyword research to find which topics in your niche generate outlier performance — and create your own version of those topics.
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