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Free YouTube Keyword Generator

Enter one seed keyword and get 29 search phrasings grouped by intent: questions, comparisons, buyer searches and trends. Copy a group, then check each phrase in YouTube's own search bar.

  • Free
  • No sign-up
  • Runs in your browser

How to use it

How to use the YouTube Keyword Generator

  1. Enter a seed keyword

    Use the core topic, product or skill, such as 'standing desk'. Short seeds of one to three words work best.

  2. Scan the four groups

    Questions, Comparisons, Buyer intent and Trends each wrap your seed in phrasing patterns people commonly search with.

  3. Copy a group

    Each group has its own Copy button that copies the phrases one per line, ready for a notes app or spreadsheet.

  4. Test them in YouTube search

    Start typing the promising phrases into YouTube's search bar and note which ones YouTube suggests as you type.

How to find keywords for YouTube videos

Start with the words a viewer would actually type, then check whether people search for them. YouTube's own description tips recommend picking one or two main words that describe your video and featuring them prominently in both the title and the description. For finding popular keywords and their synonyms, YouTube points to the Research tab in YouTube Analytics and to Google Ads Keyword Planner.

This generator covers the step before that: it gives you phrasings worth testing. It doesn't show search volume and doesn't pull data from YouTube or Google. Every phrase comes from a template matched to your seed.

Using YouTube search predictions to check demand

When you type in YouTube's search bar, the predictions come from possible search terms and from what other people have already searched for, based on factors like popularity and similarity. If a phrase from your list shows up as a prediction, people are searching for something close to it.

Treat that as a signal rather than proof. YouTube notes that predictions can be personalized by your own search and watch history, and that a term may not appear at all because it isn't popular or is too new.

What the four keyword groups are for

Each group matches a different kind of video, so the group that fills up with real searches hints at the format to make.

  • Questions (8 phrases): what is, how to, is it worth it, how long does it take. Suited to tutorials and explainers.
  • Comparisons (6): versus, alternatives, pros and cons, or the best and easiest way to do it. Suited to comparison and review videos.
  • Buyer intent (8): best, cheap, review, buying guide, or the gear and cost of getting started. Suited to product and setup videos.
  • Trends (7): the year, for beginners, mistakes, future of. Suited to timely and entry-level angles.

A few more things

Good questions. Clear answers.

How do I find the best keywords for my YouTube video?

List the phrasings a viewer would use, see which ones YouTube predicts in its search bar, and check the Research tab in YouTube Analytics. Then use your main keyword in both the title and the description.

Does this tool show YouTube search volume?

No. It builds phrasings from templates and doesn't connect to YouTube or Google, so there are no volume numbers. Use YouTube's search predictions or the Research tab in YouTube Analytics to gauge demand.

Where should keywords go on a YouTube video?

YouTube suggests featuring your one or two main words prominently in both the title and the description. Its search matches search terms against the video and the text of its description.

Are YouTube keywords the same as tags?

Not quite. Keywords are what people search for, and tags are one place to put them. YouTube says tags play a minimal role in discovery, so your title and description matter more.

Why are the phrases different for different seeds?

The generator first works out what kind of seed you typed. A thing like 'standing desk' gets 'is standing desk worth it', an action like 'learn guitar' gets 'how to learn guitar', and an activity like 'investing' gets 'how to start investing'. A phrase can still miss for your topic, so keep the ones a viewer would really type.

Is the keyword generator free?

Yes, with no sign-up. It runs in your browser, and your recent seeds are saved there. A free Vidfora account keeps them across devices.

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