In 2025, winning SEO for your Shopify store starts with one thing: great keyword research. If you target the wrong terms, no amount of fancy content or link building will fix it.
The challenge is choosing the right tools. There are all-in-one suites, browser extensions, AI helpers, and free planners. You don't need all of them—but you do need a smart stack.
This guide walks through 11 of the best keyword research tools in 2025 and how they fit into an ecommerce and Shopify workflow, especially when combined with analytics from Topify.
How to choose keyword tools for a Shopify store
Before we dive into the list, decide what you actually need from a tool:
- Discovery: finding new topic and product ideas.
- Volume & difficulty: checking how many people search and how hard it is to rank.
- Long-tail keywords: specific phrases that convert well for products and collections.
- Competitor gaps: seeing which queries other stores rank for that you don't.
- Quick checks: fast validation while you browse Google.
Most brands combine one "big" tool, one or two lighter tools, and free options from Google. Let's look at the best choices.
1. Ahrefs – All-in-one keyword powerhouse
Ahrefs is a full SEO suite with one of the strongest keyword databases on the market.
- Deep keyword analysis: volume, difficulty, clicks, and SERP overview.
- Excellent for competitor research—see which queries drive traffic to rival stores.
- Great for long-tail keywords around product niches and blog topics.
Shopify use case: plug in a competing store's domain and find keywords where they rank on page 1 but you don't. Turn those into new collection pages and buying guides, then track performance in Topify.
2. Semrush – Versatile suite for SEO and PPC
Semrush is similar to Ahrefs but shines if you also run paid search.
- Keyword ideas, gaps, and difficulty for organic and paid campaigns.
- Ad copy insights and PLA data useful for Google Shopping.
- Content tools for building clusters around your main categories.
Shopify use case: use the same keyword set for SEO and Google Ads, then compare organic vs paid performance in Topify to see where SEO can replace ad spend over time.
3. Google Keyword Planner – The free starting point
Google Keyword Planner lives inside Google Ads and is still a go-to for beginners.
- Accurate search volume ranges straight from Google.
- Competition metrics that hint at how crowded a niche is.
- Free to use once you have an Ads account.
Shopify use case: drop in a product URL or seed term ("silk pillowcase") and export idea lists for your product copy, collection descriptions, and blog content calendar.
4. Ubersuggest – User-friendly insights on a budget
Ubersuggest is a more affordable tool that covers the essentials.
- Keyword suggestions, volume estimates, and basic difficulty scores.
- Simple competitor overview and content ideas.
- Ideal if you want more than free tools but aren't ready for a heavy suite.
Shopify use case: great for quick research sessions when launching a new product line or seasonal collection.
5. KeywordTool.io – Autocomplete at scale
KeywordTool.io mines autocomplete suggestions from multiple platforms.
- Uses Google Autocomplete to generate long lists of long-tail queries.
- Covers YouTube, Bing, Amazon, and more—useful if you sell on marketplaces.
- Free tier gives basic suggestions; paid plans unlock full metrics.
Shopify use case: find question-based keywords for FAQ sections and support content that reduce returns and support tickets.
6. SpyFu – Deep competitor keyword intelligence
SpyFu is built for spying on competitors' keywords and ads.
- See which keywords your competitors rank and bid for.
- Historical organic and PPC data for spotting long-term winners.
- Great for discovering profitable niches you haven't targeted yet.
Shopify use case: plug in top competitors and generate a "missing keywords" list—then prioritize those terms in your content roadmap.
7. AnswerThePublic – Keyword ideas in question form
AnswerThePublic turns a seed keyword into a map of real questions people ask.
- Visualizes questions, prepositions, and comparisons ("best vs cheap", etc.).
- Fantastic for ideating blog posts, guides, and FAQ content.
- Free to use with limited daily searches.
Shopify use case: create "question clusters" for each main product category and answer them in guides, product FAQs, and help docs.
8. Keyword Insights – Clustering and strategy
Keyword Insights focuses on grouping keywords into smart clusters.
- Automatically clusters related keywords based on SERP similarity.
- Finds semantically related terms to use on the same page.
- Ideal for planning content hubs and reducing cannibalization.
Shopify use case: group keywords around each collection (e.g., "trail running shoes") to decide which topics belong on a single page versus separate guides.
9. Keywords Everywhere – Data inside your browser
Keywords Everywhere is a browser extension that puts metrics directly on Google and other sites.
- Shows volume, CPC, and competition next to search results.
- Works across Google, YouTube, Amazon, and more.
- Great for quick "is this worth it?" checks during research.
Shopify use case: while searching like a customer, you can instantly see which queries are worth building pages and blog posts for.
10. WordStream – Helpful for SEO and PPC
WordStream offers a free keyword tool with an advertising mindset.
- Generates keyword ideas with volume ranges.
- Lets you filter by industry and location.
- Useful for both SEO and Google Ads planning.
Shopify use case: quickly validate new product ideas by checking whether there's enough search demand in your target country.
11. Keyword Surfer – Metrics inside the SERP
Keyword Surfer is another browser extension that keeps things lightweight.
- Displays volume and related keywords directly in Google results.
- Shows basic on-page metrics for the top-ranking pages.
- Perfect for fast research without opening a separate tool.
Shopify use case: use it when doing manual SERP reviews to decide how strong competition is for a new blog or collection idea.
How to build a simple keyword stack for your store
You don't need all 11 tools. A practical Shopify stack might look like this:
- One main suite: Ahrefs or Semrush for deep research and competitor analysis.
- One idea generator: AnswerThePublic or KeywordTool.io for questions and long-tail phrases.
- One browser helper: Keywords Everywhere or Keyword Surfer for quick SERP checks.
- One free baseline: Google Keyword Planner for cross-checking volume.
Feed the final keyword list into your content roadmap and track the results in Topify—from impressions and clicks to revenue per keyword group.
Next steps
- Pick 2–4 tools from this list that fit your budget and workflow.
- Run keyword research around your top 3 money-making collections.
- Map each keyword cluster to a specific page type: product, collection, guide, or FAQ.
- Publish or update those pages, then watch their performance in Topify over the next 4–12 weeks.
Keyword tools are only powerful when tied to action and data. With a focused stack and clear tracking, they'll help your Shopify store win search demand long before your competitors even notice the opportunity.
