Every keyword your competitor ranks for is a keyword you could rank for with the right content — and you don't need Ahrefs to find them. This 2026 guide walks through five free ways to uncover competitor keywords, plus how to spot keyword gaps and prioritize the ones that will actually drive traffic and revenue.
Method 1: Free traffic checker with keyword data
The fastest path: paste the competitor into SiteWorthIt's traffic checker. The main report includes top ranking keywords pulled live from DataForSEO's Labs API — usually 5–10 terms per domain, ranked by traffic contribution. Unlimited, no sign-up, takes about 3 seconds.
Method 2: Google Search operators (manual but powerful)
You already have the most underused keyword tool open right now — Google. Try these queries:
site:competitor.com intitle:"keyword"— shows which of their pages target a term.site:competitor.com— lists every indexed page; skim titles for topic patterns."competitor name" intext:"keyword"— finds places where they've been mentioned for a term.
Tedious for 100 keywords, perfect for spot-checking your assumptions.
Method 3: Free tiers of paid tools
| Tool | Free keywords per lookup | Daily cap | Sign-up? |
|---|---|---|---|
| SiteWorthIt | Top 5–10 (in main report) | Unlimited | No |
| Semrush | Top 10 per query | 10 queries | Yes |
| Ubersuggest | Top 3–5 | 3 queries | Yes |
| Serpstat | Top 5 | 10 queries | Yes |
| Ahrefs free tier | Own verified sites only | — | Yes + verify |
Mix-and-match: use SiteWorthIt for the unlimited top-keyword signal, then burn one Semrush daily query to get deeper on your single most-important competitor.
Method 4: Google Search Console "Compare" trick
Counterintuitive but effective — if you already rank for a handful of terms, GSC's Queries report shows the queries driving impressions to your domain. Your biggest competitors are almost certainly fighting for the same queries. Their ranking distribution mirrors yours, minus a position or two.
Method 5: Chrome extensions for on-page signals
Install MozBar or Keywords Everywhere. Browse your competitor's blog — every page title, H1, and meta description telegraphs their target keyword. Free and requires zero tool budget.
How to find keyword gaps
- Export your ranking queries from Google Search Console → CSV.
- Paste the top 3 competitors into SiteWorthIt and collect their top keywords.
- Diff the two lists — keywords they rank for that you don't are gap opportunities.
- Sort gaps by search volume × difficulty. Low difficulty + high volume = quick wins.
- Build one piece of content per gap, prioritizing intent match (informational vs transactional).
Prioritizing the keywords you find
You'll end up with 50–500 competitor keywords. Don't chase them all. Filter:
- Search volume > 100/month — anything lower rarely repays the content effort.
- Keyword difficulty ≤ 40 — realistic for sites without huge authority.
- Commercial intent matches yours — don't chase info queries if you sell SaaS.
- Your domain authority is within ±10 of the ranking sites — check with DA Checker.
Frequently asked questions
Can I find my competitor's keywords for free?
Yes. Free tools like SiteWorthIt return a competitor's top ranking keywords via DataForSEO. Google Search Console shows your own keywords for free.
What is the best free competitor keyword tool?
SiteWorthIt surfaces each domain's top 5–10 ranking keywords inside its main traffic report — free, unlimited, no sign-up. For deeper lists, Semrush gives 10 free queries per day.
How do I find keyword gaps vs a competitor?
Pull your ranking keywords from Google Search Console, pull the competitor's from SiteWorthIt or Semrush, then diff the two lists. Keywords they rank for that you don't are your gaps.