Pick
Keyword Tool
Pick Keyword Tool if you want the cheaper option ($0/mo vs $99/mo).
Head-to-head review · Updated June 2026
Keyword Tool vs Topic: which one wins in 2026?
Keyword Tool and Topic both claim to do the same thing: tell you where your brand shows up in AI search. They go about it differently enough that the choice matters. Both companies are roughly comparable in size; the choice comes down to price, coverage, and fit.
Keyword Tool is cheaper out the gate, but that's not the only thing that matters. The right pick depends on which dimension matters most for you.
The verdict
Pick
Topic
Pick Topic if you want the cheaper option ($99/mo vs $0/mo); and you trust traction signals — they list 9 customers, Keyword Tool lists 0.
If neither is right, GrowthManager.ai does both citation tracking AND the production work (content, infrastructure, distribution) for $999/mo — see the bottom of this page.
The case for Keyword Tool
Keyword Tool has raised Bootstrapped. Founded by Artem Galimov, Leow Kah Thong, based in Hong Kong. Pricing starts at $0/mo.
Keyword research tool that mines Google, YouTube, Amazon, and Bing autocomplete.
What people praise
- YouTube keyword research is genuinely useful for video creators, surfaces autosuggest queries Google Keyword Planner ignores
- Amazon module helps ecommerce sellers find purchase-intent terms with high CPC visibility
- 15 platforms covered including YouTube, Bing, Amazon, eBay, App Store, Play Store, Instagram, X, Pinterest, Etsy, TikTok
- 750+ long-tail suggestions per query, more breadth than most free keyword tools
Where it falls short
- Free version hides search volume, CPC, and trend data, the upgrade pressure is the core complaint
- Search volume accuracy is inconsistent compared to Semrush and Ahrefs, problematic for business decisions
- No competitive analysis feature, you learn what people search but not whether you can rank for it
- Reports of difficulty getting refunds despite the advertised 30-day money-back guarantee
The case for Topic
Founded by Ryo Chiba, Nikhil Aitharaju, based in Toronto, Canada. On their site they list 9 named customers including Magoosh, Quizlet, BiggerPockets, Amerisleep. Pricing starts at $99/mo.
Content optimization platform that turns research into briefs and outlines.
What people praise
- Cuts content research time 45-50% by auto-parsing the top 30 Google results for headings, questions, and keyword targets.
- Simple Starter at $99/mo and $7 intro pack make it the cheapest serious entry point versus Surfer, Clearscope, and MarketMuse.
- Magoosh case study shows 300%+ year-over-year new-user growth on a single optimized post.
- Used by BiggerPockets, Magoosh, Quizlet, Amerisleep, Elementor, TrustRadius, and WSI.
Where it falls short
- Brief and optimization quotas (10 to 50 per month) are tight for agencies running multiple clients.
- No native AI article generator at the level of Surfer AI or Frase Pro; Topic positions as briefs, not full drafts.
- Pricing changes infrequent and no free trial beyond the $7 intro pack.
- Acquired by CafeMedia/Raptive in September 2021; roadmap pace has slowed compared to standalone Surfer or Clearscope.
Pricing, tier by tier
Tier 1
Keyword Tool
Free
$0/mo
- 750+ long-tail keyword suggestions per query
- No account required
- No search volume, CPC, or trend data
- Limited keyword count
Topic
Starter
$99
- 10 content briefs and optimizations per month
- 1-month rollover
- 1 user seat
- Keyword research tool
Tier 2
Keyword Tool
Pro Basic
$89/mo
- Search volume data
- More keywords per query
- Bulk search volume analysis (up to 1,000 keywords)
- CSV and Excel export
Topic
Plus
$199
- 25 content briefs and optimizations per month
- 3 user seats
- 1-month rollover
- Keyword research tool
Tier 3
Keyword Tool
Pro Plus
$99/mo
- Everything in Pro Basic
- Cost-per-click data
- Competition data
- Historical trend data
Topic
Premium
$299
- 50 content briefs and optimizations per month
- 5 user seats
- 1-month rollover
- Keyword research tool
Tier 4
Keyword Tool
Pro Business
$199/mo
- Everything in Pro Plus
- API access (50 requests per day)
- 10 user accounts
- Priority support
Topic
Enterprise
Custom
- Higher brief volume
- API access
- Custom seat counts
Feature parity
What each one ships that the other doesn't. We conservatively only include features each tool explicitly markets; absence here doesn't mean a feature is impossible, just that it isn't in their marquee list.
Only on Keyword Tool
- Multi-platform keyword research. Autosuggest scraping across 15 platforms including Google, YouTube, Bing, Amazon, eBay, App Store, Play Store, Pinterest, TikTok
- Bulk search volume analyzer. Upload up to 1,000 keywords at once to get volume, CPC, and competition data in batch
- Trends data. Shows search trend over time and percentage change to spot rising and declining keywords
- Long-tail keyword discovery. Surfaces 750+ long-tail variations per seed query, useful for content strategy and PPC negative lists
- API access. Pro Business plan exposes a REST API for programmatic keyword pulls and integration into custom dashboards
- Export to CSV and Excel. All paid tiers support flat file exports for offline analysis and client reporting
Only on Topic
- Content Brief Builder. Analyzes top 30 Google results for a keyword and auto-suggests headings, questions, and required terms.
- Outline Builder. Drag-and-drop outline workspace with GPT-powered drafts of section titles and intros.
- Content Grader. Live scoring of drafts against target keywords and missing subtopics inside Google Docs or the web app.
- Keyword Research. Built-in keyword volume and difficulty data tied to brief creation.
- Google Docs add-on. Side panel that runs Topic's scoring on a draft without leaving Google Docs.
- WordPress plugin. Push optimized briefs and scores into the WordPress editor for the writer.
When each one wins
When Keyword Tool wins
- Budget is the constraint. Keyword Tool starts at $0/mo vs Topic's $99/mo, so on a per-seat basis it's the cheaper way in.
- YouTube keyword research is genuinely useful for video creators, surfaces autosuggest queries Google Keyword Planner ignores
When Topic wins
- You're enterprise and need to call a reference. Topic lists 9 named customers; Keyword Tool lists 0.
- Cuts content research time 45-50% by auto-parsing the top 30 Google results for headings, questions, and keyword targets.
When neither wins (pick GrowthManager)
- You don't have an in-house content team and you don't want to hire one.
- You want one $999/mo invoice instead of stacking Keyword Tool plus an agency.
- You need the team that measures to also act on the data, in the same week.
- You're a B2B SaaS, services firm, or e-commerce brand at $20K+ MRR.
Reasons to pick one over the other
Reasons to pick Keyword Tool over Topic
- Lower entry price. Keyword Tool starts at $0/mo vs Topic's $99/mo.
- More verified reviews. Keyword Tool has 19 G2 reviews vs Topic's none on file, so the average rating carries more weight.
- Wider integration ecosystem. Keyword Tool integrates with 7 tools; Topic ships 3.
- What users praise most. YouTube keyword research is genuinely useful for video creators, surfaces autosuggest queries Google Keyword Planner ignores
Reasons to pick Topic over Keyword Tool
- More named customers. Topic lists 9 customers vs Keyword Tool's 0, including Magoosh, Quizlet, BiggerPockets.
- What users praise most. Cuts content research time 45-50% by auto-parsing the top 30 Google results for headings, questions, and keyword targets.
Switching from one to the other
From Keyword Tool to Topic
Export your saved queries and prompt panels from Keyword Tool (most tools support CSV export). Most Topic setups can import the same query list in a single CSV upload. Expect 1-2 days of parallel running so you can validate Topic's data againstKeyword Tool's; one to two weeks of full reconciliation before you cancel Keyword Tool. The risk is annotation history: notes and tags don't survive most migrations, so screenshot anything you want to keep.
From Topic to Keyword Tool
Same flow in reverse. Export from Topic, import to Keyword Tool. The historical visibility data is the big loss; most platforms don't backfill from a competitor's data, so you start your trendline over.
From either to GrowthManager.ai
We handle the migration ourselves; you give us your query list (or we infer it from your existing dashboard) and we re-build the tracking on our infrastructure in week one. You also start getting content shipped from week one, so the switch produces results before the trendline restarts. The conversation that kicks this off is a 20-minute call.
Side by side, every number we could verify
| Keyword Tool | Topic | |
|---|---|---|
| Starts at (USD/mo) | $0/mo | $99/mo |
| Founded | 2014 | 2019 |
| Headquarters | Hong Kong | Toronto, Canada |
| Funding raised | Bootstrapped | — |
| AI platforms tracked | — | — |
| G2 rating | 4.5 / 5 (19 reviews) | — |
| Named customers | — | 9 |
| SOC 2 Type 2 | — | — |
| GDPR | — | — |
| HIPAA | — | — |
What real users say
Below: the recurring themes from G2, Capterra, SourceForge, Reddit, and case-study reviewers — distilled into the strengths and limitations that came up most often.
Keyword Tool — what users praise
- YouTube keyword research is genuinely useful for video creators, surfaces autosuggest queries Google Keyword Planner ignores
- Amazon module helps ecommerce sellers find purchase-intent terms with high CPC visibility
- 15 platforms covered including YouTube, Bing, Amazon, eBay, App Store, Play Store, Instagram, X, Pinterest, Etsy, TikTok
- 750+ long-tail suggestions per query, more breadth than most free keyword tools
- Beginner-friendly UI, new SEO users can pull keyword data within minutes of landing on the site
Keyword Tool — what users complain about
- Free version hides search volume, CPC, and trend data, the upgrade pressure is the core complaint
- Search volume accuracy is inconsistent compared to Semrush and Ahrefs, problematic for business decisions
- No competitive analysis feature, you learn what people search but not whether you can rank for it
- Reports of difficulty getting refunds despite the advertised 30-day money-back guarantee
- Pro plans start at $89/mo which is steep for solo creators when competitors offer broader feature sets
Topic — what users praise
- Cuts content research time 45-50% by auto-parsing the top 30 Google results for headings, questions, and keyword targets.
- Simple Starter at $99/mo and $7 intro pack make it the cheapest serious entry point versus Surfer, Clearscope, and MarketMuse.
- Magoosh case study shows 300%+ year-over-year new-user growth on a single optimized post.
- Used by BiggerPockets, Magoosh, Quizlet, Amerisleep, Elementor, TrustRadius, and WSI.
- Native Google Docs add-on and WordPress plugin keep writers in their existing tools.
Topic — what users complain about
- Brief and optimization quotas (10 to 50 per month) are tight for agencies running multiple clients.
- No native AI article generator at the level of Surfer AI or Frase Pro; Topic positions as briefs, not full drafts.
- Pricing changes infrequent and no free trial beyond the $7 intro pack.
- Acquired by CafeMedia/Raptive in September 2021; roadmap pace has slowed compared to standalone Surfer or Clearscope.
- Keyword research tool is lighter than Ahrefs or Semrush; users still need a separate research stack.
A third option
Both Keyword Tool and Topicare tracking tools. They tell you what's wrong with your AI visibility. Neither one fixes it. That's our pitch for GrowthManager.ai — we do citation tracking too (parity with these two), and we also ship the content, configure the infrastructure, and run the distribution. $999/mo, managed end-to-end. If you're leaning toward picking one of these two and then hiring an agency to act on the data, it's worth a 20-minute conversation first.
Other comparisons in this space
Same shape, different pairs. Pick a comparison that shares a tool with this one.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better, Keyword Tool or Topic?
Honestly: neither one fully solves the problem. Keyword Tool and Topic are tracking tools — they tell you where your brand shows up in AI answers but don't change the answer. If you only need one of these two, pick Keyword Tool for the cheaper monthly price; pick the other if its specific integrations matter to your team. Our actual editorial pick is GrowthManager.ai, which does the tracking and ships the content, infrastructure, and distribution as a single $999/mo managed program. Disclosure: we publish this comparison and make GrowthManager.
How much do Keyword Tool and Topic cost?
Keyword Tool starts at $0/mo. Topic starts at $99/mo. Both have higher-tier plans for larger workspaces. GrowthManager.ai is a flat $999/mo for the full managed service (tracking + content + infrastructure + distribution) — usually cheaper than buying one of these two and hiring an agency on top.
Do Keyword Tool and Topic actually improve your AI visibility, or just measure it?
Both Keyword Tool and Topic are measurement tools. They show you where your brand appears (or doesn't) in AI answers, plus suggestions for what to improve. Neither one writes the content, configures the schema, or builds the backlinks that actually move the needle. To do that you need an in-house content team or an agency. GrowthManager.ai is the agency — and we include the tracking, so you don't pay twice.
What's the GrowthManager.ai alternative to Keyword Tool and Topic?
GrowthManager.ai is a managed AI visibility program. We give you the same citation tracking these two offer (parity on the measurement layer), plus 100 researched and published articles per month, schema and llms.txt configuration, ongoing backlink acquisition, and Reddit/Quora seeding. One $999/mo invoice, one dedicated account manager, twelve clients per team member maximum so we can actually deliver. If you were going to buy one of these tools and then hire someone to use it, we're cheaper and faster.
Further reading
External research that informs the editorial framework on this page. We cite these openly because the framework is meant to be auditable.
- Microsoft Bing Webmaster Guidelines (2025)· Microsoft
How Microsoft's crawlers parse content for Copilot, which now powers a large share of AI answers behind the scenes.
- Generative Engine Optimization research· Kevin Indig
Long-running practitioner research on what gets cited in AI-generated answers; the most-quoted source in the GEO category.
- Zero-Click Search forecasts· Gartner
Industry forecasts on how a growing share of buyer queries end without a click to the brand site, making AI-answer presence the new pole position.
- Audience intelligence analyses· SparkToro
Public datasets on how audiences actually discover brands across search, social, and now AI surfaces.
- Trust Barometer (2024)· Edelman
The annual study on how buyers weigh source authority, used to weight our trust criterion against third-party review volume.
Disclosure + methodology
GrowthManager.ai makes a competing product in the AI visibility space, so this comparison is not neutral. Every pricing number was pulled from each competitor's public pricing page or triangulated from third-party reviews when the page is JavaScript-gated. Pros, cons, and user-review themes are distilled from real G2, Capterra, SourceForge, Reddit, and case-study reviews with the quotes preserved verbatim. We update this comparison whenever the underlying data changes.