Keyword Planner data without a Google Ads account
Google's help center says that to access Keyword Planner, "You must complete your account setup by entering your billing information to access basic features like 'Get ideas for new keywords'"[1]. That means a Google Ads account and a payment method, even if you never run an ad.
If you just want search volume and CPC, there are three ways around that:
- Free, up to 10 keywords: the free keyword volume checker on this site.
- Small or local lists: the Keyword Planner API, priced per keyword with data, down to city level.
- Big lists: the Bulk Keyword Planner, a flat price per 1,000 keywords.
Both paid tools run on Apify. Apify's free plan includes $5 of monthly credit and doesn't need a credit card[2].
Our prices
Keyword Planner API
| Event | Price (USD) |
|---|---|
| Actor Start | $0.00005 ($0.05 per 1,000) |
| Keyword with data | $0.0015 ($1.50 per 1,000) |
| Lookup | $0.10 |
Scheduled change from 2026-10-26: Lookup $0.12.
Live pay-per-event prices from the Apify API as of 2026-10-19. Platform usage is included. Check the Store page for the current price.
Bulk Keyword Planner
| Event | Price (USD) |
|---|---|
| Actor Start | $0.00005 ($0.05 per 1,000) |
| Batch of up to 1,000 keywords | $0.19 |
Live pay-per-event prices from the Apify API as of 2026-10-19. Platform usage is included. Check the Store page for the current price.
FAQ
Can I use Keyword Planner without a credit card?
Google's help page says you must enter billing information to use Keyword Planner. These tools don't need a Google Ads account. Apify's free plan needs no credit card.
Is the data the same as Keyword Planner?
The tools return Google Keyword Planner search volume, CPC and competition data.
Why does Keyword Planner show ranges like 1K–10K?
Google often shows ranges to accounts without active ad spend. These tools return a number for each keyword.
Sources
- Google Ads Help, Use Keyword Planner, checked 2026-10-19
- Apify pricing (free plan), checked 2026-10-19