Keyword Tool API Documentation

Overview

Keyword Tool API gives you the same data you get in the product: 100% accurate search volume data for Google and Bing (sourced directly from Google Keyword Planner and Bing Keyword Planner), cost per click, competition scores, and keyword suggestions. You can access it via the web interface, API, or MCP.

You can:

• Get 100% accurate Google and Bing search volume (and reliable estimated search volume for YouTube, Perplexity, Amazon, eBay, App Store, Play Store, Instagram, X (Twitter), Pinterest, Etsy, TikTok, Naver).
• Get keyword suggestions from Google, YouTube, Bing, Perplexity, Amazon, eBay, App Store, Play Store, Instagram, X (Twitter), Pinterest, Etsy, TikTok, Naver, Google Trends.
• Analyze competitors: get keywords associated with a given URL (Google).

Subscription and Access

To use the API you need a paid Keyword Tool Pro subscription. Subscribe and get your API key at keywordtool.io/pro.

All paid plans include API access. Daily request limits are shared across the web interface, API, and MCP.

The only free way to use Keyword Tool programmatically is via guest MCP (no API key or signup required). See the MCP section below.

Authentication

Pass your API key in every request. You can send it as a query parameter apikey or in the request body (JSON/form).

Base URLs

Use the sandbox base for testing without consuming production quota.

Search Volume Service

Get 100% accurate Google and Bing search volume for a list of keywords (sourced directly from Google Keyword Planner and Bing Keyword Planner). You can also get reliable estimated search volume for YouTube, Perplexity, Amazon, eBay, App Store, Play Store, Instagram, X (Twitter), Pinterest, Etsy, TikTok, and Naver.

• Each request accepts 1 to 1,000 keywords. Use the full 1,000 when possible.
• All keywords in a response share the same localization (country/language). For different locations, make separate requests.
• Google and Bing numbers match Google Ads Keyword Planner and Bing Ads Keyword Planner.
• Returns: average monthly volume (Google 12-48 months by plan, Bing up to 24, others 12), monthly breakdown, cost per click, and competition scores (cmp). See Responses.

Use the Search Volume Endpoint to call this service.

Keyword Suggestions Service

Get keyword suggestions from Google, YouTube, Bing, Perplexity, Amazon, eBay, App Store, Play Store, Instagram, X (Twitter), Pinterest, Etsy, TikTok, Naver, and Google Trends. Data matches your active Keyword Tool plan in the web interface.

• Use category to choose the search vertical.
• Use country and language to localize.
• Use type to get suggestions from the equivalent of: Keyword Suggestions, Related Keywords, Questions, or Prepositions tab (suggestions, related, questions, prepositions).

Use the Keyword Suggestions Endpoint.

Analyze Competitors Service

Get keywords that a search engine associates with a given URL. Pass one seed URL. The response can include up to 2,000+ keywords with monthly search volume, cost per click, top of page bid (low and high), and Google Ads competition.

Use the Analyze Competitors Endpoint (Google only).

Search Volume Endpoint

POST to the path for the desired engine. Base:

https://api.keywordtool.io/v2/search/volume/ {provider} (production) or

https://api.keywordtool.io/v2-sandbox/search/volume/ {provider} (test)

Production: Exact Search Volume

Test: Exact Search Volume

Production: Estimated Search Volume

Test: Estimated Search Volume

Same paths with base https://api.keywordtool.io/v2-sandbox/search/volume/ (youtube, perplexity, amazon, ebay, app-store, play-store, instagram, twitter, pinterest, etsy, tiktok, naver).

Parameters (Search Volume, e.g. Google)

Keyword Suggestions Endpoint

POST to https://api.keywordtool.io/v2/search/suggestions/ {provider} (production) or https://api.keywordtool.io/v2-sandbox/search/suggestions/ {provider} (test).

Production

Test: same paths with base https://api.keywordtool.io/v2-sandbox/search/suggestions/.

Parameters (Keyword Suggestions, e.g. Google)

Analyze Competitors Endpoint

Production (Google only):

Parameters (Analyze Competitors)

Quota Endpoint

Check remaining API usage and quota.

Production: https://api.keywordtool.io/v2/quota

Method: GET. Pass apikey as a query parameter.

Try It: Search Volume (Google)

Paste your API key and body parameters, then send the request or copy the code in your preferred language.

MCP and Setup

MCP (Model Context Protocol) lets AI assistants such as Claude Desktop, Cursor IDE, and ChatGPT use Keyword Tool for keyword research. You can connect with Pro MCP (full access with a paid subscription) or Guest MCP (free, limited).

Pro MCP (Paid)

Full MCP access with Search Volume, Analyze Competitors, and Google/Bing platforms. Requires a Keyword Tool Pro subscription.

• URL: https://mcp.keywordtool.io

Claude Desktop (Connectors): Settings → Connectors → Add custom connector → Name: Keyword Tool, Remote MCP server URL: https://mcp.keywordtool.io. Your browser will open to log in and authorize.

Claude Desktop (config file): Add to mcpServers: "keywordtool": { "command": "npx", "args": ["-y", "mcp-remote", "https://mcp.keywordtool.io"] }. Requires Node.js 18+. On first use, a browser window will open for OAuth authorization.

Cursor IDE: In ~/.cursor/mcp.json, add: "keywordtool": { "url": "https://mcp.keywordtool.io" }.

Available tools: keywordtool-suggestions, keywordtool-search-volume, keywordtool-analyze-competitors, keywordtool-quota.

Full setup details: Pro MCP setup page.

Guest MCP (Free)

No API key, no signup. Limited to Google and Bing suggestions with volume and trend on the first 5 keywords (when cached). CPC, competition, and bid data require a Pro plan.

• URL: https://mcp.keywordtool.io/guest

Claude Desktop (Connectors): Settings → Connectors → Add custom connector → Name: Keyword Tool Guest, Remote MCP server URL: https://mcp.keywordtool.io/guest.

Claude Desktop (config file): Add to mcpServers: "keywordtool-guest": { "command": "npx", "args": ["-y", "mcp-remote", "https://mcp.keywordtool.io/guest"] }. Requires Node.js 18+.

Cursor IDE: In ~/.cursor/mcp.json, add: "keywordtool": { "url": "https://mcp.keywordtool.io/guest" }.

Full setup details: Guest MCP setup page.

Responses

Responses can be JSON or XML (output parameter). Field descriptions:

Sample Response (JSON)

{
  "results": {
    "table": {
      "string": "table",
      "volume": 2740000,
      "m1": 2740000, "m1_month": 12, "m1_year": 2025,
      "m2": 2740000, "m2_month": 11, "m2_year": 2025,
      "trend": -0.33,
      "cpc": 0.3,
      "top_of_page_bid_low": 0.02,
      "top_of_page_bid_high": 0.46,
      "cmp": 0.85
    }
  },
  "total_keywords": 1
}

Sample Response (XML)

<?xml version="1.0"?>
<results>
  <total_keywords>1</total_keywords>
  <itemgroup>
    <item string="table" volume="2740000"
          m1="2740000" m1_month="12" m1_year="2025"
          trend="-0.33" cpc="0.3"
          top_of_page_bid_low="0.02"
          top_of_page_bid_high="0.46"
          cmp="0.85"/>
  </itemgroup>
</results>

Limits

• Daily request limit depends on plan and is shared across the web interface, API, and MCP. It is counted in a rolling 24-hour window (not by timezone). Example: 100/day and 1 request at 3pm → 99 left until 3pm next day.
• API endpoint burst limit: 15 API requests per minute (rolling 1-minute window).
• Use the Quota endpoint to check remaining requests.
• Need custom limits? Contact us.

Error Codes

Examples

Replace [APIKEY] with your API key from your account after subscribing.

Google Keyword Suggestions

Basic (GET URL)

https://api.keywordtool.io/v2/search/suggestions/google?apikey=[APIKEY]&keyword=apple&metrics=true&metrics_location=2840&metrics_language=en&metrics_network=googlesearchnetwork&metrics_currency=USD&output=json

cURL (POST)

curl --request POST 'https://api.keywordtool.io/v2/search/suggestions/google' \
  --header 'Content-Type: application/json' \
  --data-raw '{
    "apikey": "[APIKEY]",
    "keyword": "apple",
    "category": "web",
    "country": "US",
    "language": "en",
    "type": "suggestions",
    "exclude": [],
    "metrics": true,
    "metrics_location": [2840],
    "metrics_language": ["en"],
    "metrics_network": "googlesearchnetwork",
    "metrics_currency": "USD",
    "output": "json"
  }'

Node.js

async function getKeywordSuggestions() {
  const response = await fetch('https://api.keywordtool.io/v2/search/suggestions/google', {
    method: 'POST',
    headers: { 'Content-Type': 'application/json' },
    body: JSON.stringify({
      apikey: "[APIKEY]",
      keyword: "apple",
      category: "web",
      country: "US",
      language: "en",
      type: "suggestions",
      exclude: [],
      metrics: true,
      metrics_location: [2840],
      metrics_language: ["en"],
      metrics_network: "googlesearchnetwork",
      metrics_currency: "USD",
      output: "json"
    })
  });
  const data = await response.json();
  console.log(data);
}

getKeywordSuggestions();

PHP

<?php
$params = [
  'apikey' => '[APIKEY]',
  'keyword' => 'apple',
  'country' => 'US',
  'language' => 'en',
  'type' => 'suggestions',
  'exclude' => [],
  'metrics' => true,
  'metrics_location' => [2840],
  'metrics_language' => ['en'],
  'metrics_network' => 'googlesearchnetwork',
  'metrics_currency' => 'USD',
  'output' => 'json',
];
$ch = curl_init();
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_URL, 'https://api.keywordtool.io/v2/search/suggestions/google');
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_POST, true);
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_POSTFIELDS, json_encode($params));
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_RETURNTRANSFER, true);
$output = curl_exec($ch);
$response = json_decode($output, true);
var_dump($response);

Python

import requests

url = "https://api.keywordtool.io/v2/search/suggestions/google"
data = {
  "apikey": "[APIKEY]",
  "keyword": "apple",
  "category": "web",
  "country": "US",
  "language": "en",
  "type": "suggestions",
  "exclude": [],
  "metrics": True,
  "metrics_location": [2840],
  "metrics_language": ["en"],
  "metrics_network": "googlesearchnetwork",
  "metrics_currency": "USD",
  "output": "json"
}
response = requests.post(url, json=data)
print(response.json())

Ruby

require 'net/http'
require 'json'

uri = URI('https://api.keywordtool.io/v2/search/suggestions/google')
http = Net::HTTP.new(uri.host, uri.port)
http.use_ssl = true
req = Net::HTTP::Post.new(uri)
req['Content-Type'] = 'application/json'
req.body = {
  apikey: "[APIKEY]",
  keyword: "apple",
  category: "web",
  country: "US",
  language: "en",
  type: "suggestions",
  exclude: [],
  metrics: true,
  metrics_location: [2840],
  metrics_language: ["en"],
  metrics_network: "googlesearchnetwork",
  metrics_currency: "USD",
  output: "json"
}.to_json
res = http.request(req)
puts res.body

Google Search Volume

Basic (GET URL)

https://api.keywordtool.io/v2/search/volume/google?apikey=[APIKEY]&keyword=["apple","samsung"]&metrics_location=2840&metrics_language=en&metrics_network=googlesearchnetwork&metrics_currency=USD&output=json

cURL (POST)

curl --request POST 'https://api.keywordtool.io/v2/search/volume/google' \
  --header 'Content-Type: application/json' \
  --data-raw '{
  "apikey": "[APIKEY]",
  "keyword": ["apple", "samsung"],
  "metrics_location": [2840],
  "metrics_language": ["en"],
  "metrics_network": "googlesearchnetwork",
  "metrics_currency": "USD",
  "output": "json"
}'

Node.js

async function getSearchVolume() {
  const response = await fetch('https://api.keywordtool.io/v2/search/volume/google', {
    method: 'POST',
    headers: { 'Content-Type': 'application/json' },
    body: JSON.stringify({
      apikey: "[APIKEY]",
      keyword: ["apple", "samsung"],
      metrics_location: [2840],
      metrics_language: ["en"],
      metrics_network: "googlesearchnetwork",
      metrics_currency: "USD",
      output: "json"
    })
  });
  const data = await response.json();
  console.log(data);
}

getSearchVolume();

PHP

<?php
$params = [
  'apikey' => '[APIKEY]',
  'keyword' => ['apple', 'samsung'],
  'metrics_location' => [2840],
  'metrics_language' => ['en'],
  'metrics_network' => 'googlesearchnetwork',
  'metrics_currency' => 'USD',
  'output' => 'json',
];
$ch = curl_init();
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_URL, 'https://api.keywordtool.io/v2/search/volume/google');
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_POST, true);
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_POSTFIELDS, json_encode($params));
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_RETURNTRANSFER, true);
$output = curl_exec($ch);
$response = json_decode($output, true);
var_dump($response);

Python

import requests

url = "https://api.keywordtool.io/v2/search/volume/google"
data = {
  "apikey": "[APIKEY]",
  "keyword": ["apple", "samsung"],
  "metrics_location": [2840],
  "metrics_language": ["en"],
  "metrics_network": "googlesearchnetwork",
  "metrics_currency": "USD",
  "output": "json"
}
response = requests.post(url, json=data)
print(response.json())

Ruby

require 'net/http'
require 'json'

uri = URI('https://api.keywordtool.io/v2/search/volume/google')
http = Net::HTTP.new(uri.host, uri.port)
http.use_ssl = true
req = Net::HTTP::Post.new(uri)
req['Content-Type'] = 'application/json'
req.body = {
  apikey: "[APIKEY]",
  keyword: ["apple", "samsung"],
  metrics_location: [2840],
  metrics_language: ["en"],
  metrics_network: "googlesearchnetwork",
  metrics_currency: "USD",
  output: "json"
}.to_json
res = http.request(req)
puts res.body

Appendix

Valid values for localization and filter parameters. Google and Bing are shown in full (they support metrics_location and metrics_language for precise targeting). Other platforms use estimated search volume based on country and language.