When you’re building an online business, keyword research tools are essential. But here’s the problem: premium tools like Ahrefs cost $99+ per month, which is brutal when you’re just starting out. After setting up my website hosting with Bluehost and choosing AWeber for email marketing, keyword research was my next priority. After using Ahrefs for over a year, I made the switch to Ubersuggest – and I’m here to share my honest Ubersuggest review after 3+ years of real-world use.
The bottom line: Ubersuggest isn’t as comprehensive as Ahrefs, but it gives you 80% of what you need at 30% of the price. For most small business owners and bloggers, that’s a winning trade-off.
Here’s everything you need to know about Neil Patel’s SEO tool, including when it works brilliantly and when it falls short.
My Ubersuggest Setup: Individual Plan
I’m currently on the Ubersuggest Individual plan at $29/month, which includes:
- 150 searches per day
- 300 keyword suggestions per search
- 5 competitor analysis reports per day
- Site audit for 1 website
- Backlink data and analysis
- Rank tracking for 125 keywords
- Content ideas and suggestions
Why I chose Individual over Business: For a single website owner, the Individual plan provides plenty of searches and data without the $49/month price tag.
Why I Switched from Ahrefs to Ubersuggest
Let me be completely honest about this transition. Ahrefs is objectively better in terms of data accuracy and depth. But here’s why I switched:
Cost Reality Check:
- Ahrefs Lite: $99/month ($1,188/year)
- Ubersuggest Individual: $29/month ($348/year)
- Annual savings: $840
When you’re starting out, that $840 difference can fund other essential tools like email marketing, hosting, and content creation tools. Sometimes “good enough” beats “perfect but expensive.”
What I Love About Ubersuggest (The Good)
1. Keyword Research That Actually Works
Despite some limitations, Ubersuggest excels at finding keyword opportunities. The keyword suggestions are comprehensive, and the difficulty scores help me identify winnable terms.
Screenshot of my actual Ubersuggest dashboard – notice the clean interface and comprehensive SEO opportunities section
Real example: Using Ubersuggest, I found several low-competition keywords in the “online business tools” space that now drive consistent traffic to my site. The keyword difficulty scores proved accurate for ranking.
2. Site Audit Features Are Solid
The technical SEO audit catches most important issues:
- Broken links and 404 errors
- Missing meta descriptions
- Page speed recommendations
- Mobile usability problems
- SSL certificate issues
It’s not as detailed as Screaming Frog, but it covers the basics that matter most for small websites.
3. Competitor Analysis Insights
One of Ubersuggest’s strongest features is seeing what keywords your competitors rank for. I regularly analyze competitor sites to find content gaps and keyword opportunities I might have missed.
The process:
- Enter competitor domain
- Review their top-performing keywords
- Identify content opportunities
- Check their backlink sources
4. Content Ideas Generator
The content suggestions feature helps overcome writer’s block. Input a keyword, and Ubersuggest shows:
- Related topic ideas
- Questions people are asking
- Content that’s performing well
- Suggested headlines and angles
5. User Interface Is Beginner-Friendly
Coming from Ahrefs’ sometimes overwhelming interface, Ubersuggest feels more approachable. Everything is clearly labeled, and the learning curve is much gentler for SEO beginners.
Where Ubersuggest Falls Short (The Honest Truth)
1. Data Requires Extra Steps
This is my biggest frustration. Unlike Ahrefs, which shows current search volume and trends immediately, Ubersuggest often requires clicking through multiple screens to get complete data.
Example workflow in Ubersuggest:
- Search for keyword
- Click keyword for details
- Navigate to trend data
- Check competition analysis
- Finally get complete picture
Ahrefs shows this all on one screen. It’s a small thing, but it adds up over hundreds of keyword searches.
2. Search Volume Data Can Be Inconsistent
I’ve noticed search volume numbers that don’t quite match other tools or Google’s own data. It’s usually in the right ballpark, but precision matters for strategic decisions.
3. Backlink Database Is Smaller
Compared to Ahrefs’ massive backlink index, Ubersuggest’s backlink data feels incomplete. You’ll find the major backlinks, but smaller, niche sites might not appear.
4. Limited Historical Data
Ahrefs excels at showing keyword trends over time. Ubersuggest provides some historical data, but not with the same depth or accuracy.
5. Daily Search Limits Can Be Restrictive
With 150 searches per day, I occasionally hit the limit during intensive keyword research sessions. It’s usually enough, but power users might feel constrained.
Ubersuggest vs Top Competitors
Ubersuggest vs Ahrefs
Ahrefs wins on:
- Data accuracy and completeness
- Historical trend data
- Backlink database size
- Advanced filtering options
Ubersuggest wins on:
- Price point (70% cheaper)
- Beginner-friendly interface
- Content idea generation
- All-in-one simplicity
Winner: Ahrefs for agencies and power users, Ubersuggest for small businesses and solopreneurs
Ubersuggest vs SEMrush
SEMrush offers more marketing features (PPC, social media) but costs $119/month for comparable data limits.
Winner: Ubersuggest for pure SEO focus, SEMrush for comprehensive digital marketing
Ubersuggest vs KWFinder
KWFinder has beautiful keyword difficulty visualization but limited additional features beyond keyword research.
Winner: Ubersuggest for comprehensive SEO toolkit, KWFinder for pure keyword research aesthetics
Ubersuggest Pricing: Is It Worth It?
Individual Plan Analysis:
- Monthly cost: $29
- Annual cost: $348 (vs $1,188 for Ahrefs)
- Cost per keyword research: ~$0.20 per day
- ROI calculation: If Ubersuggest helps you find just 2-3 good keywords per month that drive traffic, it pays for itself
What You Get for $29/month:
- Comprehensive keyword research
- Site audit capabilities
- Competitor analysis
- Content idea generation
- Rank tracking
- Basic backlink analysis
My honest assessment: At $29/month, Ubersuggest delivers solid value for small business owners who need reliable SEO data without enterprise-level costs.
Who Should Choose Ubersuggest?
Perfect for:
- Small business owners on a budget
- Bloggers and content creators who need keyword research
- SEO beginners who want a gentle learning curve
- Solo entrepreneurs managing one main website
- Anyone switching from expensive tools like Ahrefs or SEMrush
Not ideal for:
- SEO agencies needing enterprise-level data accuracy
- Large businesses with complex, multi-site needs
- Power users requiring advanced filtering and analysis
- Anyone needing real-time, highly precise data
My 3+ Years of Results with Ubersuggest
Keywords discovered: 200+ low-competition opportunities Content ideas generated: Dozens of blog post topics Site issues identified: 15+ technical SEO problems fixed Competitor insights: Regular analysis of 5+ competitor sites Traffic growth: Steady organic growth targeting Ubersuggest-identified keywords Overall satisfaction: 7.5/10
What I’ve learned:
- Perfect is the enemy of good enough in SEO tools
- Budget-friendly tools can deliver real results with consistent use
- The best SEO tool is the one you actually use regularly
- Data accuracy matters less than taking action on insights
Common Ubersuggest Questions Answered
Is Ubersuggest better than free tools like Google Keyword Planner?
Absolutely. Google Keyword Planner shows broad ranges and focuses on PPC. Ubersuggest provides specific search volumes, difficulty scores, and SEO-focused data.
How accurate is Ubersuggest’s keyword difficulty score?
In my experience, about 80% accurate. I’ve successfully ranked for keywords marked as “easy” and struggled with some marked “medium.” Use it as a guide, not gospel.
Can I cancel Ubersuggest anytime?
Yes, no long-term contracts. You can cancel through your account dashboard or contact support.
Does Ubersuggest have a free version?
Yes, but it’s quite limited (3 searches per day). The free version is good for testing, but you’ll need a paid plan for serious SEO work.
How does the Chrome extension work?
The free Chrome extension shows search volume and difficulty data directly in Google search results. It’s handy for quick keyword validation.
Ubersuggest Review: Final Verdict
After 3+ years of real-world use, I’d recommend Ubersuggest for most small business owners and content creators who need reliable SEO data without enterprise costs.
The honest truth: Ubersuggest isn’t perfect. The data requires extra clicks, search volumes can be approximate, and the backlink database isn’t comprehensive. But for $29/month, it provides 80% of what most people need for successful SEO.
Why I’m sticking with Ubersuggest:
- Budget-friendly pricing that fits small business reality
- Comprehensive feature set covering all SEO basics
- Consistent keyword discoveries that drive real traffic
- User-friendly interface that doesn’t overwhelm
- Regular updates and new features from Neil Patel’s team
My recommendation: If you’re currently using expensive tools like Ahrefs and feeling the budget strain, Ubersuggest is a solid downgrade that maintains most functionality. If you’re starting out, it’s an excellent first SEO tool that can grow with your business.
Ready to try Ubersuggest? You can start your free trial here and see if it meets your SEO research needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How long is the Ubersuggest free trial? A: 7 days for paid plans, plus ongoing access to the limited free version.
Q: Can I upgrade or downgrade my plan anytime? A: Yes, plan changes take effect immediately with prorated billing.
Q: Does Ubersuggest work for local SEO? A: Yes, it includes local keyword research and can track local rankings.
Q: How often is the data updated? A: Keyword data updates monthly, ranking data updates weekly, and backlink data updates regularly.
Q: Is there an API available? A: Yes, Ubersuggest offers API access for developers and advanced users.
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase through these links, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend products I personally use and believe in. This review is based on my actual 3+ years of experience with Ubersuggest.