You don’t need to pay for keyword tools to do effective Pinterest keyword research. Here are the best free options — starting with what’s built into Pinterest itself.
1. Pinterest Search Autocomplete (Free, Built-In)
The best free Pinterest keyword tool is Pinterest itself.
Go to Pinterest.com, click the search bar, and start typing your topic. The autocomplete suggestions are generated from real search volume data. These are actual terms people type.
Example workflow: 1. Type “easy dinner” → see “easy dinner recipes,” “easy dinner ideas for family,” “easy dinner party ideas” 2. Click “easy dinner recipes” → look at the guided search chips that appear 3. The chips show: “for family,” “healthy,” “quick,” “on a budget,” “chicken,” etc. 4. These chips are your sub-keyword list
This method is free, always up-to-date, and directly reflects Pinterest’s search data.
2. Pinterest Trends (Free)
trends.pinterest.com shows search volume over time for any keyword.
Use it to: - See when seasonal keywords peak (so you can publish 6–8 weeks before) - Find keywords that are trending upward (publish now before competition increases) - Compare keyword volumes to prioritise your content calendar
3. Pin Inspector (Limited Free Plan)
Pin Inspector is a desktop tool specifically for Pinterest keyword research. It scrapes Pinterest autocomplete data in bulk and exports to CSV. The free version is limited but useful for getting started.
4. KeySearch (Limited Free Trial)
KeySearch includes Pinterest keyword data alongside Google data. Useful if you’re doing SEO for both search engines. Free trial gives you a limited number of searches.
5. Semrush Free Account (2 Searches/Day)
Semrush’s free tier allows 2 searches per day — enough to validate your top keyword targets. Full Pinterest keyword data requires a paid plan.
Building Your Keyword List for Free
For most creators, Pinterest’s own tools are sufficient:
- Use autocomplete to find your primary keyword list
- Use Pinterest Trends to validate volume and timing
- Research competitor pin titles for additional terms
Organise keywords by cluster: - Primary keywords (your board names) - Secondary keywords (pin title variations) - Long-tail keywords (specific pin titles for individual posts)
For implementation: Pinterest Keyword Research and Pinterest SEO Best Practices.
PinPublish integrates keyword-aware AI title suggestions directly into pin creation — so your keyword research translates into optimised pin titles automatically.