clearscope-keyword-discovery vs google-keyword-planner
Clearscope Keyword Discovery vs Google Keyword Planner — features, pricing, and which to choose for your SEO workflow in 2026.
Quick Verdict
You're choosing between Google's free keyword research workhorse and Clearscope's premium content opportunity finder. Google Keyword Planner gives you raw search data straight from the source, while Clearscope Keyword Discovery focuses on finding topically relevant keywords that fit your content strategy.
The core difference is approach: Google Keyword Planner shows you what people search for with volume estimates and competition data. Clearscope Keyword Discovery analyzes competitive gaps and suggests keywords based on semantic relevance to your existing content topics, making it more of a strategic content planning tool than a traditional keyword research platform.
Feature Comparison
Google Keyword Planner delivers comprehensive search volume data, historical trends, and competition levels directly from Google's advertising platform. You get accurate search volumes, seasonal patterns, and geographic breakdowns for any keyword. The tool also provides bid estimates for paid search campaigns and lets you upload keyword lists for bulk analysis. Clearscope Keyword Discovery takes a different approach by analyzing your competitors' content and identifying keyword gaps based on topical clusters. It suggests keywords that semantically relate to your target topics and shows opportunities where competitors rank but you don't. The tool integrates with Clearscope's content optimization workflow, automatically suggesting keywords during content creation rather than requiring separate research sessions. Google's tool excels at raw data — you'll know exactly how many people search for "project management software" each month. Clearscope excels at context — it'll suggest "team collaboration tools" and "workflow automation" as semantically related opportunities you might have missed.
Pricing Comparison
Google Keyword Planner is completely free, though you need a Google Ads account to access it. You don't need to run ads to use the tool, but some features like precise search volumes require active ad spend. Without spending on ads, you'll see volume ranges like "1K-10K" instead of exact numbers. Clearscope Keyword Discovery comes bundled with Clearscope's Business plan, which starts around $170/month. There's no standalone pricing — you're paying for the entire Clearscope content optimization platform. This makes it expensive if keyword research is your only need, but reasonable if you're already using Clearscope for content optimization and want integrated keyword suggestions.
Best For
Google Keyword Planner is better when you need comprehensive search data for PPC campaigns, want to validate keyword volumes before content creation, or need a free tool for basic keyword research. It's essential for understanding search demand and seasonal trends across any market or topic. Clearscope Keyword Discovery is better when you're focused on content marketing strategy, need semantically related keyword suggestions, or want keyword research integrated into your content creation workflow. It shines for content teams who think in topics rather than individual keywords.
The Verdict
Choose Google Keyword Planner for most keyword research needs — it's free, comprehensive, and gives you actual Google data. Only choose Clearscope Keyword Discovery if you're already a Clearscope customer or your content team needs semantic keyword suggestions more than raw search volumes. The integration convenience doesn't justify the cost unless keyword research is just one part of your Clearscope workflow.