keysearch vs keyword-chef
Keysearch vs Keyword Chef — features, pricing, and which to choose for your SEO workflow in 2026.
Quick Verdict
Keysearch and Keyword Chef target different approaches to keyword research. Keysearch is a traditional keyword research suite built for bloggers who need comprehensive data on search volume, difficulty, and SERP features. Keyword Chef takes a unique angle — it specifically hunts for keywords where forums and Q&A sites rank on page one, indicating content opportunities where authoritative sites haven't filled the gap.
The fundamental difference is scope versus specialization. Keysearch gives you standard keyword metrics across millions of terms, while Keyword Chef focuses on one specific opportunity type that can be incredibly valuable when executed well.
Feature Comparison
Keysearch delivers the full keyword research package: search volume data, keyword difficulty scores, SERP analysis with featured snippets tracking, and a content assistant that suggests related terms. You can analyze competitor keywords, track rankings, and export comprehensive keyword lists. The difficulty scoring helps bloggers identify winnable keywords within their domain authority range. Keyword Chef strips away most traditional metrics to focus on one insight: finding keywords where Reddit threads, Quora answers, and forum posts occupy page one positions. When forums rank highly, it typically means established sites haven't created comprehensive content for those queries. The tool identifies these gaps automatically, then provides basic search volume and competition data for the opportunities it finds. Keysearch includes additional features like YouTube keyword research, Amazon keyword data for affiliate marketers, and bulk keyword difficulty checking. Keyword Chef stays laser-focused on forum-ranking opportunities without expanding into other research areas.
Pricing Comparison
Keysearch charges $17 monthly for their starter plan, which includes 200 keyword lookups per day, rank tracking for 200 keywords, and access to all core features. Higher tiers increase limits and add team collaboration features. Keyword Chef uses pay-per-use pricing where you purchase credits for keyword searches rather than paying monthly. This can be more economical if you do periodic keyword research rather than daily optimization work, but the per-search cost adds up quickly for regular users who need ongoing keyword data.
Best For
Keysearch works best for bloggers and content marketers who need regular keyword research with traditional metrics like search volume, competition analysis, and difficulty scoring. If you publish content consistently and need to evaluate hundreds of potential keywords monthly, Keysearch's subscription model and comprehensive data make more sense. Keyword Chef excels for content strategists hunting specific content gap opportunities. If you're looking to create definitive guides that can outrank existing forum discussions, or if you want to identify topics where your expertise can fill obvious content voids, Keyword Chef's specialized approach delivers targeted opportunities other tools miss.
The Verdict
Choose Keysearch for comprehensive keyword research needs. Its traditional approach, predictable pricing, and full feature set serve most content creators better than Keyword Chef's narrow specialization. While Keyword Chef's forum-ranking insight is valuable, it's too limited as your primary keyword research tool — most users need it as a supplement to, not replacement for, broader keyword analysis.