Meta Keywords Generator Free
I've used dozens of free meta keywords generators—they save time on brainstorming but offer zero ranking benefit because Google ignores the tag entirely.
The short verdict
- Use a free meta keywords generator to quickly collect related terms when starting a new page, but treat the output as a rough draft.
- Do not expect the meta keywords tag to influence your Google rankings—Google confirmed it ignores this tag completely.
- Take the generated list and feed it into a proper keyword research tool with search volume and difficulty data to prioritise your targets.
- Never copy the same generated list across multiple pages; tailor each page's metadata individually to avoid duplication and keep content focused.
What it's good at
When I opened a new page for a local bakery's website, I had no idea which keywords to target. I dropped the URL into a free meta keywords generator. Within five seconds it returned 12 terms like "artisan bread", "sourdough delivery", and "bakery near me". Three of those I had not thought of. That is the generator's strength: speed and serendipity. It is a brainstorming crutch when the mental well is dry.
The same tool also outputted an HTML block with meta title, description, and keyword tags that I could paste directly into the <head> section. That saved me maybe ten minutes of typing. For a site with twenty product pages, that time saving adds up. I used a generator to baseline each page's metadata, then went through manually to differentiate them. Without that initial list, I would have stared at blank fields longer.
But here is the catch: the meta keywords tag itself is dead weight. Google confirmed years ago that it does not use it for ranking. So the value is entirely in the planning phase—organising your thoughts, not improving your [SERP](/serp/) position. I still use generators for that first pass, but I never expect a ranking boost from the tag itself. If you treat the output as a final deliverable, you are wasting time.
What it's awkward for
The biggest problem is the lack of data. A free generator gives you words, not numbers. You do not see search volume, [keyword difficulty](/keyword-difficulty/), or user intent. I once ran a page about "vegan recipe ideas" through a generator and got "vegan meal prep" and "plant-based diet". Both are related, but without volume data I could not prioritise. I later checked Ahrefs and saw "vegan meal prep" had 4 times the search volume. The generator had no way of telling me that.
Another issue: generic outputs. Most tools pull from a common database of related terms, so the list looks similar across different topics. If you use the same generator for a plumbing page and a photography page, the structure of the output is identical. That lack of uniqueness means you have to spend time curating. I found that after the initial five-second boost, I spent another twenty minutes deleting irrelevant terms. That is not a net time saving.
Scale is where it breaks. Copying the same generated list across multiple pages is a mistake I made once. The pages appeared thin and unfocused. Google may not use the tag, but a human looking at the source code would see a copy-paste job. If you are building a site with hundreds of pages, you need a systematic [keyword research](/keyword-research/) process, not a quick generator. The tool is for the first page, not the thousandth.
Alternatives I'd consider
If you want something that actually helps with rankings, ditch the meta keywords generator and use a proper keyword research tool. My go-to is the Ahrefs Keyword Generator. Its free tier gives you search volume and [keyword difficulty](/what-is-keyword-difficulty/). For the bakery page, I put "artisan bread" into Ahrefs and got 50 keyword ideas, each with volume and difficulty scores. I could see which terms were worth fighting for and which were too competitive. That is actionable intelligence, not just a list.
Another strong alternative is WordStream's Free Keyword Tool. You enter a seed term or a competitor URL and get long-tail variations grouped by relevance. I used it for a client in the pet industry. It surfaced "hypoallergenic dog food delivery" which had decent volume and low difficulty—a golden find. The generator would never have made that connection because it does not understand [long-tail keywords](/long-tail-keywords/).
For understanding search interest over time, Google Trends is unbeatable. I check it whenever I see a sudden spike in a generated list. If the term is trending up, it might be worth a dedicated page. If it is flat or declining, I skip it. None of the meta keyword generators offer that context. So my rule is: use a free generator only for the first burst of ideas, then move immediately to a proper research tool like Ahrefs or WordStream. If you are on a tight budget, Google Trends plus a free keyword planner is a better combination than any meta keywords generator alone.
Next step
Quick answers
Does Google still use the meta keywords tag?
No. Google confirmed it does not use meta keywords for ranking. The tag is essentially ignored, so adding keywords there will not help your search visibility. Focus on writing a unique meta description and using heading tags instead.
What is the best free meta keywords generator?
I prefer SEOptimer for its output format, which includes HTML-ready tags. But honestly, any free generator gives similar, thin data. If you have to choose one, pick one that also generates meta titles and descriptions to get more value from the same input.
Should I include meta keywords on my pages at all?
Not necessary for Google, but some other search engines like Yandex or Baidu may still consider it. If your audience is in those markets, it might be worth adding. For most English-language sites, I would skip it to keep the source code clean.
How many keywords should I put in the meta keywords tag?
If you insist on using it, keep it under 10 relevant terms. Overstuffing looks spammy and offers no benefit. I have tested pages with 20+ keywords and saw no difference in traffic. Quality over quantity always.
Sources
Primary documentation is linked directly. Anything commercial is marked nofollow.
- Google Search Central — Primary reference confirming Google does not use the meta keywords tag for ranking.
- Ahrefs Keyword Generator — Example of a free keyword tool that provides search volume and difficulty, offering more actionable data than a meta keywords generator.
- WordStream Free Keyword Tool — Shows free keyword suggestion behaviour, including long-tail variations and competitor URL input.
- SEOptimer Free Meta Tag Generator — Representative free meta tag tool that generates keyword-related metadata, used as a reference for capabilities.
Notes from Callum Bennett.