Pinterest research tools use “free” to mean different things: a permanent plan, a limited public lookup, or a short trial. This guide separates those options so you can decide what is useful before you hand over a card. Here are seven practical options, grouped by the job each one can do without a paid plan.
This is a decision guide, not a feature dump: it shows what stays available after a trial ends, where a tool gets its data, and the research question it actually helps answer.
Quick answer: which free Pinterest keyword tool should you use?
Use Pinterest Trends to see whether a topic is seasonal or growing. Use PinTool Free when you need to judge the opportunity behind that topic: its available Pinterest search context and relative difficulty label. Then use the Pinterest search bar when you want a few human-language variations to test. None of those three asks for a credit card.
| What you need to know | Pinterest Trends | PinTool Free |
|---|---|---|
Free forever Neither is a timed trial. | ✓ | ✓ |
Seasonality and growth PinTool’s full keyword trend detail requires Pro. | Trend chart | Growth indicators |
Relative difficulty label Based on volume among returned terms, not a direct count of competing creators. | ✗ | ✓ |
Public profile context One free Profile Analyzer scan each day. | ✗ | ✓ |
Best first use | Is this topic timely? | Is this angle worth pursuing? |
How this list is evaluated
We assess each option against four creator questions: does it use Pinterest data or only Google data; can you use it after a trial; does it help choose a content angle rather than simply generate more output; and can a beginner act on the result without building a complicated stack? Limits and pricing can change, so verify them on each provider’s pricing page before subscribing.
1. Pinterest Trends — the official free tool
Pinterest Trends shows normalized interest over time, related trends and a comparison view for up to four terms. You can select a region and time range; the views and available regions can vary. Its graph is useful for timing, but the 0–100 scale is not an absolute count of monthly searches.
✅ Pros
- +Free to use without a paid research plan
- +Real Pinterest data straight from the source
- +Seasonality and growth context where a trend is available
- +Compare up to 4 keywords side by side
⛔ Cons
- −No absolute search volume — only relative popularity
- −No competition / difficulty signal
- −Some specific phrases have no matching trend
- −Availability varies by topic and region
Walkthrough: Pinterest Trends — how to use it (free tool walkthrough).
2. PinTool Free — 2 daily searches, no card
Disclosure: we make PinTool. We keep a permanent Free plan so creators can validate a Pinterest research workflow before paying for a broader tool stack. Free includes 2 keyword searches a day + 1 Profile Analyzer scan. No card required.
✅ Pros
- +Pinterest-specific research with volume context when available
- +Potential score and a relative difficulty label for returned terms
- +One public-profile analysis per day
- +A permanent Free allowance that resets daily
- +No credit card, no auto-trial, no countdown
⛔ Cons
- −2 searches/day caps real research sessions — upgrade or wait until tomorrow
- −More frequent research requires a paid plan
Research one topic free. Compare it side-by-side with Pinclicks in our Pinclicks vs PinTool comparison.
Want help making sense of the result?
PinTool can also be connected to Claude or ChatGPT when your AI account offers custom connectors. The AI does not replace the research: PinTool supplies the Pinterest-specific signals and the AI helps turn them into a content decision. Your free allowance is shared between the web app and a connected AI, so begin with one seed rather than asking it to investigate a whole list at once. See the Pinterest research with AI workflow.
3. Pinterest search bar — the manual workaround
Type a seed in Pinterest’s search bar and note the suggestions that appear. They can reveal ways to narrow a broad topic, but a suggestion is not a search-volume report or proof that your content will rank. The exact interface can vary by device and account.
✅ Pros
- +Zero friction — open Pinterest, type, read
- +Useful wording and topic refinements to investigate
- +No separate research subscription
⛔ Cons
- −No volume, no growth, no history
- −Manual comparison and note-taking
- −Suggestions alone do not establish demand or difficulty
4. Google Keyword Planner — adjacent, not Pinterest-native
Available inside Google Ads after account setup, including billing information. It reports Google Search estimates, not Pinterest searches. Use it as a separate check of Google interest only; never label its numbers as Pinterest demand.
✅ Pros
- +Google monthly-search estimates for comparison
- +No campaign is needed to compare keyword ideas
⛔ Cons
- −Requires Google Ads account setup and billing information
- −Not Pinterest-native; the audience and intent may differ
5. AnswerThePublic — question discovery
A question-discovery tool for broader content research. Check its current access terms before relying on a free workflow. Its question-form ideas may help you plan an article, but they are not Pinterest search measurements.
6. Ubersuggest — Google-focused research
A Google-focused SEO tool with trial and paid options. Check its current access terms. Related terms can help brainstorm, but its metrics should not be presented as Pinterest metrics.
7. Pinclicks — trial before a paid plan
Listed for honesty: it offers a trial, not a permanent free plan. As checked in September 2026, its Pin Pro plan is listed at $29/month. Check its current terms before starting a trial. If you want a paid Pinterest tool with rank tracking, compare the workflows in our Pinclicks vs PinTool head-to-head.
The minimum free stack for Pinterest research
If you don’t want to pay anything, here’s what we’d use:
- Pinterest Trends — for the “when” question (seasonality, rising topics)
- Pinterest search bar — for the “what variations” question (long-tail discovery)
- PinTool Free — for a volume-relative difficulty label and available volume context (2 keyword searches a day), plus public-profile context (1 scan a day)
That covers the first research decision without a paid research plan. If you need more sessions or tracking, compare paid plans only after the free workflow has helped you make a useful content decision.
Worked example: narrow one real content decision
Suppose you already have a weeknight dinner recipe. “Dinner ideas” is too broad to guide its Pin. Write down what the recipe actually solves, such as a short preparation time or a specific ingredient. Use Pinterest search suggestions to collect possible wording, then check whether Pinterest Trends has a matching trend in your target region. If it does, read the seasonal pattern as relative interest. If it does not, record “no matching trend” rather than claiming there is no demand.
Spend one PinTool Free search on the most promising phrase. Compare only the signals the result actually returns, then choose a Pin title that your recipe page can fulfil. The example is a method, not a claim that any particular dinner phrase has a given volume, growth rate or ranking opportunity.
Try that workflow with your own topic.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a truly free Pinterest keyword tool?
Yes — Pinterest Trends (Pinterest’s own), PinTool Free (2 searches/day, no card), and manually using Pinterest’s search bar typeahead. Other tools may offer a limited public lookup or a trial, so always check the provider’s current terms before relying on them.
Does Pinterest Trends show search volume?
Its public chart shows normalized relative interest, not an absolute monthly search count. Pinterest Ads keyword metrics are a separate source that may provide volume context when available. PinTool may show that context in a research result; a missing value is not zero.
Is PinTool really free or is it a trial?
Truly free, no card required. The free plan gives you 2 keyword searches per day plus 1 Profile Analyzer scan per day. The cap resets at midnight UTC. Upgrade to Starter ($12/mo) only if you need more than 2 searches a day on a regular basis.
What’s better than Google Keyword Planner for Pinterest?
A Pinterest-native source such as Pinterest Trends, the Pinterest search bar, or PinTool. Google Keyword Planner shows Google search behaviour, not Pinterest’s, so its volume is best used as a cross-check rather than a decision-maker for Pinterest content.
Can I use a free PinTool account with Claude or ChatGPT?
Yes, if you have a compatible AI account or workspace. Claude is generally the simpler connection for an individual. ChatGPT custom connections depend on your workspace and permissions. In both cases, PinTool research uses the same allowance as the web app; see the plain-English connection guide before you connect.
Where to go from here
- Pinterest Trends walkthrough — the deep dive on the most underrated free tool on the list.
- The complete Pinterest keyword research guide — how to actually use these signals together.
- The 27-item Pinterest SEO checklist — what to do with the keywords once you have them.
- Pinterest keyword research with Claude and ChatGPT — prompts and setup guidance when you want an AI to help interpret the research.
Or skip ahead: try PinTool free on your niche right now.