Best Keywords for Web Design Company in 2026: 8 Tools Compared
Find the best keywords for web design company growth in 2026, with tools, keyword groups, intent and pricing for 8 research options for agencies and studios.
- Editor's choice
Google Keyword PlannerFree core keyword data
Starts atFreeVisit ads.google.comFull review - Great alternative
AhrefsCompetitor keyword gaps
Starts at$29 per monthVisit ahrefs.comFull review - Also consider
SemrushAll-round agency research
Starts at$139.95 per monthVisit semrush.comFull review
TL;DR:
- The best keywords for a web design company split into hire-intent terms, local terms, service terms, and research terms, and each group needs its own page.
- High-intent phrases like web design company, web design services, and web design agency near me matter more than broad terms like web designer alone.
- Free tools can find the core list, but paid tools add difficulty scores, competitor gaps, and local volume that make the list easier to prioritize.
- One focused page per service beats one crowded services page, because each page can match one search exactly.
Quick comparison
| Tool | Best for | Starts at | Free plan? | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Google Keyword Planner | Free core keyword data | Free | Yes | Visit |
| Ahrefs | Competitor keyword gaps | $29 per month | No | Visit |
| Semrush | All-round agency research | $139.95 per month | No | Visit |
 Moz Pro | Simpler keyword difficulty | $39 per month | No | Visit |
 Ubersuggest | Low-cost keyword ideas | $12 per month | Yes | Visit |
 Google Search Console | Keywords you already rank for | Free | Yes | Visit |
 AnswerThePublic | Question keywords for blog posts | See website | Yes | Visit |
 LowFruits | Low-competition keyword finds | See website | No | Visit |
The best keywords for web design company growth
The phrase best keywords for web design company is not one keyword. It is a set of keyword groups that match different stages of a buyer journey. A person ready to hire types web design company or web design agency near me. A person comparing options types custom website design or ecommerce website design. A person still learning types how much does a website cost. A good keyword plan covers all three groups, and gives each group the right kind of page.
The tools below help a web design company find, sort, and prioritize those keywords. We also name the keyword groups themselves in each section, so you can use this article as a starting list even before you buy a tool. Prices are from vendor pages and public pricing summaries, and you should confirm the current tier before you pay, because keyword tools change limits often.
Google Keyword Planner is the right first stop for any web design company, because it is free and it uses Google's own data. Type a seed like web design company, and it returns related terms, including web design services, professional web design, custom website design, and responsive web design company. You can filter by city, which matters for a local agency, and you can see whether a term is rising or flat over time.
The limits are real. Without active ad spend, volume shows as a wide range, and there is no difficulty score to tell you how hard a term will be to rank for. It also does not show which competitors rank for each term. Use Planner to build the core list, then use a paid tool or Search Console to prioritize it. For a new agency with no budget, Planner plus Search Console is a workable starting stack.
- Free with a Google Ads account
- Direct Google search data
- Local volume by city and region
- Exact volume ranges are broad without ad spend
- No difficulty score or competitor gap view
Ahrefs earns its place for one job above all: finding keywords your competitors rank for that you do not. For a web design company, that gap list often includes service terms like website redesign services, ecommerce website design, and affordable web design services, plus local terms you had not thought to target. The keyword difficulty score and the click data help you avoid terms that look popular but send little traffic.
The entry plan starts at $29 per month, but report limits and credits can feel tight for an agency tracking many clients. Higher tiers cost much more, so a small agency should test the entry tier on one site first. If competitor gaps are your main problem, Ahrefs is our pick, and it pairs well with a content plan built around the gaps it finds.
- Strong competitor gap analysis
- Keyword difficulty and click data
- Site audit and rank tracking in one tool
- Entry tier limits reports and credits
- Price rises fast on higher tiers
Semrush is the all-round suite for a web design company that also sells SEO. It covers keyword research, competitor analysis, site audits, position tracking, and content briefs, so one subscription can support both your own marketing and client work. For keyword groups, it helps you sort hire-intent terms like web design agency near me from research terms like how much does a business website cost, and then build pages for each group.
The entry price, $139.95 per month, is the honest barrier for a solo freelancer. A small agency with two or three clients can spread that cost, but a single designer may do better with a cheaper tool first. If you need one tool for research, tracking, and client reporting, Semrush is a strong, if pricey, choice.
- Keyword research, competitor tracking, and content tools in one suite
- Strong local and advertising data
- High entry price for a solo designer
- The toolset can feel large for a first-time user
Moz Pro suits a web design company that wants keyword difficulty without a steep learning curve. Its scores help you tell a winnable term like corporate web design or website redesign services in a smaller city from a hard national term like web design company on its own. The interface is calm, the reports are readable, and the learning path is shorter than the larger suites.
The trade-off is depth. For some niches, the keyword database returns fewer long-tail ideas than Ahrefs or Semrush, so you may still need Planner or Search Console to fill gaps. Paid plans start at $39 per month. If simplicity and a clear priority score matter more than the largest database, Moz Pro is a good fit.
- Clear difficulty and opportunity scores
- Easy interface for beginners
- Local listing and rank tools
- Keyword database is smaller than Ahrefs or Semrush for some niches
- Higher tiers needed for larger tracking
Ubersuggest is the budget pick for a web design company that needs keyword ideas without a large monthly bill. It returns volume, difficulty, and related terms for seeds like web design services and custom website design, and it adds content ideas that can turn a keyword into a blog post or service page. The free plan is enough to test the workflow, and paid plans start around $12 per month.
Data depth is the limit. For competitive cities or unusual service niches, Ubersuggest may return fewer ideas than Ahrefs or Semrush, and lower tiers cap daily searches. Still, for a freelancer or a small studio, it covers the core job: find the terms, check the difficulty, and build a shortlist. Pair it with Search Console to see which terms already bring traffic.
- Low entry price
- Free plan for basic ideas
- Content ideas and site audit included
- Data depth is thinner than the top suites
- Daily search limits on lower tiers
Google Search Console is free, and it is the only tool here that shows the exact queries your site already ranks for. That list often includes gold: terms where you sit on page two, local terms you had not targeted, and question phrases that belong in a blog post. For a web design company, the near-miss list is the fastest win, because a small page improvement can move a term from page two to page one.
Search Console does not show competitor terms or volume for keywords you do not rank for yet, so it cannot build a new list on its own. Use it with Planner or a paid tool: find new terms in the research tool, then check Search Console to see which related terms you already own. Every web design company should have Search Console set up, whether or not it buys another tool.
- Free
- Shows real queries that brought clicks
- Reveals near-miss rankings worth improving
- Shows only your own site data
- No competitor keywords or volume for new terms
AnswerThePublic turns a seed like web design into a map of questions people actually ask, including how much does a website cost, what is responsive web design, and which platform is best for a business site. Those questions belong on blog posts and FAQ sections, and they help a web design company earn trust before a buyer is ready to hire. The visual map also makes it easy to spot gaps in your content.
The free view gives a limited number of searches per day and does not give full volume or difficulty data, so you will still need another tool to prioritize. Paid pricing is listed on the vendor site and varies by plan. For content planning, though, AnswerThePublic is a useful second tool, and it pairs well with any keyword tool on this list.
- Question and comparison phrases in one view
- Good for blog and FAQ planning
- Free searches each day
- No volume or difficulty data on the free view
- Paid pricing varies by plan and region
LowFruits takes a different angle: it looks at the sites ranking on page one and flags terms where weak sites, forums, or thin pages hold a spot. For a web design company, that can surface winnable long-tail terms like affordable web design services for startups in a named city, or website design for restaurants in a named area. Those terms have lower volume, but the people who search them are often ready to hire.
LowFruits has no free plan, and its data is narrower than a full suite, so it works best as a second tool alongside Planner or Search Console. Pricing is listed on the vendor site and uses credits. If your main problem is finding terms you can actually rank for in the next few months, rather than a long list of hard terms, LowFruits is worth testing.
- Flags weak sites ranking on page one
- Good for finding winnable long-tail terms
- Simple credit system
- No free plan
- Data is narrower than a full suite
- Best as a second tool, not a sole tool
How we picked these
We compared official feature pages, pricing pages, and public guides for web design keyword research, plus the keyword lists those guides publish. A tool made this list only if it is available in 2026, gives keyword volume or difficulty data, and fits a web design company budget or workflow. We favored tools with a free tier or a low entry price, and we named the keyword groups themselves so the article is useful even without a paid subscription.
The keyword groups to target first
Hire-intent service terms
Start with web design company, web design services, professional web design, custom website design, and responsive web design company. These belong on service pages with a clear offer, process, proof, and enquiry button. Give each service its own page, because one crowded services page rarely ranks well for any single term.
Local terms
Add your city to the core terms, as in web design agency near me and web design company in a named city, plus industry terms like website design for restaurants or web design for small businesses. Local pages need real local proof, such as client work in that city, a local address, and reviews, not just a city name pasted into a template.
Research and comparison terms
Use how much does a website cost, wordpress vs webflow for a business site, and how long does a website redesign take for blog posts and guides. These searchers are learning, not hiring yet, but a clear guide earns trust and an email signup. Link each guide to the matching service page, so a reader can move from learning to enquiring in one click.
Long-tail problem terms
Target problem phrases like modernize website, mobile-friendly website, and increase website traffic through design. These terms have lower volume, but they match a specific pain, and a page that solves that pain converts well. They are also easier to rank for than the broad head terms.
FAQ
What are the best keywords for a web design company?
The best keywords for a web design company include web design company, web design services, professional web design, custom website design, responsive web design company, website redesign services, and ecommerce website design. Add local versions with your city, and industry versions for the clients you serve best, such as website design for restaurants.
Should a web design company target web designer or web design company?
Target both, but on different pages. Web design company and web design agency near me fit service pages for buyers ready to hire a firm. Web designer and freelance web designer fit portfolio, about, and comparison pages, because those searchers may be looking for a person rather than a company.
How many keywords should a web design service page target?
Target one main keyword per page, plus three to five closely related terms that fit naturally in headings and body copy. A page for ecommerce website design can also cover online store design and Shopify website design, but it should not try to cover logo design, SEO, and app development at the same time.
Are local keywords still worth targeting for a web design company?
Yes, local keywords are still worth targeting, especially if you meet clients in person or serve a named city or region. Terms like web design agency near me and web design company in a named city bring buyers who want a local partner, and local pages with real client work convert better than generic national pages.
How long does it take for web design keywords to rank?
A new page can take 3 to 6 months to rank for a competitive term, with local and long-tail terms often moving faster. Technical fixes, a clear page structure, and links from relevant sites help, but no tool or agency can promise a top ranking on a set date.
What is the best free keyword tool for a web design company?
Google Keyword Planner and Google Search Console together are the best free starting pair. Planner builds the core list with Google data, and Search Console shows which terms your site already ranks for and which near-miss terms are worth improving first.