Google Trends

Google Trends is Google's free tool for checking how interest in a search term or topic changes over time and between places. It does not show search volume. It shows relative interest on a scale from 0 to 100, which makes it best for spotting seasonality, comparing topics and finding searches that are on the rise.

What is Google Trends?

Google Trends draws on a sample of real Google searches that is anonymised, grouped by topic and aggregated. It has three main pages: Explore for researching terms, Trending now for searches that are surging today, and Year in Search.

In January 2026 Google started rolling out a redesigned Explore page on desktop. A side panel powered by Gemini suggests and charts up to eight related search terms for an area of interest. Google labels these AI features experimental. See also our Google Trends glossary entry.

How does Google Trends data work?

Google divides each data point by the total searches in that place and time, then scales the results from 0 to 100. Otherwise, places with the most searches would always rank highest. In a chart, 100 is the point of highest relative interest, not a count of searches.

Google also filters the data:

• Terms searched by very few people show as 0.
• Repeated searches by the same person in a short time are removed.
• Queries with apostrophes and other special characters are left out.
• Searches made by Google's own products, including AI Mode and AI Overviews, are excluded.

Because Trends uses a sample, and Google adds small random noise to protect privacy, low-volume terms can show spikes that are not real. Google says Trends is not a scientific poll and should be one data point among others.

Key features for keyword research

Compare terms and spot seasonality

You can compare up to 8 groups of terms on the new Explore page, or 5 in classic Explore, over time ranges from the past hour back to 2004. This shows whether a topic is growing, fading or seasonal, which helps you time content. Read more on keyword popularity.

Related topics and queries

Each search lists top searches and rising searches. Rising searches show growth against the previous period, and "Breakout" means a search grew by more than 5,000 percent.

Region, category and search type filters

Maps show where a term is most popular, down to cities. Category filters separate meanings, such as jaguar the animal and Jaguar the car brand. You can also switch from web search to image, news, Google Shopping or YouTube searches.

Trending now and exports

Trending now lists surging searches in more than 100 countries and regions, refreshed on average every ten minutes. Charts can be downloaded as CSV files or embedded. A separate Google Trends API is in alpha and open to selected testers.

How much does Google Trends cost?

Google Trends was free to use when checked on 1 November 2026. Google asks you to credit Google Trends when you reuse its data. The API's alpha programme does not list a price.

What do users say about Google Trends?

Google Trends is rated 4.6 out of 5 on G2 from about 266 reviews at the time of checking. Reviewers most often praise that it is free and easy to use, and that it compares terms across regions and time frames. The most common complaints are that it shows relative interest instead of search volume, that categories and filters are basic, that niche and local topics return little detail, and that it does not explain why a trend moves.

On Capterra it is rated 4.7 out of 5 from 32 reviews, with the same themes.

When should you choose an alternative?

• You need monthly search volume. Use Google Keyword Planner, or a suite such as Semrush or Ahrefs.
• You want volume and trend data while you browse. Keywords Everywhere shows both on search pages.
• You want to know how people find your own site. Google Search Console shows your real queries and clicks.

For the full process, read our guide to keyword research for SEO or compare more keyword research tools.