AnswerThePublic is a tool that shows which questions and searches people type around a topic. Enter one word or phrase, for example "solar panels" or "dog food", and you get hundreds of variants back: questions (who, what, why, how), comparisons (versus, or), combinations with prepositions (for, without, with) and alphabetical suggestions. The data comes from the autocomplete suggestions of search engines like Google and Bing, and platforms like YouTube and TikTok. AnswerThePublic is part of NP Digital, Neil Patel's agency.
The value isn't in the tool itself, but in what it exposes: the language your audience actually uses, separate from the terms you use internally. An insurer might call it "water damage coverage", but people search "what to do if my basement is flooded". AnswerThePublic shows that gap, and that's exactly where good content connects.
What you find with it
| Type | Example for "dog food" |
|---|---|
| Questions | How much dog food per day? Why won't my dog eat? |
| Comparisons | Dog food kibble or fresh? Brand A vs brand B |
| Prepositions | Dog food for puppies, without grain, for allergies |
| Alphabetical | Dog food a… b… c… with all suggestions |
You see the result as a visual "wheel" (nice for a presentation, hard to copy from) or as a list (easier to work with and export). Paid versions also show estimated search volume and competition per question, and let you compare results over time.
What it's good for
- Content ideas. Every good question is a potential heading, FAQ item or standalone article. See content marketing.
- Understanding search intent. You see how people really phrase things, not how you name your service or product.
- Long-tail opportunities. Specific questions with less competition, where a targeted page can rank faster than for a broad, heavily contested keyword. See long tail.
- GEO. AI assistants like ChatGPT, Claude and Gemini receive questions phrased in plain language. Content that answers those questions directly and clearly is used more often in AI answers.
- Ads and social. Questions provide hooks for videos, ad copy and scripts, and useful negative keywords for Google Ads (keywords you specifically want to exclude).
- Customer service and FAQ. Which questions can you already answer on your site, so support doesn't have to explain the same thing over and over?
Practical examples
A sports nutrition web shop entering "protein shake" sees questions like "protein shake before or after workout" and "protein shake replace meal". Both are article ideas that directly address hesitation right before purchase.
A B2B payroll service entering "payslip" gets questions like "how to read a payslip" and "payslip vs annual statement". Less sales-driven, but content that builds authority with HR managers looking for clarity themselves.
A local physiotherapist entering "back pain" finds questions like "back pain when sitting" and "back pain at night". Too broad to rank nationally, but a solid basis for blog articles found locally combined with a place name.
Free and paid
You can run a limited number of searches per day for free, with the full list of questions and prepositions but no search volume. Paid plans give more searches per day, search volume per question, comparisons over time, multiple languages and countries at once, and CSV exports. Check answerthepublic.com for current limits and pricing, since they change regularly.
How to use it
- Choose country and language, or you'll mostly get questions that have little to do with your market.
- Start broad ("insulation"), then narrow down ("cavity wall insulation", "floor insulation price per m2"). Broad gives overview, narrow gives usable, specific content ideas.
- Group questions by topic and stage: orientation (what is it, how does it work), comparing (option A or B), buying (price, where to buy), using (how does it work after purchase).
- Check volume in a separate tool like Semrush, Ahrefs or Mangools, or Google Ads Keyword Planner, before spending time on an article. Read our SEO tools comparison.
- See what already ranks for the key questions, and make something better: more complete, clearer, with your own experience or examples a generic AI text doesn't have.
- Answer the question directly in the first sentence of a section. That helps visitors who want a quick answer, helps Google match the page to the search, and helps AI answers cite your text.
- Repeat periodically. Language and questions shift; what was relevant a year ago may be phrased differently now. A quarterly check on your key topics keeps content current.
What to watch
- No volumes in the free version. Not every question is searched often. Always combine with a keyword tool before spending time on an article.
- Smaller languages have thinner data. For niche topics in Dutch, for example, you get noticeably fewer suggestions than in English, simply because fewer people search in that language.
- Not everything fits your offer. Pick questions you have something meaningful to say about and that fit your customers and expertise, not every question that happens to come up often.
- Quality over quantity. Two hundred thin articles about every variant of a question help nobody and dilute your site. Bundle related questions into strong, thorough pages.
- Suggestions aren't confirmed search volumes. Some suggestions are rare or come from a small sample. Use them as an idea source, not as hard data.
Turning questions into a good page
A list of questions isn't content yet. The difference between a thin page and one that performs well is in what you do with it.
| Step | What it delivers |
|---|---|
| Group questions by sub-topic | One strong page instead of ten separate, thin articles about almost the same thing |
| Answer the question directly in the first sentence | Faster clarity for visitors, Google and AI summaries |
| Add your own example or figure | Distinction from generic text already everywhere |
| Internal link to a next step | You don't lose a visitor ready to read more or get in touch |
| Update periodically | Prevents the page from feeling outdated as language or your offer shifts |
A good rule of thumb: if three or four questions from AnswerThePublic really describe the same underlying problem, they belong in the same section of the same page, not in three separate articles competing with each other for the same reader.
AnswerThePublic alongside your own data
The strongest content ideas don't come from AnswerThePublic alone, but from combining it with what you already know. Compare suggestions from the tool with search terms already driving traffic in Search Console, with questions coming into customer service, and with what sales hears in conversations. Often AnswerThePublic confirms a hunch you already had, and sometimes it surfaces an angle nobody internally thought of, simply because it draws on millions of other people's searches rather than your own team's perspective.
When you don't need it
If you already have good visibility into customer questions through your own customer service, sales conversations or Google Search Console, AnswerThePublic adds little: your own data is often more reliable than autocomplete suggestions. For very narrow, technical B2B niches with little search volume, the tool sometimes yields too few usable suggestions too; then you're better off talking directly with customers and the sales team about recurring questions.
What the tool doesn't do for you
AnswerThePublic doesn't write content and doesn't decide which questions matter for your business; it delivers raw material. Deciding which questions are worth answering depends on your offer, your audience and what you already know from customer contact. Use the tool as a starting point for a list, not as a final verdict.
Alternatives
AlsoAsked pulls questions from Google's "People also ask" and displays them more clearly as a tree structure. The "People also ask" boxes in Google itself are free and directly accessible, though without export. Google Search Console shows which questions and search terms already get impressions for your existing pages, which is often more valuable since it's your own, confirmed data. The question reports in Semrush and Ahrefs combine questions with search volume in one tool. And simply your customer service and sales: the best questions often come straight from your own inbox and phone calls.
Frequently asked questions about AnswerThePublic
Is AnswerThePublic free?
You can run a limited number of searches per day for free, with the full question list but no search volume. For more searches, plus search volumes and exports, you pay. Check answerthepublic.com for current limits.
Does AnswerThePublic work in other languages?
Yes, choose the country and language. For niche topics in smaller languages there are noticeably fewer suggestions than in English.
Where does AnswerThePublic get its data?
From the autocomplete suggestions of search engines and platforms, such as Google, Bing, YouTube and TikTok.
Is AnswerThePublic a keyword tool?
Not in the classic sense. It's mainly a tool for finding questions and content ideas. For search volume and competition, combine it with a real keyword tool like Semrush, Ahrefs or Mangools.
Does it help with AI visibility (GEO)?
Yes, indirectly. Content that clearly and directly answers real questions is used more often by Google and by AI assistants like ChatGPT, Claude and Gemini, since those systems tend to cite text that compactly answers a question.
Do I need to answer every question I find?
No. Pick questions that fit your expertise and your customers, and bundle related questions into one strong page instead of a separate, thin article for every variant.
How often should I check AnswerThePublic again?
A periodic check, for example quarterly for your key topics, is enough. Language and phrasing shift slowly, not week to week.
Further reading
Want to know more about good content and being found? Read content marketing, long tail and evergreen content. Want to look at which questions your customers ask together? Book a free strategy session.
Questions, or just want to spar?
We're happy to think along — call, email or drop by in the heart of Eindhoven.