Conversely, an "Easy" score of 15 might be a trap. The software will reveal that while the competition is low, the search volume is zero, or the intent is transactional when you are writing informational content. Not all keyword tools are created equal. If you are evaluating software for your agency or in-house team, look for these three advanced features:

No software currently measures that "authority of the individual author" perfectly.

Generic difficulty scores are useless for local businesses. High-end software now allows you to check difficulty based on geo-location (e.g., "pizza near me" in Chicago vs. rural Montana) and device type (mobile SERPs often prioritize different domains than desktop).

However, treating this score as gospel is a rookie mistake. The magic of KD software isn't the number itself—it is the behind the number.

Today’s leading keyword difficulty software has pivoted. Instead of just showing you easy keywords, it now shows you keywords.