How to Get Google Keyword Search Volume & CPC Without Setting Up the Google Ads API

Description and use

Automated retrieval of keyword search volume, CPC, and other metrics without setting up Google Ads API, using an Apify Actor that returns structured JSON.

Problem

Setting up Google Ads API for keyword metrics is cumbersome, requiring account management, authentication, response normalization, caching, and output structuring.

Outcome

The Actor delivers structured keyword metrics without needing a Google Ads API account, reducing setup friction and enabling automated SEO, PPC, and content workflows.

Workflow

• 1. Prepare a JSON input with "keywords", "locationCode", "languageCode", "includeMonthlySearches", and "freshnessDays".
• 2. Run the Google Keyword Search Volume & CPC Checker Actor on Apify.
• 3. Actor processes up to 1,000 keywords per run, fetching metrics from Google Search Console API.
• 4. Actor returns structured JSON with fields such as search_volume, cpc, competition, competition_index, low_top_of_page_bid, high_top_of_page_bid, monthly_searches, cache_hit, fetched_at.
• 5. Use the output directly in AI workflows, content planning, or dashboards.
• 6. Optionally enable caching by setting freshnessDays > 0 to reuse recent data.
• 7. If fresh data is required, set freshnessDays to 0.
• 8. Handle null values to distinguish unavailable data from zero values.

Evidence

You often need to: manage a third-party API account, handle authentication, normalize responses, add caching, structure output for downstream tools, make it usable for non-technical teammates

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The Actor lets you fetch structured keyword metrics such as: search volume, CPC, competition, competition index, bid estimates, monthly search trends

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No separate DataForSEO account or API credentials are required

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The Actor can process up to 1,000 keywords per run

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If recent data for the same keyword, location, and language already exists, it can be reused instead of making another upstream request

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