Use these free business research tools to evaluate demand for your new business
The tools below (all free or with free features) help you gather quantitative data (like search volumes, web traffic, trends) and qualitative insights (like customer opinions, reviews, and community discussions). When exploring a new business idea, it’s important to assess market demand from multiple angles!
This mix is useful for local, global, online, and offline business ideas. Each tool includes what it does, which business types it suits best, the data it provides, and how to use it for demand validation.
1. Google Trends
URL: https://trends.google.com
What it does: Tracks the popularity of search queries over time on Google.Best for: Local or global businesses (online/offline).Data type: Quantitative – search trend data.How to use for demand validation: Enter terms related to your business idea to see if demand is rising or falling. Compare regions to identify where interest is highest.
2. Google Keyword Planner
URL: https://ads.google.com/home/tools/keyword-planner
What it does: Provides average monthly search volumes and keyword suggestions.Best for: Online businesses or anyone assessing online search demand.Data type: Quantitative – search volume, competition, related terms.How to use for demand validation: Enter product or service keywords and check search volume. High volume and moderate competition suggest strong interest.
3. AnswerThePublic
URL: https://answerthepublic.com
What it does: Visualizes Google autocomplete queries related to your topic.Best for: Global or regional insights; content/product research.Data type: Qualitative – real customer questions and search phrases.How to use for demand validation: Search your product/topic to see what questions people are asking. Useful for discovering pain points and unmet needs.
4. Ubersuggest
URL: https://neilpatel.com/ubersuggest
What it does: SEO tool showing keyword volume, difficulty, and content ideas.Best for: Online or content-driven businesses.Data type: Quantitative and qualitative – keywords, trends, content themes.How to use for demand validation: Analyze keyword trends and check what topics are generating traffic and engagement in your space.
5. Statista
URL: https://www.statista.com
What it does: Aggregates market research, statistics, and industry data.Best for: Broad market research for online or offline businesses.Data type: Quantitative and some qualitative – market size, trends, and reports.How to use for demand validation: Search for your market category to get data on growth, size, and consumer behavior patterns.
6. Facebook Audience Insights
URL: https://www.facebook.com/ads/audience-insights
What it does: Provides data on Facebook user demographics, interests, and behavior.Best for: Local or global businesses targeting specific groups.Data type: Quantitative and qualitative – audience size and interest breakdown.How to use for demand validation: Explore whether your target customer base is large and active enough on social media platforms.
7. SimilarWeb
URL: https://www.similarweb.com
What it does: Shows website traffic, visitor sources, and engagement data.Best for: Online businesses or validating demand via competitor traffic.Data type: Quantitative – estimated traffic, trends, referral sources.How to use for demand validation: Look up competitors to gauge their site popularity and where their traffic comes from.
8. Social Mention
URL: https://www.socialmention.com
What it does: Real-time social media search for keyword mentions.Best for: Online businesses or gauging social buzz.Data type: Qualitative and some quantitative – mentions, sentiment, keywords.How to use for demand validation: Search your idea to find public chatter, see sentiment, and monitor trends in conversations.
9. Google Alerts
URL: https://www.google.com/alerts
What it does: Sends email alerts when new web content mentions your chosen keywords.Best for: All business types; tracking news, trends, and competitors.Data type: Qualitative – news articles, blog posts, forum discussions.How to use for demand validation: Set alerts for relevant terms and monitor how often your topic comes up in the media or industry updates.
10. Reddit
URL: https://www.reddit.com
What it does: Large discussion platform with topic-based communities.Best for: Niche online and local communities, honest feedback.Data type: Qualitative – discussions, upvotes, comments.How to use for demand validation: Search subreddits to see what real people are saying about your business idea or its category.
11. Quora
URL: https://www.quora.com
What it does: Q&A platform where users ask and answer topic-specific questions.Best for: Global market research and service-based ideas.Data type: Qualitative – questions and user-generated answers.How to use for demand validation: Search questions related to your idea to see if people are seeking solutions or advice in that space.
12. Google Forms
URL: https://www.google.com/forms/about
What it does: Create custom surveys for free and analyze responses in real time.Best for: Any business with access to a target audience.Data type: Quantitative and qualitative – form submissions, open-ended feedback.How to use for demand validation: Survey your audience directly with simple yes/no and open-ended questions to measure interest and get feedback.
13. SurveyMonkey (Free Plan)
URL: https://www.surveymonkey.com
What it does: Survey tool for capturing user feedback and opinions.Best for: Quick validation and structured survey responses.Data type: Quantitative and qualitative – response counts and written feedback.How to use for demand validation: Launch a basic 5–10 question survey and send it to your audience or niche community to validate assumptions.
14. Amazon Customer Reviews
URL: https://www.amazon.com
What it does: Provides product reviews and popularity signals.Best for: Consumer products and e-commerce ideas.Data type: Qualitative and quantitative – review counts, star ratings, feedback.How to use for demand validation: Read reviews on similar products to discover what people like, dislike, and wish existed.
15. Yelp
URL: https://www.yelp.com
What it does: Review platform for local businesses.Best for: Offline or service-based businesses in specific geographic areas.Data type: Qualitative and quantitative – number of reviews, recurring themes.How to use for demand validation: Analyze competitor reviews in your area to find gaps, frustrations, or overserved markets.
Tip: Use 3–5 of these tools together to get a well-rounded picture of market demand. Look for alignment between search interest, consumer conversation, and competitor activity. That’s a stronger green light… but remember your next important step is VALIDATION of your new business idea. Don’t skip the validation step! 🙂
