Yes, Google Keyword Planner is a free tool. However, there’s a catch: to use it, you need to have a Google Ads account. Creating an account is free and only takes a few minutes. While you don’t need to run any paid ads to use the Keyword Planner, having an account is mandatory to access its features.

Here’s a summary:

• Google Keyword Planner: Free to use
• Google Ads account: Required to access the Keyword Planner, but free to set up and doesn’t require ad spending

In summary, while the Keyword Planner itself is free, it comes with the requirement of having a Google Ads account.