Search intent checker
Paste keywords and see what each searcher is really after: to know, to compare, to do or to go. Every label shows the word that triggered it, so you can disagree with it.
The rules, switchable
Rules run top to bottom; the first match wins. A leading question word beats everything, so “how much does a heat pump cost” stays Know. Switch a family off to see which labels depend on it.
buy · order · price · prices · pricing · cost · cheap · cheapest · deal…
download · free trial · sign up · signup · install · template · generator · calculator · checker…
login · log in · sign in · website · official site · app store · customer service · contact · account…
best · top · vs · versus · compare · comparison · alternative · alternatives · review…
how · what · why · when · where · who · which · can · does…
guide · tutorial · meaning · definition · examples · example · ideas · tips · benefits…
The four search intent types, and what to build for each
| Intent | The searcher wants | Page that ranks | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Know informational | To learn or solve a problem | Guide, how-to, explainer, FAQ | how to descale a kettle |
| Compare commercial | To compare options before choosing | Best-of list, review, X vs Y, alternatives | best electric kettle |
| Do / buy transactional | To buy, book, download or use something now | Product, pricing, sign-up, free tool | kettle descaler buy |
| navigational | To reach a specific site or page | Your homepage, login or contact page | smeg customer service |
The labels are shorthand. Google's own Search Quality Rater Guidelines use a similar split (Know, Do, Website and Visit-in-person), and most SEO tools use the four-way version above. Either way the practical test is the same: search the keyword and look at page one. If the top results are all listicles, a product page won't break in, however well optimised.
Signals the rules can't see
- Bare head terms (“heat pump”) are usually mixed intent. Google blends guides, shops and local results.
- Brand + product (“dyson v15”) is often transactional without any buying word.
- Local intent hides in services: “boiler repair” implies near me, even when it isn't typed.
Questions people ask
What is search intent?
The goal behind a search: what the person wants to see when they press enter. Matching it matters more than any on-page tweak, because Google ranks the page type that satisfies searchers. A product page rarely ranks for "how to" queries, and a blog post rarely ranks for "buy".
What are the four types of search intent?
Informational (learn something: "how does a heat pump work"), commercial investigation (compare before choosing: "best heat pump for cold climates"), transactional (act or buy: "heat pump price", "heat pump installer quote") and navigational (reach a specific site: "mitsubishi heat pump login").
How does this search intent checker work?
Instant mode applies transparent rules: it looks for trigger words such as question words, "best", "vs", "price" or "login" and shows which word decided the label. AI mode asks a language model to judge each keyword and give a one-line reason, which handles ambiguous phrases better.
Can a keyword have more than one intent?
Yes. "Standing desk" could mean browse products or learn what one is. Google often shows a mixed page one in that case. Our labels give the dominant intent; for ambiguous head terms, search it and look at what ranks.
Is a keyword's intent always the same?
No. Intent drifts with the season and the news, and can differ by country. The live results are the final word, so treat any tool's label, including ours, as a hypothesis to check.