Classify keywords by search intent in bulk
This keyword intent classifier sorts a list of search terms by what the searcher wants to do: learn something (informational), reach a particular site (navigational), compare options before choosing (commercial), act now (transactional) or find something nearby (local). Paste keywords from a keyword research export, Search Console or a spreadsheet, and every keyword gets an intent you can filter, sort and export.
Two layers work together. A free rules pre-check runs instantly in your browser and labels keywords that contain tell-tale modifiers such as “how”, “vs”, “buy”, “login” or “near me”. Then, if you want, Classify with AI asks TypeSafe’s Jev model to judge each keyword from its words alone and return a probability for all five intents — so you can see not just the answer but how sure it is, and which keywords sit between two intents.
How to check the search intent of your keywords
- Paste your keywords into the box, one per line. A CSV or spreadsheet paste works too: choose the Keyword column if the tool picked the wrong one. Duplicates are removed automatically.
- Read the Rules pre-check column. Each label shows the modifier that triggered it; keywords without one are marked unclear.
- Press Classify with AI to get the AI intent, its probability and a bar showing all five probabilities. Long lists are classified 100 keywords per press.
- Use the filter buttons (each shows its count) and the Sort menu — “low to high” puts the least certain keywords first for review.
- Copy the rows you see or press Download CSV for a sheet with every probability.
Keyword Intent Classifier features
Five intents, with probabilities
Informational, navigational, commercial, transactional and local, each with a percentage instead of a bare label.
Mixed-intent flag
When the top intent is below 60%, the keyword is flagged as mixed and a second intent of 25% or more is shown.
Free rules pre-check
Modifier rules run without AI and without sending anything, and stay visible next to the AI answer so you can compare them.
Spreadsheet friendly
Reads tab-, comma- and semicolon-separated pastes, skips the header row, handles quoted cells and removes duplicates.
Filter, sort and export
Filter by intent, sort by probability or intent, copy the shown rows or download a CSV with all five probabilities.
The five search intents
| Intent | What the searcher wants | Typical modifiers | Page that fits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Informational | To learn, understand or fix something | how, what, why, guide, ideas, examples | Guide, explainer, tutorial |
| Navigational | To reach a known site, brand or account | login, sign in, brand names, “.com” | Home, login or brand page |
| Commercial | To research options before choosing | best, top, review, vs, alternatives, price | Comparison, review, “best of” list |
| Transactional | To act now: buy, download, book, use a tool | buy, order, cheap, download, book, calculator | Product, pricing, sign-up or tool page |
| Local | A business or place near them | near me, open now, opening hours, a city | Location page, Google Business Profile |
Worked example: rules first, then AI
With the sample list loaded, the rules pre-check labels “plant nursery near me” as Local (signal “near me”), “monstera vs philodendron” as Commercial (“vs”), “buy monstera plant online” as Transactional (“buy”) and “why are my monstera leaves turning yellow” as Informational (“why”). “monstera deliciosa” has no modifier, so the rules call it unclear — a bare topic like this is often informational, but it could be someone shopping for the plant.
When a keyword matches more than one rule, weights decide: a question word at the start counts 2.5 and “buy” counts 2, so “how to buy bitcoin” stays informational. Ties go to the more specific intent, which is why “what is the best vpn” becomes commercial.
The AI then answers for each keyword. If its top intent reaches 60% or more, that intent is shown with its percentage. Below 60% the keyword is flagged mixed, and any second intent with at least 25% appears beside it — “best indoor plants for low light” may land around half commercial and half informational, which is a real signal that searchers want a list that also teaches care basics.
Using intent in content planning
- Match the page type to the intent. Informational keywords want a guide; transactional ones want a product, pricing or tool page. Ranking a sales page for a “how to” query rarely works.
- Group before you write. Keywords with the same intent and topic usually belong on one page; group them with the Keyword Clustering Tool.
- Let intent shape the title. A commercial keyword suits “compared” or “reviewed”; an informational one suits a clear promise of an answer. Draft options with the SEO Title Generator.
- Treat mixed keywords as a design choice. Serve the main intent first, then answer the second one lower on the page.
- Check the live results. Intent comes from the words alone; the pages Google ranks show what it rewards, so look at the results for important keywords.
Keyword Intent Classifier FAQ
What is a keyword intent classifier?
A tool that labels each search term with the goal behind it — informational, navigational, commercial, transactional or local. This keyword intent classifier does it in bulk, first with free rules in your browser and then, on request, with AI probabilities.
How accurate is the AI classification?
It judges each keyword from its words, as a person reading the list would, and it is usually right on clear keywords. The probability tells you how sure it is: anything below 60% is flagged mixed so you can review it. It cannot see the live search results, which sometimes favour a different intent.
Why does a keyword say “unclear” in the rules column?
The rules only recognise modifiers such as “how”, “best”, “buy” or “near me”. Bare topics and brand names have none, so the rules leave them for the AI or for you to decide.
How many keywords can I classify?
The list accepts up to 500 unique keywords. The rules check them all instantly; the AI classifies 100 per press, and earlier answers are kept while you continue.
What is the difference between commercial and transactional intent?
Commercial searchers are still comparing (“best running shoes”, “x vs y”, reviews, prices). Transactional searchers are ready to act (“buy running shoes”, “download”, “book”). Pages that serve them look different.
What is sent when I press the button?
Only the keyword texts — at most 100 per press — go to this site’s server and TypeSafe’s Jev model. The server caches the answer for up to a day so a repeat request is instant. Nothing is sent until you press the button.