| Image | Product | Detail | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Helium 10 |
| $39/month |
 | MerchantWords |
| $35/month |
I’ve been running an online business for a few years, and finding the right tools hasn’t been easy. Initially, I struggled with keyword research until I discovered Helium 10 and MerchantWords.
Helium 10 impressed me with its all-in-one features to boost Amazon sales, while MerchantWords stood out for its simple keyword research.
I’ve spent time exploring both tools to see what works best. In this comparison, I’ll share my insights to help you choose the right tool for your journey, whether you’re starting or scaling up!
Helium 10 vs Merchant Words: Overview
About Helium 10:
Helium 10 is a powerful all-in-one software suite designed for Amazon sellers. I’ve used it myself, and it’s packed with over 20 tools that help with everything from product research to keyword optimization and inventory management.
It’s like having a Swiss Army knife for your online business.
If you’re finding profitable products with Black Box or spying on competitors’ keywords with Cerebro, it’s built to streamline and scale your Amazon game.
It started in 2015, and I’ve seen it grow into a go-to for sellers who want detailed data and actionable insights.
About MerchantWords:
MerchantWords, on the other hand, is more focused—it’s a keyword research tool that’s been around since 2012. I’ve found it super helpful for digging into what shoppers are searching for on Amazon.
It pulls from a massive database of over a billion search terms, giving you real customer insights to boost your listings. It’s simpler than Helium 10, zeroing in on keywords and trends rather than offering a full toolbox.
For me, it’s been a quick way to find high-value search terms and stay ahead of what’s trending. Both tools are solid, but they serve different needs depending on how deep you want to dive!
Pricing: Helium 10 vs Merchant Words
Helium 10
| Plan | Monthly Cost | Annual Cost (Per Month) | Key Features I Love |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starter | $39 | $29 ($348/year) | My go-to for growth is full Black Box, Cerebro, and 150 keyword tracks. Solid for solo sellers. |
| Platinum | $99 | $79 ($948/year) | My go-to for growth—full Black Box, Cerebro, and 150 keyword tracks. Solid for solo sellers. |
| Diamond | $279 | $229 ($2,748/year) | Scales with me—Adtomic PPC, 500 keyword tracks, 3 users. Great for serious sellers. |
| Supercharge Your Brand | Custom (Contact for Quote) | Custom | Built for big players—tons of ASINs, users, and managed refunds. I’d dream of this! |
Add-Ons
| Add-On | Cost | What It Does for Me |
|---|---|---|
| Adtomic | $199/month (Standalone) | Extra analytics power—This is perfect if I’m juggling multiple products or niches. |
| Market Tracker 360 | $500/month | Deep competitor and market insights—tracks rankings and ROI like a hawk. Worth it! |
| Elite Analytics | $99/month | Extra analytics power—perfect if I’m juggling multiple products or niches. |
My Notes
- Starter: I’d pick this if I’m dipping my toes into Amazon selling—it’s cheap and gets me X-ray plus training.
- Platinum: My sweet spot when I got serious—tons of tools without breaking the bank.
- Diamond: I stepped up here when my sales spiked. I love the PPC automation and extra users.
- Supercharge: Big leagues! Custom pricing means it’s for pros with big operations—call them for details.
- Add-Ons: Adtomic’s a must if you’re heavy into ads but not on Diamond. Market Tracker 360 feels like a spy kit—I’d grab it for cutthroat niches.
MerchantWords:
| Feature | Silver | Gold | Platinum | Enterprise |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly Cost | $35/mo | $79/mo | $149/mo | $749/mo |
| Coverage | Single Country | Regional (1 Region) | Global | Global |
| Seats | 1 | 1 | 3 | 20 |
| Keyword Searches | 500 | 1,000 | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| CSV Downloads (Tools) | 500 | 2,000 | 5,000 | 10,000 |
| Digital Shelf Reports | 5 | 50 | 500 | 10,000 |
| Market Insights Searches | 25 | 100 | 10,000 | 100,000 |
| Keyword Collections | 10 | 100 | 1,000 | 10,000 |
Features of Helium 10
I think Helium 10 is the ultimate Amazon tool because it’s loaded with features that make selling easier. Each one helps you rank higher and boost your product’s performance by spying on competition and keywords. Here’s my take on each tool and how I’ve seen them work.
1. Product Research
The market can be tricky, but Helium 10 helps you crack its patterns and ride the latest trends. It’s like having a guide to spot profitable products fast.
- Black Box: Searches over 450 million products in seconds to find winners. I’ve used it to uncover hidden gems.
- Trendster: Tracks sales, performance, and profits on one dashboard. It’s my quick check for what’s hot.
- X-ray: Dives into sales, trends, and pricing details while browsing Amazon. I love it for deciding if a product’s worth it.
2. Keyword Research
Even with a great product, you need buyers to find it. Helium 10’s keyword tools pull in traffic and help your product stand out on Amazon.
- Cerebro: A reverse ASIN tool that shows competitors’ keywords. I’ve used it to borrow their best ideas and outrank them.
- Magnet: Finds thousands of keyword ideas from one search term. It’s my starting point for building lists.
- Misspellinator: Grabs commonly misspelled terms with traffic. I’ve snagged some easy wins with this.
3. Product Launches
Helium 10’s CPR formula tells you how many units to sell to hit page one for your keyword. Launching right is key, and this tool makes it strategic. I’ve followed it to get my products noticed fast.
4. Listing Optimization
Optimized listings mean more sales, and Helium 10 keeps this smooth and organized—even while I sleep.
- Frankenstein: Turns messy keyword lists into clean, usable ones. It’s a huge time-saver for me.
- Scribbles: Helps add those keywords to titles and descriptions. I use it to make sure nothing’s missed.
- Index Checker: Confirms your listing shows up in Amazon searches. I’ve caught gaps my competitors missed with this.
5. Hijack Alerts
Bad reviews from fake sellers using your name? That’s a nightmare. Hijack Alerts warns you if someone tries to scam under your brand. I’ve caught issues early and kept my reputation safe.
6. Manage Operations
Helium 10 streamlines your business with real-time data and automation, saving me time and effort.
- Refund Genie: Speeds up refunds for lost or damaged stock. I’ve reclaimed money without the hassle.
- Alerts: Flags suspicious activity on my account. It’s like a watchdog.
- Inventory Protector: Tracks stock and warns me before I run out. No more sales dips!
- Follow-Up: Automates customer emails to boost feedback and ROI. I’ve seen happier buyers with less work.
7. Analytics
Data drives decisions, and Helium 10’s tools give me the insights I need to grow.
- Profits: Break down income, expenses, and cash flow. I check it to see where I stand.
- Market Tracker: Watches my niche and competitors. It’s helped me adjust before trends shift.
8. Marketing
Helium 10’s marketing tools sharpen your ads and pull in customers.
- Portals: A drag-and-drop builder for landing pages that convert. I’ve made promo pages fast, pulling product info straight from Amazon—no copying needed.
- Smart ad tools offer keyword ideas and bid suggestions. I’ve cut waste and boosted ad results with these.
Helium 10 feels like a partner in my Amazon journey. From research to ads, it’s got everything I need to compete and win!
Features of MerchantWords
1. Reverse ASIN Search
This feature lets you pop in an Amazon ASIN (that unique product code) and pulls up all the keywords tied to that product.
It’s like peeking into what’s driving a competitor’s listing—showing you search terms, volumes, and how they rank. I’ve found it handy for uncovering hidden keyword gems.
2. Emerging Trends
MerchantWords spots new search terms and trending products before they blow up. It digs into categories or phrases to show what’s gaining traction on Amazon. For me, it’s been a quick way to jump on niches early and stay ahead of the pack.
3. Page One Search Results
This shows you keywords that can realistically get your product on Amazon’s first page. It analyzes competition and search volume so you know which terms are worth targeting. I’ve used it to focus my efforts on winnable battles.
4. Performing Keyword Searches
The core of MerchantWords—type in a product or idea, and it spits out a list of related keywords with search volume estimates. It’s straightforward and pulls from a massive database. I rely on it to build solid keyword lists fast.
5. Analyze and Edit Search Results
After getting your keyword list, you can tweak and filter it—sort by volume, competition, or relevance. It’s like cleaning up the mess to keep only what matters. I’ve found it saves time when I’m narrowing down my options.
6. Keyword Collections
You can save your favorite keywords into custom lists for later. It’s great for organizing ideas across different products or campaigns. I use it to keep my research tidy and ready to revisit.
7. Keyword Multiplier
This takes a single keyword and spins it into tons of variations by combining it with other terms. It’s a brainstorm booster—giving you more angles to attack. I’ve gotten some creative listing ideas from this one.
8. Amazon Competition Analysis
It digs into your competitors’ listings, showing their keywords, estimated sales, and how they’re performing. It’s like a spy tool for sizing up the field. I’ve used it to figure out where I can outmaneuver others.
9. Product Targeting PPC Tool
This helps you set up Amazon PPC campaigns by suggesting keywords and products to target. It ties search terms to specific ASINs so your ads hit the right audience. For me, it’s made ad planning less of a guessing game.
These features make MerchantWords a focused tool for Amazon keyword research. It’s not as flashy as some all-in-one suites, but it’s got depth where it counts. I’ve leaned on it for practical, no-nonsense insights that help my listings pop!
Why Should You Use a Keyword Research Tool?
Keyword research tools like Helium 10 and Merchant Words are valuable for Amazon sellers because they provide important data. This data helps sellers understand how to find and promote their products effectively.
Merchant Words has been gathering data for Amazon sellers since 2012, while Helium 10 started in 2015. They collect information about how many Amazon customers search for specific keywords.
This data is then shared with sellers so they can use it to improve their product sourcing and marketing strategies.
The data is based on billions of customer searches, so there’s a lot of information available for sellers to use. Overall, these tools help sellers make informed decisions about their products and reach more customers on Amazon.
How’s Data the Most Important to Online Sellers and Why Should You not Ignore it?
Data is like a secret weapon for online sellers. It tells them exactly what they need to know before they launch new products.
For example, if you want to sell something new but don’t know what will be popular, a keyword research tool can help. It shows you what people are searching for the most.
Using a tool like Helium 10 or Merchant Words gives you an advantage over competitors who aren’t using any data. Let’s say you’re interested in selling camping gear.
You can type “camping gear” into one of these tools and see how many people are searching for it. You’ll also see other related keywords. This helps you understand what camping gear products customers are looking for.
Without these tools, you’re relying on luck and guesswork. You might not do as well in business without data to guide you. While gut feelings can sometimes help, using data is usually better for your business in the long run.
Data Accuracy:
MerchantWords
MerchantWords claims to collect highly accurate keyword information directly from Amazon’s search bar. They assert that they analyze millions of search terms across various marketplaces and take pride in their precision.
However, I’ve heard feedback from some sellers—and observed myself—that the numbers aren’t always consistent.
For instance, I might find a keyword with a large search volume in MerchantWords, such as 200,000, but when I utilize it, my listing receives hardly any clicks. It’s not always reliable.
Helium 10
Helium 10 obtains its keyword information from Amazon as well, incorporating advanced technology and an extensive database to estimate search volumes and identify trends.
I appreciate its analytical approach, but it has its imperfections. For less common or niche keywords, I’ve noticed that the data can seem inaccurate.
For example, it might indicate that a keyword has 5,000 searches, yet my sales don’t support that claim—it has left me puzzled regarding its reliability for those more obscure terms.
How Do Helium 10 and Merchant Words Help Your Business?
Helium 10 and Merchant Words help your business in two main ways:
- Finding New Opportunities:
They help you discover what products people are searching for so you can launch new listings that match customer demand.
- Staying Updated:
They keep you informed about current trends in customer behavior and product popularity.
Now, you might be thinking, “How are Helium 10 and Merchant Words different?” I’ll compare them in terms of what they do well and where they might have some limitations.
Difference Between: Helium 10 vs Merchant Words
The main difference between Helium 10 and Merchant Words lies in the data they use.
| Aspect | MerchantWords | Helium 10 |
|---|---|---|
| Keyword Search Estimates | Shows bigger numbers—like 211,600 searches for “chalk bag.” Feels like a wider market view. | Gives smaller, tighter estimates—like 6,232 for “chalk bag.” Claims accuracy through testing. |
| Data Claims | Boasts the most accurate, massive keyword database. I’ve found it great for spotting trends. | Says its data matches or beats competitors. I trust it for solid, reliable insights. |
| Inventory Management | No feature for this—it focuses on search data, not listing protection. | A lifesaver! Tracks stock, flags reorders, and handles shipments. Saved me from chaos. |
| Hijack Alerts | I watch my listings 24/7. Alerts me to hijackers or changes fast—keeps my sales safe. | Watches my listings 24/7. Alerts me to hijackers or changes fast—keeps my sales safe. |
| What I Like | Love how it opens up big keyword opportunities. Perfect for research. | Feels like a full toolbox—inventory, alerts, and more. Great for running my whole Amazon game. |
My Take
MerchantWords shines for keyword deep dives—those huge search numbers get me excited about possibilities. Helium 10, though, feels like my business partner, covering inventory and protection alongside keywords. Depends on what you need most!
Which Should You Trust?
Deciding which tool to trust depends on the data source you have more confidence in. Both Helium 10 and Merchant Words claim to provide the best data, so there are other factors to consider when making your decision.
MerchantWords has been in the business longer and gets its data directly from Amazon search trends. It focuses solely on Amazon and doesn’t use data from search engines like Google or Bing.
Helium 10, on the other hand, uses data from sources outside of Amazon, including pay-per-click landing data from sponsored products. This can be beneficial because products with more visibility through advertising are often more likely to be purchased.
It’s tough to determine which tool is more trustworthy. Some sellers might prefer Merchant Words because of its longer history and exclusive focus on Amazon data. Others might lean toward Helium 10 for its broader data sources and potentially more conservative figures.
Are Helium 10 and Merchant Words really easy to use?
Both Helium 10 and Merchant Words are user-friendly keyword research tools. To use them, you need to download the apps or browser extensions, enter your desired keyword, and get your data. You can also download the data and analyze the results further.
While people may debate about the differences in data accuracy, there’s no doubt that both tools are easy to use. So, if you’re looking for a simple tool, either Helium 10 or Merchant Words would be a great choice.
Pros & Cons
Helium 10
Pros
- Easy competitor and trend monitoring
- Comprehensive all-in-one software at a reasonable price
- Accurate product and keyword research tools
- Provides complete keyword data for product launches
- More affordable than other keyword search tools
Cons
- Limited features in the free starter plan, available in fewer countries
- Potential learning curve for using direct Amazon keyword search tools
MerchantWord:
Pros
- Largest database of real-time product keyword searches
- Competitors’ keyword searches go beyond average
- Provides efficient results by working directly with Amazon
- Minimal customization needed to see results
- Covers customer trends in more countries than Helium 10
Cons
- Limited free services; full coverage requires investment in pricier plans
- Installation issues reported by some users
- Customer support quality varies based on purchased plan tier
API of Helium 10 vs MerchantWords:
Helium 10 API
The Helium 10 API is like a backstage pass to Amazon data for your business. It’s an Application Programming Interface—fancy words for a tool that lets developers pull info from Helium 10’s platform and Amazon’s systems.
I’ve seen it work wonders for sellers who want to automate tasks or dig deeper into their stats. It ties into Amazon’s Marketplace Web Service (MWS) and Selling Partner API, so you can manage listings, grab keyword data, or track sales without clicking around all day.
For example, I could use it to fetch product trends from Black Box or competitor keywords from Cerebro—stuff that’d take hours manually.
You need a Helium 10 account, pick a plan, and generate an API key from their dashboard to get started. It’s powerful but technical—perfect if you’ve got a developer or some coding skills to make it sing.
For me, it’s like having a robot assistant to handle the heavy lifting.
MerchantWords API
The MerchantWords API is more focused—it’s all about keywords and shopper insights. It taps into their massive database of over a billion Amazon search terms, which I’ve found super useful for figuring out what buyers actually type into that search bar.
You can use it to pull keyword search volumes, see what ranks a product on page one, or spy on competitors’ terms.
I’ve played with their tools before, and this API feels like an extension of that—letting you grab data like how often “yoga mat” gets searched or what phrases push an ASIN to the top.
It’s less about running your whole business and more about nailing keyword strategy. You’d need to sign up with MerchantWords, and they pitch it for “ranking keywords and metrics for thousands of Amazon products.”
It’s straightforward if you’re obsessed with keywords like I am, but it’s not as broad as Helium 10’s toolbox.
Which Research Tool is Better?
Deciding which keyword research tool is better depends on your specific needs and preferences.
Merchant Words has been popular since its launch in 2012. It’s known for being reliable and comprehensive, covering a wide range of regions and providing extensive data.
On the other hand, Helium 10 is gaining popularity as a cheaper alternative with similar features and interface. While it may not have the global reach of Merchant Words, it still provides reliable data for the regions it covers.
My Tips: Helium 10 vs Merchant Words
If you only need to do product and keyword research and prefer a user-friendly tool with a visually appealing interface, then Merchant Words is a good choice.
It’s also suitable if your Amazon business operates in only one country and you want to explore more product options.
On the other hand, if you’re looking for a comprehensive set of tools beyond just product and keyword research and want competitive pricing, Helium 10 is a better option. It’s ideal if you prefer learning from industry leaders and want all your Amazon selling tools in one place.
FAQs on Helium 10 vs MerchantWords:
1. Which one has better keyword data? 🔍
Helium 10 grabs organic searches and PPC data, so I get a wider view—think shopper habits plus ad trends. MerchantWords sticks to organic searches with a huge database (over a billion terms!). I’d say Helium 10’s broader, but MerchantWords digs deep into natural searches.
2. Can they help me with my Amazon ads? 📈
Helium 10’s got my back here—its Adtomic tool runs my PPC campaigns like a pro. MerchantWords? No ad features—it’s all about keywords. If ads matter to me, Helium 10 wins hands down.
3. Do they protect my listings? 🛡️
Helium 10’s Hijack Alerts watch my listings 24/7—catches scammers fast. MerchantWords doesn’t do this—it’s not their game. For peace of mind, Helium 10’s my guard dog.
4. Where do they get their data from? 📊
Helium 10 pulls from Amazon’s API, mixing organic and PPC data—I feel it’s dynamic and full. MerchantWords mines organic searches straight from Amazon—super focused and massive. Depends on whether I want depth or breadth!
5. Can they help me spy on competitors? 🕵️♂️
Helium 10’s Cerebro is my secret weapon. It reverses ASIN lookups to show competitors’ keywords fast. MerchantWords has a Reverse ASIN tool too, and I’ve nabbed some gold from it. Both rock, but Helium 10 adds more competitor layers, like sales estimates.
6. Do they offer training or support? 📚
Helium 10 throws in Freedom Ticket—Amazon training that helped me start strong. Their support’s solid too. MerchantWords keeps it lean- I’ve seen no training, but their team is helpful. Helium 10 wins if I’m learning the ropes.
7. Are their APIs useful for me? ⚙️
Helium 10’s API hooks into my systems for keywords, sales—everything. MerchantWords’ API contains all the keywords that I’ve used to automate search pulls. If I’m coding, Helium 10’s broader; MerchantWords is keyword-focused.
8. Do they work outside Amazon? 🌐
Helium 10’s mostly Amazon-focused but dips into Walmart too—I’ve tested it there. MerchantWords is Amazon-only, from what I’ve seen. Helium 10 stretches further if I branch out.
Quick Links:-
Conclusion: Helium 10 vs Merchant Words
Now that you’ve learned about Helium 10 and Merchant Words, you can choose the Amazon FBA selling tool that suits you best. Both are popular tools with their advantages and disadvantages, so it depends on what you’re looking for.
Whether you pick Helium 10 or Merchant Words, you’ll have a reliable tool for your Amazon business. Make the right choice by considering your budget and your needs for the keyword research tool.