Anyone doing SEO knows Google's Keyword Planner, so I won't introduce it in detail here.
The purpose of this article is to explain how to register. In 2026, following the standard registration path, there is no longer a "Skip" option. Even if you choose "Expert Mode," you still need to choose a billing method, which is very troublesome.
This step can no longer be bypassed at all. You may even get an error when setting up a payment profile.
Currently, the only path I know of that still allows smooth registration and use is MCC (Google Ads Manager Account). You don't need to design ads, don't need to link a payment profile, and can register and use it by filling in basic information.
The registration process is as follows:
- Open https://business.google.com/en-all/ad-tools/manage-accounts/
- Click "Go to Manager Accounts"
- At this point, you'll be asked to fill in business information. The account display name can be anything; for account purpose, select "Manage my accounts"; the billing country, time zone, and currency after that can be filled in arbitrarily. Once completed, "Confirm" is all you need.
At this point, you are creating a parent account. To use the tools directly, you also need to create a child account:
- Click "Accounts" in the left navigation bar, and select "Performance"
- Click the large blue "+" button at the top left of the table
- Fill in the basic account information however you like, then save it. At this point, it will be in child account status, and you can use the tools normally.
"Tools" - "Planning" - "Keyword Planner", and then you can use it freely.
I initially went the Google Ads route. "Expert Mode" was hidden at the bottom of the page. I thought I could skip it, but no matter what, I had to link a payment profile. When linking, it also threw an error and simply wouldn't work, so I gave up. Later, I discovered that MCC works too.