With the ever-changing nature of The Algorithm™, hashtags are one method of discovery that has stayed consistent in the value they offer. Your TikTok or Instagram hashtags might just be what propels your content in front of the right audience, so they’re essential for any social media strategy.
However, coming up with the right ones can be a time-consuming task. Fortunately, there are free hashtag generators that can help you save time and create effective hashtags.
In this article, we'll explore the 8 best free hashtag generators to help you elevate your social media content game.
Why use hashtags in your social media strategy?
Here are some of the key reasons why you should use hashtags in your social media strategy:
- Improve the visibility of your content: First and most importantly, hashtags help your content to be more visible on social media. Users searching for a specific hashtag can find your content easily, even if they don't follow your account. Hashtags are a gateway to reaching new audiences, especially for smaller creators.
- Boost audience engagement: When searching for a specific hashtag, I'm far more likely to like or comment on what I see – especially if it's relevant. Hashtags are a great way to reach an audience that's already interested in your content. However, you must use hashtags relevant to what you're posting, not just generic or broad terms (no #like4like, yes #planttips). This is more likely to yield engagement from your target audience.
- Connect with your audience: Hashtags provide a powerful way to signal that you are part of your audience’s community. By adopting the popular hashtags with your audience (#dogparent or #gardenersofinstagram) you can start conversations and create authentic connections with your followers. This can also go a long way to helping establish your brand as an authority in your industry and increase customer loyalty.
- Build brand credibility and affinity: If you're confident enough, creating your own hashtag to make you recognizable to your audience is a surefire way to boost brand awareness across social media platforms.
Hashtags are a small but crucial component of any social media strategy, and while finding relevant ones can be time-consuming, it’s worth it. The tools on this list will go a long way to helping you quickly come up with the best hashtags across your social media.
Inflact Instagram Hashtag Generator
Features: Inflact, a marketing toolkit for Instagram, offers a hashtag generator that:
- Has a mobile app
- Sorts hashtags by frequency and competition level
- Allows you to save your search results as templates and copy them directly into your Instagram posts
- Can generate hashtags by keyword, photo, or URL
Limitations: The free version has limited capabilities.
Toolzu Instagram Hashtag Generator
Features: Toolzu is another Instagram marketing tool that offers a hashtag generator similar to Inflact's that:
- Has a mobile app on iOS and Android
- Allows you to generate a list of hashtags with a single keyword, URL, or photo
- Shows the hashtag difficulty and volume of content published under it
Limitations: The free version has limited capabilities.
CopyAI Hashtag Generator
Features: Copy.ai is a tool that offers an AI hashtag generator. The hashtag generator's features include:
- Generates up to 50 hashtags at a time
- Offers a variety of other AI-powered copywriting tools including a caption generator
- Allows you to copy hashtags directly into your post
Limitations: The free version has limited capabilities and you need to sign up to access it at all.
Sistrix Instagram Hashtag Generator
Features: Sistrix is a tool dedicated to helping its users rank better on Google. Among its features is an Instagram hashtag generator that:
- Has a simple and user-friendly interface
- Helps generate Instagram hashtags
- Shows frequency and competition level for each hashtag
Limitations: Limited free version.
Tagsfinder Hashtag Generator
Features: Tagsfinder offers one service: hashtags – among which is a hashtag generator that:
- Offers suggestions based on keywords
- Easy to use and navigate
- No limit on the number of hashtags generated
Limitations: Limited features compared to other tools.
Display Purposes Hashtag Generator
Features: Display Purposes, while one of the least impressive tools on this list, offers a hashtag generator with a unique feature that:
- Offers hashtag suggestions based on your profile
- The tool also shows related hashtags for each suggestion
Limitations: It has limited features compared to other tools and you need to sign up to see your results.
Influencer Marketing Hub Instagram Hashtag Generator
Features: Influencer Marketing Hub is a top resource for creators and businesses looking to keep up with the influencer industry. They offer many free tools, including a hashtag generator that:
- Offers hashtag suggestions based on images you upload
- Shows popularity and competition level for each hashtag
- Also offers a TikTok hashtag generator that analyzes your video and gives you relevant hashtags
Limitations: Limited features compared to other tools.
All Hashtag Hashtag Generator
Features: All Hashtag, a hashtag generator tool that:
- Offers different hashtags based on keywords
- Generates up to 30 hashtags at a time
- Shows related hashtags for each suggestion
Limitations: Limited features compared to other tools; covered with ads
5 tips to boost your hashtag strategy
Hashtags are a great way to get your content discovered, especially when you’re first starting out. But there’s an art to using them, from how many to include in your social media posts to how to get them in front of the right audience. So, here are five tips that can help you get the best results from hashtags:
- Do your research: Look up creators you admire and those who are your direct competition to see what they’re doing with hashtags. Also, use tools like AnswerthePublic or Google Trends to see what terms are popping up in your niche. This will help you find new hashtags and use the most relevant ones.
- Select hashtags specific to your niche: Instead of primarily using trending hashtags, use hashtags relevant to the content you are posting. This will help you reach a more targeted audience and increase engagement. Also, use hashtags that align with your brand values and personality. This will help you attract the right audience, increasing engagement and your likelihood of Explore Page fame.
- Keep it concise: Use short and simple hashtags that are easy to remember and type. Avoid using lengthy phrases or words that are difficult to spell. Also, don’t use too many hashtags in your posts. Stick to 2-5 relevant hashtags to avoid overwhelming your audience.
- Use branded hashtags: Even better, create your own branded hashtag to help build brand awareness. The more creative, the better. It’s also a great way to collect user-generated content as your audience starts using it in their content.
- Engage with other creators: Use hashtags to find and engage with others in your industry or niche. If a potential collaborator has a branded hashtag, use it in a post. They’re likely watching new content under that hashtag, so this is a quick way to get in front of them. This will help you build relationships and grow your network.
Save time and improve post performance with hashtags
These hashtag generators can help you save time and improve your social media performance. Each tool has pros and cons, so it's essential to experiment and find the one that best suits your needs.
Whether you're a social media manager, influencer, or just starting, these hashtag generators can help you create compelling content and grow your online presence.
Check out all the free tools from Buffer.