How the estimate works
Keyword difficulty mostly reflects how strong the pages already ranking are. This estimator weights the top results (the top 3 count more), compares them with your own authority, and adds a bonus when weak pages or forums already rank, which means Google lacks a good answer.
It is a planning tool, not a promise. A page that answers the search far better can beat stronger sites, especially for specific long tail searches.
Questions
Where do I get the authority numbers?
Ahrefs' free website authority checker gives Domain Rating; the domain authority checker here links to it and adds public signals.
Why not fetch the results automatically?
Scraping Google's results breaks its terms. Entering ten numbers keeps the estimate honest and free.
What score is easy?
Under 30 is usually reachable for a new site with a strong page; over 60 needs real authority.
Do forums ranking make it easier?
Often yes: Reddit or Quora in the top results suggests there is no great dedicated page yet.