Intro
Track free-modified searches in GSC so you can separate no-cost demand from trial, paid, or premium-intent traffic.
Use this regex to isolate queries containing the standalone word free when users explicitly want a no-cost option.
The Regex
How This Regex Works (Explained Simply)
\b
Backslash-b marks a word boundary. It helps stop short terms from matching inside longer words in GSC queries.
GSC regex is case-insensitive by default, so capital letters do not need separate variants. GSC also uses partial matching by default, so the regex can match part of a longer query unless you anchor it with ^ or $.
What This Regex Does
- Matches the standalone word free in a query.
- Surfaces no-cost demand that often behaves differently from trial or paid intent.
- Helps you report separately on free-resource and free-tool searches.
What it does not match
- freemium seo tools - Freemium is not the standalone word free.
- seo tool trial - No free modifier appears.
Edge Cases
- Free does not capture freemium unless you broaden the pattern.
- The regex is not anchored, so free can appear anywhere in the query.
Example Matches Table
| Query | Match | Why |
|---|---|---|
| free rank tracker | Match | Contains free as a standalone modifier. |
| free seo dashboard template | Match | Free appears directly in the query. |
| freemium seo tools | No | Freemium is not the standalone word free. |
| seo tool trial | No | No free modifier appears. |
How to Use This in Google Search Console
- Open Performance and go to Search results.
- Click Add filter and choose Query.
- Select Custom (regex).
- Paste the regex and click Apply.
When to Use This
- Measure no-cost demand separately from trial or purchase intent.
- Audit whether free tools, templates, or guides rank for these searches.
- Compare free traffic quality against commercial traffic.
Pro Tips
- Free intent can be high-volume and low-conversion, so segment it cleanly before drawing conclusions.
- Review landing pages to make sure free queries are not reaching paid-only pages.
- Use branded filters to find whether people specifically want your free version or resource.
- Add trial separately rather than folding it into free, because the intent is not the same.
Variations
Include no-cost phrasing
Adds a plain-language variant for explicit no-cost searches.
Related Regex Recipes
Regex for "Try" Queries
Use this regex to isolate searches containing the standalone word try when users want to test something before committing.
Regex for Beginner Queries
Use this regex to isolate beginner-modified queries in GSC when you want to understand entry-level educational demand.
CTA
Regex is powerful in GSC, but manual filtering still leaves you exporting, comparing, and rebuilding the same views. Spicy Metrics turns those segments into reporting your team can reuse.
Turn regex into repeatable reporting