How to use Wordstat — a beginner's guide

Wordstat (wordstat.yandex.ru) is Yandex's free service that shows how many times a month people searched for a given phrase, specifically on the Russian search market. It's the starting point for any keyword work — SEO, advertising, or marketplace listings alike. Let's walk through what it shows and how to use it.

What Wordstat shows

Next to each phrase there's a number — it's not visitors and it's not clicks, it's search impressions: how many times a month people typed that query and every query it's part of. In other words, it's a measure of demand, not a guarantee of traffic. More on this in the chapter on search-query statistics.

Three modes

By words. The main mode: the phrase's search volume, plus a left column of related queries (what people search for alongside your word) and a right column of similar queries. This is where you pull your keywords from.
By region. Where a query is more popular, in absolute numbers and by "regional popularity." Useful for local business and for Avito sellers.
Search history. Month-by-month trend — shows seasonality and whether demand is rising or falling.

How to enter a query

Type the phrase the way a customer would say it: "coffee travel mug", not "travel, coffee, metal mug". By default Wordstat counts broadly — every query containing those words, in any order or word form, gets counted. To narrow the count down to the exact phrase, there are search operators — quotes, the exclamation mark and the minus sign.

A big number does not mean easy traffic

High search volume means high competition, and often a lot of off-target queries mixed in. Don't chase the single most popular phrase — medium- and low-volume queries with clear intent usually deliver more sales per ruble spent.

The same thing in a chat

You don't have to open Wordstat separately: in Twelver it's built into the conversation, and you can ask for the statistics in plain language. See how it works in the chapter "Wordstat right inside an AI chat".

"First-time Wordstat checklist"

What to check so you don't draw conclusions from a random number: mode, region, period and operators.

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What's next

Next up — how to read those numbers without mistakes: Yandex search-query statistics. And to turn one phrase into a full list — keyword research with AI.

Frequently asked questions

How do I use Wordstat?

Type the phrase the way a customer would say it ("coffee travel mug"), and check the three modes: "By words" (search volume and related queries), "By region" and "Search history" (seasonality). You don't have to open the service separately — you can ask about demand right inside the Twelver chat.

What does the number next to a query in Wordstat mean?

Search impressions — how many times a month that query, and every query it's part of, got typed. It's a measure of demand, not a guarantee of traffic or customers.

Is Wordstat free?

Yes, wordstat.yandex.ru is a free Yandex service. In Twelver it's built into the conversation, so you can ask for the statistics in plain language without opening a separate tab.

Should I go after the most popular query?

Not always: high search volume means high competition, and often a lot of off-target queries mixed in. Medium- and low-volume phrases with clear intent usually deliver more sales per ruble spent.

Without opening a separate Wordstat tab, ask about demand right in the Twelver chat — with the numbers explained and a ready list of queries. First generations are free after you sign up.

Try it yourself

Everything in this guide runs inside Twelver

One chat for text, images, video, music and voice — no separate services or subscriptions.

Open Twelver chat

Related pageWordstat Assistant

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