Merchant Words vs. Helium 10: The Best Amazon Seller Tool? 

Ever wondered how successful Amazon sellers uncover those profitable product niches? Two powerful tools, Merchant Words and Helium 10, promise to be your ultimate allies in this quest. But which one is the right fit for your unique needs? 

Join us in this article to view the head-to-head comparison of Merchants Words vs Helium 10, exploring their features, pricing, data accuracy, etc., to find out the ideal tool to support your Amazon business today.

Pros & Cons

Merchant Words

Pros

• Affordable pricing (free and paid plans)
• Large keyword database
• Easy-to-understand interface
• Market trend analysis
• Seasonality insights
• Competitor analysis

Cons

• Limited feature set (mainly focused on keyword research)
• Less accurate search volume data
• No listing optimization tools
• No inventory management tools
• Limited customer support

Helium 10

Pros

• Comprehensive suite of tools (30+)
• Advanced keyword research and analysis
• Accurate search volume data
• Listing optimization tools
• Inventory management tools
• PPC management tools
• Fraud protection
• Extensive training resources
• Responsive customer support

Cons

• Higher price point
• Steeper learning curve
• Some features may be redundant for certain sellers

Key Features

Let’s analyze and compare some key features of both platforms and vote for the final winner in the battle of each feature:

Keyword research

Merchant Words

Merchant Words boasts one of the largest keyword databases in the industry, containing over 1 billion unique search terms collected directly from Amazon searches. This extensive data pool allows sellers to uncover hidden keywords and gain a comprehensive understanding of shopper behavior. 

To be more specific. the Keyword Multiplier feature provides estimated search volumes for a given keyword, while ASIN Plus reveals the top keywords driving traffic to specific products. For example, a seller could use Merchant Words to discover that the keyword “bamboo straws” has a higher search volume than “reusable straws,” leading them to optimize their listing accordingly.

Helium 10

Helium 10’s keyword research tools, Cerebro and Magnet, offer powerful features for uncovering high-volume and relevant keywords. Cerebro excels at reverse ASIN analysis, revealing the keywords competitors are ranking for, while Magnet provides a broader range of keyword suggestions based on seed terms. 

However, Helium 10’s data accuracy has been questioned by some users, with discrepancies reported in search volume estimates compared to other tools. Despite this, many sellers have achieved success using Helium 10’s keyword strategies, such as targeting long-tail keywords with lower competition or identifying high-converting keywords through competitor analysis.

The Verdict

Helium 10 is the winner in terms of keyword research, offering a more comprehensive suite of tools and deeper insights into competitor keywords and search trends. While Merchant Words provides valuable keyword data, Helium 10’s tools like Cerebro and Magnet offer a wider range of analysis and optimization features, giving sellers a more complete understanding of the Amazon keyword landscape.

Product research 

Merchant Words

Merchant Words offers limited product research capabilities. While it provides insights into search volume and trends, it lacks tools for in-depth product analysis and competitor research. 

For instance, a seller using Merchant Words might struggle to identify specific product details like profit margins or competitor sales data, which are crucial for making informed sourcing decisions.

Helium 10

Helium 10, on the other hand, excels in product research with its powerful tools like Black Box and Trendster. Black Box allows sellers to filter through millions of products based on criteria like price, sales, and competition, making it easier to identify profitable niches. 

Meanwhile, Trendster helps uncover trending products and seasonal fluctuations in demand, enabling sellers to stay ahead of the curve. For instance, a seller using Helium 10 could easily identify a high-demand product with low competition and a healthy profit margin, leading to a successful product launch.

💎Read more: How to Use Helium 10 For Amazon Product Research

The Verdict

Helium 10 emerges as the clear winner in product research due to its robust suite of tools specifically designed for this purpose. While Merchant Words primarily focuses on keyword research, Helium 10’s Black Box, Trendster, and Xray tools provide comprehensive product data, trend analysis, and competitor insights, empowering sellers to identify profitable niches and make informed product sourcing decisions.

Listing optimization 

Merchant Words

I initially found Merchant Words’ approach to listing optimization quite hands-off, as it didn’t provide explicit recommendations like Helium 10’s tools. However, the wealth of market and competitor data helped me make informed decisions about keyword placement and content optimization.

By analyzing top-performing listings in my niche, I was able to identify successful strategies and apply them to my own listings, ultimately improving their performance in search results.

Helium 10

Helium 10, on the other hand, provides powerful listing optimization tools like Frankenstein and Scribbles. Frankenstein helps you create keyword-rich product titles and descriptions, ensuring you include all the relevant search terms without keyword stuffing. Meanwhile, Scribbles acts as a real-time editor, helping you track keyword usage and optimize your listing for maximum visibility and conversion. 

For instance: A seller uses Helium 10’s Scribbles to optimize their listing for a “yoga mat.” Scribbles highlight relevant keywords like “eco-friendly,” “non-slip,” and “thick,” ensuring they’re included in the title and description for maximum visibility. It also warns the seller against overusing certain phrases, preventing keyword stuffing and improving readability.

The Verdict

Helium 10 is a better choice than Merchant Words in terms of Listing organization. Helium 10’s listing optimization tools, like Frankenstein or Scribbles, can guide sellers in crafting keyword-rich and high-converting product listings, which later helps maximize online stores’ product visibility and sales.

Competitor/ Market analysis 

Merchant Words

In my experience, Merchant Words’ competitor analysis felt limited. I could see keyword search volumes, but it lacked the depth I needed to truly understand my competition. It was like looking at a map without any landmarks – I knew where I was but not where I stood in relation to others.

Helium 10

In contrast with Merchant Words, Helium 10 opened up a whole new world of competitor insights. Using tools like Cerebro and Market Tracker, I could peek into my rivals’ strategies, see their top-performing keywords, and even track their sales trends. It was like having a spyglass on their operations, allowing me to make informed decisions and stay ahead of the curve.

The Verdict

Helium 10 outplays Merchant Words significantly compared to competitors and market analysts thanks to its suite of tools, such as Cerebro, Magnet, and Market Tracker. These provide in-depth insights into competitor strategies, market trends, and sales data, empowering sellers to make informed decisions and stay ahead of the competition. 

Inventory management 

Merchant Words

Merchant Words doesn’t offer any features specifically for inventory management. It primarily focuses on keyword research and data analysis, providing valuable insights into search trends and competitor keywords. 

Helium 10

Helium 10 includes an Inventory Protector tool designed to help sellers avoid stockouts and optimize inventory levels. According to Helium 10’s data, using Inventory Protector can reduce stockouts by up to 80%, leading to increased sales and improved customer satisfaction. The tool analyzes sales velocity, lead times, and other factors to provide accurate inventory projections, ensuring you have the right amount of stock on hand to meet demand.

The Verdict

Similar to the listing optimization feature above, Helium 10 is the clear choice for inventory management since Merchant Words does not offer this feature. While Merchant Words lacks any dedicated inventory tools, Helium 10 offers a robust solution with its Inventory Protector, which helps sellers prevent stockouts, optimize stock levels, and ultimately maximize sales potential.

Other relevant tools

Merchant Words

While primarily focused on keyword research, Merchant Words offered a few additional features like the Listing Advisor, which analyzed my product listings and suggested keyword improvements. However, I found it lacked the depth and variety of tools I needed for a comprehensive Amazon strategy. It felt like a one-trick pony, great for keywords but not much else.

Helium 10

In contrast, Helium 10’s suite of tools felt like a treasure trove for my Amazon business.  Beyond keyword research, I discovered additional features like Refund Genie for recovering lost profits, Frankenstein for crafting compelling listings, and the Chrome Extension for on-the-go product analysis. It was like having a whole team of experts at my fingertips, each specializing in a different aspect of my Amazon business.

The Verdict

Helium 10 is the undisputed champion when it comes to additional tools. I was blown away by their extensive suite besides the main ones above, like PPC management, inventory management, refund tools, etc. Merchant Words, while helpful for keyword research, simply couldn’t compete with the breadth and depth of Helium 10’s offerings.

Pricing

Merchant Words

Merchant Words offers a tiered pricing structure based on the features and capabilities needed. Their plans range from $35 to $749 per month, with discounts available for annual subscriptions.

• Silver: $35/month
• Gold: $79/month
• Platinum: $149/month
• Enterprise: $749/month

Helium 10

Helium 10 also offers tiered pricing, with plans ranging from $29 to $229 per month. They provide a free trial for new users to explore the platform’s features before making the purchase decision.

• Starter: $29/month (when billed annually)
• Platinum: $79/month (when billed annually)
• Diamond: $229/month (when billed annually)

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The Verdict

Merchant Words is better than Helium in the pricing comparison factor: the pricing category. It offers a more affordable and flexible range of plans compared to Helium 10. This makes it a budget-friendly option for beginners and smaller sellers who might not need the extensive suite of tools offered by Helium 10.

Data Accuracy

Merchant Words

Merchant Words prides itself on providing accurate keyword data directly from Amazon’s search bar, claiming to analyze millions of search terms across various marketplaces. While they state their data is 100% accurate, some users and reviewers have reported occasional discrepancies between Merchant Words’ data and actual Amazon search volumes. 

For example, a seller might find a keyword with a high search volume in Merchant Words but notice lower traffic to their listing when using that keyword.

Helium 10

Helium 10 also sources its keyword data from Amazon, leveraging its vast database and machine learning algorithms to provide search volume estimates and trend analysis. However, some users have expressed concerns about the accuracy of Helium 10’s data, particularly for less popular or niche keywords. 

A seller might find that the estimated search volume for a specific keyword is significantly different from their actual sales data, raising questions about the tool’s reliability for those keywords.

The Verdict

Merchant Words takes a slight edge in data accuracy, specifically in terms of organic search volume data. Their focus on gathering data directly from Amazon’s search bar and analyzing millions of search terms gives them an advantage in identifying emerging trends and providing more precise search volume estimates compared to Helium 10.

Ease of Use

Merchant Words

Merchant Words’ interface is generally considered user-friendly, with a simple layout and clear navigation. Its tools are relatively easy to grasp, even for beginners. For instance, a new Amazon seller with limited experience was able to quickly navigate the platform and generate a list of relevant keywords for their product listing, demonstrating its ease of use.

Helium 10

Helium 10, while offering a broader range of powerful features, has a steeper learning curve. The abundance of tools and data can be overwhelming for some users, especially those who are new to Amazon selling. For example, an experienced seller transitioning from a different platform might need to invest time in understanding Helium 10’s unique terminology and workflow before utilizing its full potential.

The Verdict

Merchant Words is the winner for the ease of use comparison, with its straightforward interface and streamlined tools designed for quick and intuitive keyword research. While Helium 10 offers a wider array of features, its complexity can be overwhelming for beginners, making Merchant Words a more accessible choice for those new to Amazon keyword research.

Customer Support

Merchant Words

Merchant Words provides customer support through email and a help center with articles and tutorials. The platform also has a “contact us” form on every page of its site so that clients can contact it at any time. In my experience, their responses were helpful but sometimes slow, especially during peak hours. I once had to wait a few days for a response regarding a billing issue, which was a bit frustrating.

Helium 10

Helium 10 boasts a more comprehensive customer support system, with email, live chat, and a vast knowledge base of articles and videos.  I found their live “chatbot” feature particularly helpful for quick questions and troubleshooting. The support agents were knowledgeable and responsive, often resolving my issues within minutes.  This level of support definitely made me feel more confident and secure using their platform.

The Verdict

Helium 10 is the clear winner in customer support, providing multiple channels like live chat and email and an extensive knowledge base for prompt assistance. This comprehensive support system ensures that sellers can quickly resolve any issues or questions they encounter, fostering a smoother experience compared to Merchant Words’ more limited email-based support.

User Reviews and Case Studies

Merchant Words

Merchant Words has garnered positive feedback from sellers who appreciate its straightforward interface and extensive keyword database. Many users, particularly beginners and those on a budget, find it valuable for uncovering relevant keywords and understanding search trends. 

However, some experienced sellers have expressed that Merchant Words lacks the depth and advanced features they need for comprehensive Amazon optimization. For instance, a seasoned seller felt limited by the platform’s focus on keyword research and wished for more tools to analyze competitor strategies or track product trends.

Latest user reviews (Source: G2):

• “Merchant works is very simple and easy to use. You get instant search results for the keywords you type in. the results are also ranked in order to provide insight on which words are more suitable for your blogs.” – emilia c.
• “Merchant words is very easy to use. All you do is put your keyword into their search, and they will provide you a list of all relevant keywords that are searched on amazon, and their search volume. We have used this a lot for all of our products that we sell on amazon. This gives us a comprehensive list of relevant keywords to use to optimize our listings. You can also search different amazon countries as well” – Austin J.

Case study:

John, an Amazon seller specializing in outdoor gear, found Merchant Words’ extensive keyword database invaluable for identifying niche keywords with high search volume. He used this data to optimize his product listings, resulting in a 20% increase in organic traffic and a 15% boost in sales within three months. However, he expressed a desire for more comprehensive tools for product research and competitor analysis, which Merchant Words lacked.

Helium 10

Helium 10 has received praise from sellers who value its all-in-one approach and diverse range of tools. Many users highlight the power of Cerebro for reverse ASIN research and Frankenstein for creating optimized listings. 

Nevertheless, some users find the platform’s learning curve steep and its pricing relatively high. For example, a newer seller found the interface overwhelming at first but eventually mastered the tools and experienced significant growth in their Amazon business.

Latest user reviews (Source: Reddit):

• “I used it to track COGS and it does a pretty poor job at it. Going to cancel at the end of this month” – GeneralCheese
• “Helium 10 is great and there are a lot of high quality tools. . It’s 100/month. It’s not a lot of money. Damn you guys are cheap. Learn how to use it to your benefit.” – Calm_Entrepreneur_28
• “AVOID HELIUM 10 AT ALL COSTS!!! So I cancelled my Helium 10 membership, and they’re doing the typical corporate theft tactic of continuing to charge me $99 / month. If you have an Amazon Registered Brand, you can pretty much get the same keyword info, for free.” – alterego200

Case study:

Sarah, a seasoned Amazon seller, initially struggled with identifying profitable product niches and optimizing her listings for maximum visibility. After adopting Helium 10, she utilized tools like Black Box and Frankenstein to streamline her product research and create high-converting listings. This led to a 30% increase in sales within two months and a significant improvement in her organic ranking. Sarah particularly appreciated Helium 10’s comprehensive suite of tools and active community support.

Which Tool is the Best?

From my own experience of testing both platforms, plus the above Merchant Words vs Helium 10 analysis, I notice that Helium 10 is the BETTER choice than Merchant Words for a couple of reasons:

• Feature-Rich Powerhouse: Helium 10’s extensive suite of tools, including keyword research, product research, listing optimization, competitor analysis, and inventory management, provides a one-stop shop for sellers to streamline their entire Amazon business. In contrast, Merchant Words focuses primarily on keyword research, limiting its overall functionality.
• In-Depth Data and Analytics: Helium 10’s tools like Cerebro, Magnet, and Trendster offer a wealth of data and insights, empowering sellers to make informed decisions about product selection, keyword targeting, and competitor strategies. This depth of analysis is unmatched by Merchant Words’ more basic keyword data.
• Active Community and Support: Helium 10 fosters a thriving community of sellers and provides extensive educational resources and responsive customer support. This ensures that users have access to guidance and assistance whenever they need it, fostering a sense of community and shared learning that Merchant Words lacks.

But, Merchants Words is still a good choice in certain cases

Even though Helium 10 is the overall winner, there are still certain audiences that may find Merchant Words a better solution than Helium 10.

Who should use Merchant Words:

• Beginner Amazon sellers: Those who are just starting out and need a user-friendly tool to grasp basic keyword research concepts.
• Budget-conscious sellers: Those looking for an affordable tool with a focus on keyword data and trend analysis.
• Sellers primarily focused on keyword research: Those who prioritize finding high-volume, relevant keywords for their product listings and PPC campaigns.
• Visual learners: Merchant Words offers visually appealing reports and graphs that are easy to understand and interpret.

Meanwhile, the following audiences are the perfect match with Helium 10.

Who should use Helium 10:

• Experienced Amazon sellers: Those who need a comprehensive suite of tools for product research, listing optimization, inventory management, and PPC advertising.
• Sellers seeking advanced features: Those who require in-depth competitor analysis, keyword tracking, and listing optimization capabilities.
• Sellers looking for a supportive community: Helium 10 offers extensive training resources, webinars, and a vibrant community forum where sellers can learn and connect with each other.
• Sellers willing to invest in a premium tool: Those who prioritize a robust all-in-one solution with a proven track record of success and are willing to pay for it.

FAQs

In conclusion

Choosing the right Amazon seller tool is crucial for your success, and both Merchant Words and Helium 10 offer free trials to help you find the perfect fit. Have you tried either of these tools? Share your experiences, and let’s discuss which one you think is best for achieving your Amazon goals!

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