Google Autocomplete vs Autofill vs Predictive Search: The Difference
Updated
Autocomplete predicts what you are about to search, autofill fills in forms and predictive search is the general idea behind both. Only autocomplete is useful for keyword research.
Try the Google autocomplete keyword tool
What is the difference between autocomplete and autofill?
Autocomplete predicts what you are about to search and shows it under the search box. Autofill fills in the fields of a form, such as your name, address or card number, using details your browser or account has saved. One finishes a search, the other finishes a form.
What is predictive search?
Predictive search is the general name for any feature that predicts what you want while you type. Google's search box predictions, the suggestions in an online shop and the address bar in your browser are all examples. When people talk about Google "autocomplete" they usually mean the predicted searches in the search box.
Autocomplete, autosuggest and autofill compared
- Autocomplete: completes a search query as you type, based on what other people search for.
- Autosuggest: another name for the same list of suggested searches. Many tools and engines use the two words interchangeably.
- Autofill: completes form fields with saved personal details. It has nothing to do with search predictions.
- Address bar suggestions: a browser feature that suggests searches and sites you visited as you type in the address bar.
Which one matters for keyword research?
Autocomplete. Its predictions come from real searches, so they show the long-tail phrases people actually use. Autofill saves personal data and is irrelevant for keywords. To collect the predictions without typing every letter yourself, use the Google autocomplete keyword tool. For a closer look at how the predictions are produced, read how Google autocomplete works.
Why do my suggestions differ from someone else's?
Predictions change with language, location, how popular or new a topic is and, in some cases, your own search history. A tool that reads suggestions without signing in shows the general predictions rather than your personal ones, which is what you want for keyword research.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between autofill and autocomplete?
Autocomplete predicts search queries as you type. Autofill fills in forms with saved details such as addresses and payment cards.
What is the difference between predictive search and autocomplete?
Predictive search is the general idea of predicting what you want while you type. Autocomplete is the name Google uses for the predicted searches in its search box.
What is Google autosuggest?
Autosuggest is another name for Google's list of suggested searches. In practice it means the same thing as autocomplete.
Which one should I use for keyword research?
Autocomplete. Its predictions come from real searches and show the long-tail phrases people use.
Why do I see different suggestions from other people?
Predictions vary with language, location, trending topics and sometimes your own search history.
Related tools and guides
- Google autocomplete keyword tool
- Free long-tail keyword tool: back to the main LongTailLab tool
- Next guide: Autocomplete vs search volume
- All keyword research guides