Marketing · SEO and AI search
Screaming Frog SEO Spider
Desktop website crawler for technical SEO audits
At a glance
Screaming Frog SEO Spider is a desktop application that crawls a website the way a search engine would and reports on technical SEO issues. It finds broken links, redirects, duplicate or missing titles and descriptions, and other problems, and can render JavaScript, extract custom data and connect to Google Search Console. It is made by Screaming Frog, a UK agency based in Henley-on-Thames.
- Category
- SEO and AI search
- Best fit
- SME · Mid-market · Enterprise
- Pricing
- See pricing below
- In Adam’s stack
- No
Who Screaming Frog SEO Spider is best for
SEO specialists, agencies and in-house marketers who need detailed technical audits, site migrations or large-scale page checks. Pick it when you want a thorough, low-cost crawler rather than a cloud-based all-in-one suite.
Key features
- Crawls sites to find broken links, redirects and errors
- Audits page titles, meta descriptions and headings
- JavaScript rendering for modern websites
- Custom extraction of data from pages
- Google Search Console integration
- Free version for up to 500 URLs
Why it’s worth it
It gives a complete technical picture of a website for a low annual licence fee, and the free version covers smaller sites.
Things to consider
- It is a desktop app, so large crawls depend on your computer's memory and storage
- The interface is data-heavy and suits people comfortable with technical SEO
- Licences are per user and must be renewed each year
Screaming Frog SEO Spider pricing
Pricing as published by Screaming Frog SEO Spider
Free version up to 500 URLs. Paid licence US$279 per user per year with unlimited crawling. Volume discounts: US$265 (5 to 9 licences), US$249 (10 to 19), US$235 (20+).
Source: screamingfrog.co.uk/seo-spider/pricing. Checked 8 October 2026. Prices change often, so confirm on the vendor’s site before you buy.
Alternatives to Screaming Frog SEO Spider
Other tools listed under SEO and AI search. Tools from Adam’s stack are marked.
Ahrefs
In Adam’s stackKeyword, backlink and competitor research
SMEMid-marketEnterpriseSEO, ads and content research, plus an AI visibility toolkit
SMEMid-marketEnterpriseGoogle Search Console
In Adam’s stackFree data on how Google sees your site
SMEMid-marketEnterpriseBing Webmaster Tools
In Adam’s stackFree; Bing’s index feeds Microsoft Copilot
SMEMid-marketEnterpriseLong-standing SEO suite with easy reporting
SMEMid-marketContent optimisation for ranking pages
SMEMid-marketTraffic and market intelligence on any website
Mid-marketEnterpriseAnswerThePublic
In Adam’s stackQuestions people search around any topic
SME
FAQ
Screaming Frog SEO Spider: common questions
Is Screaming Frog free?
Yes, the SEO Spider has a free version that crawls up to 500 URLs. A paid licence removes the limit and costs US$279 per user per year.
What is Screaming Frog used for?
It is used for technical SEO audits, such as finding broken links, redirect chains, missing or duplicate titles and descriptions, and checking sites before and after a migration.
Screaming Frog vs Ahrefs site audit?
Screaming Frog is a desktop crawler with very detailed, configurable technical data at a low price. Ahrefs' site audit is cloud-based and part of a wider SEO suite, which is more convenient but costs more.
Can’t find a tool that fits?
When every option forces a workaround, our trusted build partners can build it: apps, automations and AI agents designed around how your business actually works.