What is Screaming Frog SEO Spider?
Screaming Frog SEO Spider is a desktop crawler developed by the UK SEO agency Screaming Frog. It runs on Windows, Mac and Linux and crawls a website the way a search engine does, collecting data on every URL it finds, such as status codes, redirects, page titles, meta descriptions, canonicals, hreflang tags, structured data and internal links.
You enter a domain, start a crawl, and the software builds reports and visualisations that show technical problems. The free version crawls up to 500 URLs. A paid annual licence removes the limit (subject to available memory and storage) and unlocks features such as JavaScript rendering, scheduled crawls, custom extraction, Google Analytics and Search Console integrations, and crawling with OpenAI and Gemini. Its own AI-related features are limited to the crawl and extraction workflow it provides, not a general-purpose AI assistant.
Key features
- Finds broken links, errors and redirect chains
- Analyses page titles, meta descriptions and robots directives
- JavaScript rendering for crawling dynamic sites
- Custom extraction and custom search across source code
- Integrations with Google Analytics, Search Console and PageSpeed Insights
- Crawl comparison, scheduling and Looker Studio crawl reports
Who is it for
- SEO specialists
- SEO agencies
- Website developers and technical marketers
- In-house digital marketing teams
How to get started with Screaming Frog SEO Spider
- Download the program from the Screaming Frog website and install it on your computer
- Open the program and enter the site address in the 'Enter URL to spider' bar
- Click Start and wait until the crawl collects data on each URL
- Review the tabs with tables, e.g. errors, redirects, titles and meta data
- You want a technical SEO audit of a large website or online store
- You are looking for broken links, redirects and duplicate content
- You work at an SEO agency and need a tool that runs locally on your computer
- You need to crawl more than 500 URLs and do not want to pay for a license
- You need an interface in Polish, which the program does not offer
Pros and cons
- Free version for smaller sites with no sign-up needed to start
- Widely used by SEO professionals and agencies, with a long-established product
- Runs on Windows, Mac and Linux
- Free version limited to 500 URLs
- Paid licence needs renewal every year; crawl size depends on memory and storage
Screaming Frog SEO Spider pricing
| Plan | Price | Includes |
|---|---|---|
| Free | 0 USD | Crawl limit 500 URLs; core features included |
| Paid licence (single user) | 279 USD / year | Unlimited URLs (subject to memory and storage); all advanced features; licence renews yearly; per user, bulk discounts available. Prices also listed in GBP and EUR on the page. |
Prices copied from Screaming Frog SEO Spider pricing, checked October 12, 2026. Currency as shown by the vendor; taxes may apply.
Screaming Frog SEO Spider pricing details →
Is Screaming Frog SEO Spider free?
Yes, there is a free plan. Free version crawls up to 500 URLs and includes most core features such as broken link detection, metadata analysis, sitemap generation and Google Analytics and Search Console integrations. Free Technical Support is included.
Featured in
- Best AI for SEO - #9
Screaming Frog SEO Spider alternatives
| Tool | Price from | Free plan | Category |
|---|---|---|---|
| 129 USD/mo | trial | SEO | |
| 117.33 USD/mo | yes | SEO | |
| 23 USD/mo | trial | SEO | |
| 82 EUR/mo | trial | SEO | |
| not listed | yes | SEO | |
| not listed | ? | SEO |
All alternatives to Screaming Frog SEO Spider →
Comparisons
- Ahrefs vs Screaming Frog SEO Spider
- Semrush vs Screaming Frog SEO Spider
- Screaming Frog SEO Spider vs Surfer
- Screaming Frog SEO Spider vs vidIQ
FAQ
What is Screaming Frog SEO Spider used for?
Desktop website crawler for technical SEO audits: finds broken links, errors, redirects, and metadata issues on any site.
Is Screaming Frog SEO Spider free?
Yes, there is a free plan. Free version crawls up to 500 URLs and includes most core features such as broken link detection, metadata analysis, sitemap generation and Google Analytics and Search Console integrations. Free Technical Support is included.
How much does Screaming Frog SEO Spider cost?
The cheapest paid plan is 279 USD/yr (vendor pricing, October 12, 2026).
What are the best Screaming Frog SEO Spider alternatives?
Closest alternatives: Ahrefs, Semrush, NEURONwriter, Surfer, vidIQ.
Data checked October 12, 2026 on the vendor website (screamingfrog.co.uk).
