SEO comparison 
Ahrefs vs Screaming Frog SEO Spider
Our pick: Ahrefs scores 9.3/10 against 8.9/10 for Screaming Frog SEO Spider. Here's how they differ and which one fits your needs.
VS
Screaming Frog SEO Spider
Desktop website crawler for technical SEO audits
8.9/10Free plan
Visit Screaming Frog SEO Spider At a glance
| Ahrefs | Screaming Frog SEO Spider | |
|---|---|---|
| Our score | 9.3/10 | 8.9/10 |
| Best for | SEO professionals, Agencies, Content teams | Technical SEOs, Agencies |
| Type | Keyword research | Technical SEO |
| Pricing | Paid | Free plan |
| Starting price | $129/mo | Free |
| Platforms | Web, API | Windows, Mac, Linux |
| Launched | 2010 | 2010 |
Key features
Ahrefs
- Site Explorer
- Keywords Explorer
- Site Audit
- Rank Tracker
- Brand Radar AI
Screaming Frog SEO Spider
- Site crawling
- Broken link & redirect audits
- JavaScript rendering
- Custom extraction
- AI API integrations
Ahrefs: pros and cons
Pros
- Industry-leading backlink index
- Excellent keyword difficulty data
- Free Webmaster Tools
Cons
- No free trial
- Usage-based limits on lower plans
Screaming Frog SEO Spider: pros and cons
Pros
- Industry-standard technical crawler
- Free up to 500 URLs
- Very configurable
Cons
- Desktop app uses local resources
- Steep learning curve
Verdict: Ahrefs or Screaming Frog SEO Spider?
Choose Ahrefs if you're seo professionals or agencies or content teams and value industry-leading backlink index.
Choose Screaming Frog SEO Spider if you're technical seos or agencies and value industry-standard technical crawler.
Overall we rate Ahrefs slightly higher. Both are worth trying, and at least one has a free plan or trial. See all SEO tools for more options.
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