SEO comparison 
Surfer vs Screaming Frog SEO Spider
Our pick: Screaming Frog SEO Spider scores 8.9/10 against 8.8/10 for Surfer. 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 planOur pick
Visit Screaming Frog SEO Spider At a glance
| Surfer | Screaming Frog SEO Spider | |
|---|---|---|
| Our score | 8.8/10 | 8.9/10 |
| Best for | Content teams, SEO writers, Agencies | Technical SEOs, Agencies |
| Type | Content optimisation | Technical SEO |
| Pricing | Paid | Free plan |
| Starting price | See website | Free |
| Platforms | Web, Chrome | Windows, Mac, Linux |
| Launched | 2017 | 2010 |
Key features
Surfer
- Content Editor
- Surfer AI writer
- Content audit
- Topical maps
- Google Docs & WordPress
Screaming Frog SEO Spider
- Site crawling
- Broken link & redirect audits
- JavaScript rendering
- Custom extraction
- AI API integrations
Surfer: pros and cons
Pros
- Clear, actionable content score
- Integrates with Docs and WordPress
- Popular affiliate programme
Cons
- Can encourage keyword over-optimisation
- AI credits cost extra
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: Surfer or Screaming Frog SEO Spider?
Choose Surfer if you're content teams or seo writers or agencies and value clear, actionable content score.
Choose Screaming Frog SEO Spider if you're technical seos or agencies and value industry-standard technical crawler.
Overall we rate Screaming Frog SEO Spider slightly higher. Both are worth trying, and at least one has a free plan or trial. See all SEO tools for more options.
We may earn a commission if you sign up through links on this page. How we make money.