Screaming Frog SEO Spider is one of the most trusted tools in technical SEO. Known for its desktop-based crawling engine, it helps users audit website issues, find broken links, analyze metadata, and generate sitemaps. It’s widely used by SEO professionals to scan thousands of pages for on-site optimization opportunities.
But in 2025, many teams are switching to Screaming Frog alternatives that offer cloud-based crawling, easier team collaboration, faster reporting, or a better user interface. Whether you’re an agency, freelancer, or in-house SEO, there are tools that match Screaming Frog’s crawling power — with added convenience or scalability.
This article highlights the best Screaming Frog alternatives for technical SEO, large-site audits, and modern cloud-based analysis.
What is Screaming Frog?
Screaming Frog SEO Spider is a downloadable desktop application for Windows, macOS, and Linux. It crawls websites to identify SEO issues like broken links, duplicate content, redirects, missing meta tags, and canonical errors. It’s a powerful tool, but being desktop-based, it can struggle with very large sites, lacks cloud features, and doesn’t offer built-in reporting dashboards or collaboration tools.
Why Look for Screaming Frog Alternatives?
1. Desktop Only: Screaming Frog runs locally and uses your machine’s memory — not ideal for crawling massive websites.
2. No Team Collaboration: It’s not built for multiple users or SEO teams working together in real-time.
3. No Cloud Storage or Scheduling: You can’t run automated or scheduled audits unless you use a server with command-line configuration.
4. Limited Reporting Features: It generates raw data well, but doesn’t offer shareable dashboards or visual insights.
5. UX and Learning Curve: While powerful, it can be overwhelming for non-technical marketers or beginners.
Top Screaming Frog Alternatives (Comparison Table)
| # | Tool | Cloud-Based | Best For | Deployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Sitebulb | No | Desktop SEO crawler with visual reports | Desktop |
| #2 | JetOctopus | Yes | High-speed cloud crawling | Cloud |
| #3 | SiteGuru | Yes | Automated SEO audits + reports | Cloud |
| #4 | Semrush Site Audit | Yes | SEO + marketing audits | Cloud |
| #5 | Ahrefs Site Audit | Yes | Technical audit + link data | Cloud |
| #6 | Deepcrawl (Lumar) | Yes | Enterprise SEO audits | Cloud |
| #7 | Oncrawl | Yes | Data-driven SEO insights | Cloud |
| #8 | Netpeak Spider | No | Affordable desktop SEO crawler | Desktop |
| #9 | Ryte | Yes | Technical SEO + content audits | Cloud |
| #10 | Crawly | Yes | Simple SEO crawler + API | Cloud |
Top 10 Alternatives to Screaming Frog
#1. Sitebulb
Sitebulb is a powerful desktop SEO crawler like Screaming Frog but with better visualizations and audit scoring. It’s ideal for SEOs who want strong data with client-friendly reporting.
Features:
- Visual flow diagrams + crawl maps
- Built-in audit explanations
- Google PageSpeed + Lighthouse integration
- Simple issue prioritization
- Windows + Mac desktop support
#2. JetOctopus
JetOctopus is a high-speed, cloud-based SEO crawler that handles large websites easily. It’s a top Screaming Frog alternative for enterprise and technical SEO teams.
Features:
- Millions of URLs crawled in minutes
- Cloud crawling with no local limits
- Log file analysis and segmenting
- Dashboards and visualizations
- Integrates with Google Search Console
#3. SiteGuru
SiteGuru is a cloud SEO audit tool focused on automation and simplicity. It replaces Screaming Frog for marketers and agencies who want fast, easy-to-understand reports.
Features:
- Weekly SEO audit automation
- On-page and technical SEO checks
- Actionable suggestions + fix guides
- Shareable reports with clients
- No software installation needed
#4. Semrush Site Audit
Semrush offers a built-in site audit tool that crawls your website and identifies hundreds of technical SEO issues. It’s great for teams already using Semrush for SEO campaigns.
Features:
- Over 140 on-page + technical checks
- Issues grouped by category and priority
- Easy task delegation and sharing
- Part of full SEO toolkit
- Works for small to large sites
#5. Ahrefs Site Audit
Ahrefs includes a robust site audit module that integrates with its backlink and keyword tools. It’s a Screaming Frog alternative for SEOs already in the Ahrefs ecosystem.
Features:
- Cloud-based SEO crawler
- Visual issue tracking and reports
- Mobile + desktop audits
- Custom rules and filters
- Easy prioritization for fixes
#6. Deepcrawl (Lumar)
Deepcrawl, now called Lumar, is an enterprise-grade cloud crawler with advanced integrations, automation, and collaboration features. Great for technical SEO teams and large websites.
Features:
- Cloud crawling at scale
- Workflow automation
- Integrates with CI/CD pipelines
- SEO health scores and dashboards
- Team collaboration tools
#7. Oncrawl
Oncrawl is a cloud crawler built for SEO data scientists and large technical SEO teams. It combines crawl data with log files, analytics, and custom metrics.
Features:
- Data blending: crawl + logs + GSC
- Scalable cloud crawling
- Advanced segmentation + filters
- Custom KPI dashboards
- API and BigQuery integrations
#8. Netpeak Spider
Netpeak Spider is a desktop SEO crawler that offers a Screaming Frog-like experience with a different UI and some extra export/reporting features.
Features:
- Meta, redirects, links, status code scans
- Data scraping and analysis
- Audit issue breakdowns
- Affordable pricing plans
- Windows-only
#9. Ryte
Ryte offers a cloud SEO audit platform with a focus on website quality, structure, and performance. It’s a user-friendly Screaming Frog alternative for marketers and content teams.
Features:
- SEO audit + content optimization
- Mobile UX checks + Core Web Vitals
- Clear dashboards and health scores
- Integration with GSC and GA
- Multi-site management for agencies
#10. Crawly
Crawly is a basic, cloud-based website crawler that provides CSV-based audits via API. It’s ideal for developers or small teams wanting lightweight automation.
Features:
- Cloud-based site crawling
- Export metadata and links
- Free for small crawls
- Simple pricing + API options
- Best for one-off audits or automation
Conclusion
Screaming Frog remains a top technical SEO tool — but in 2025, cloud-based alternatives offer more convenience, collaboration, and scalability. Whether you’re crawling large websites, managing audits across multiple clients, or looking for easier reporting tools, there’s an alternative that can better suit your needs.
Use Sitebulb for desktop visuals, JetOctopus or Deepcrawl for cloud-scale crawling, or SiteGuru for automated reporting. The right Screaming Frog alternative depends on your audit complexity, budget, and need for team collaboration.
FAQs
What are the best Screaming Frog alternatives in 2025?
The best Screaming Frog alternatives in 2025 are:
- Sitebulb
- JetOctopus
- SiteGuru
- Semrush Site Audit
- Ahrefs Site Audit
- Deepcrawl (Lumar)
- Oncrawl
- Netpeak Spider
- Ryte
- Crawly
Is Screaming Frog still the best SEO crawler?
It’s one of the best desktop tools, but cloud tools like JetOctopus and Deepcrawl offer more scalability and collaboration features.
Which alternative is best for large website audits?
JetOctopus, Deepcrawl (Lumar), and Oncrawl are best for enterprise-scale SEO audits.
Can I use Screaming Frog alternatives without downloading software?
Yes — tools like SiteGuru, Semrush, Ryte, and Crawly are cloud-based and require no installation.
Is there a free Screaming Frog alternative?
Netpeak Spider has a free tier, and Screaming Frog itself is free up to 500 URLs. Crawly also offers free crawling via API.
