What is Screaming Frog?
Screaming Frog is a UK company best known for the SEO Spider, a desktop website crawler that audits sites for more than 300 technical SEO issues. Screaming Frog Ltd, based in Henley-on-Thames, also runs an SEO agency. The SEO Spider runs on Windows, macOS and Linux, and a free version crawls up to 500 URLs, which makes it a common first tool for SEO beginners.
The paid license removes the URL cap and unlocks saved crawls, advanced configuration, JavaScript rendering, custom extraction and API integrations. The crawler can connect to Google Analytics, Search Console and PageSpeed Insights, and send page content to OpenAI, Gemini, Anthropic or Ollama with custom prompts. A separate Log File Analyser product handles server log analysis.
Screaming Frog at a glance
How does Screaming Frog work?
- Download and enter a URL
Install the SEO Spider and type in the site you want to crawl. The free version works without a license key for up to 500 URLs.
- Choose crawl settings
Crawl raw HTML or render JavaScript with headless Chromium, and set extraction or API options. Saved configurations make repeat audits faster.
- Review the tabs
Check issues such as broken links, redirects, titles, canonicals, hreflang and duplicate content. Each tab can be filtered and exported for deeper work in a spreadsheet.
- Compare and schedule
Schedule recurring crawls and compare crawls or staging against production. Command-line support lets advanced users automate exports.
- Export results
Export data, generate XML sitemaps and build visualizations for reports.
Screaming Frog key features
Technical audit
Flags broken links, redirect chains, duplicate content, missing tags and structured data errors.
JavaScript rendering
Renders sites built with frameworks such as React, Angular and Vue.
Custom extraction
Pull any data from HTML with XPath, CSS Path or regex.
API integrations
Bring in Google Analytics, Search Console and PageSpeed Insights data.
AI integration
Run custom prompts on crawled pages with OpenAI, Gemini, Anthropic or Ollama.
Scheduling and crawl comparison
Automate crawls and track changes between them.
Log File Analyser
A separate tool for studying how search bots crawl your server logs.
Why use Screaming Frog?
- The free version covers small sites at no cost.
- A single annual license is cheap compared with cloud crawlers.
- It runs on all three major desktop operating systems.
- Custom extraction and AI prompts make it flexible for unusual audits.
- It is widely used, so tutorials and community help are easy to find.
Who is Screaming Frog best for?
A good fit for
- SEO freelancers and consultants
- Agencies running regular client audits
- In-house marketers on small and mid-size sites
- Developers checking site migrations
Less suited to
- Teams wanting cloud dashboards and shared access
- Very large sites limited by local memory and storage
- Beginners who want plain-language guidance on every issue
Screaming Frog pricing
| Pricing model | Freemium |
|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes |
| Free trial | Not confirmed |
| Starting price | £199 per license per year |
The free version crawls up to 500 URLs; a paid license removes the cap and unlocks advanced features. Licenses are per user and fall to £169 each at 20 or more.
Prices checked October 2026. Vendors change plans often, so confirm on the official Screaming Frog pricing page before you buy.
Screaming Frog pros and cons
Pros
- Free version for small sites
- Low annual cost
- Very detailed and flexible
- Runs on Windows, macOS and Linux
Cons
- Interface is data-dense for beginners
- Crawl size depends on your computer's memory
- Licenses must be renewed every year
Screaming Frog integrations and platforms
Works with
Available on
Screaming Frog alternatives
See the full shortlist in Best Technical SEO Tools.
Screaming Frog FAQ
Is Screaming Frog free?
Yes, Screaming Frog SEO Spider has a free version that crawls up to 500 URLs. The paid license costs £199 per year and removes that limit, adds saved crawls, advanced configuration, JavaScript rendering, custom extraction and API integrations. Volume discounts apply when you buy five or more licenses.
What is Screaming Frog used for?
Screaming Frog SEO Spider is used to crawl websites and find technical SEO problems, such as broken links, redirect chains, duplicate content, missing titles and canonical errors. SEOs also use it for migrations, XML sitemap generation, custom data extraction and comparing staging sites against production. It also checks accessibility, spelling and grammar.
Screaming Frog vs Sitebulb: what's the difference?
Both are desktop crawlers for technical audits. Screaming Frog is cheaper, very flexible and favored by experienced SEOs who like raw data. Sitebulb explains issues with prioritized Hints and visual reports, and it also offers a cloud version, which can suit teams and less technical users. Many agencies own both tools for different jobs.
Is Screaming Frog good for beginners?
Screaming Frog can feel dense at first because it shows a lot of data in tabs. Still, the free version and extensive tutorials make it a common starting point. Beginners usually focus on a few tabs, such as response codes, page titles and meta descriptions, before exploring more.
Does Screaming Frog work on Mac?
Yes. Screaming Frog SEO Spider runs on macOS, including Apple Silicon and Intel machines, as well as Windows and Linux. The same license works across platforms for the licensed user, and the Log File Analyser is also available on all three operating systems. Linux packages are offered for Ubuntu and Fedora.
Sources
This overview is based on Screaming Frog's official website and documentation, checked October 2026.