Screaming Frog is a popular tool for SEO audits, but it’s not the only option available. Depending on your needs, there may be other solutions that better align with your workflow or business goals.
In this article, we’ll explore five powerful alternatives to Screaming Frog, starting with our own agency’s services. We’ll cover the pros, cons, and best use cases for each tool, so you can choose the one that suits your technical SEO requirements.
Alternative 1: The Metasuite’s Technical SEO Services
At The Metasuite, we specialize in providing bespoke technical SEO solutions tailored to your website’s unique challenges. Our team’s deep understanding of SEO and web development allows us to offer comprehensive audit and optimization services that go far beyond the capabilities of any crawler tool. Whether you’re an enterprise looking to scale your SEO efforts or a small business aiming to improve your site’s performance, we are equipped to handle your needs with precision and expertise.
Technical SEO Services We Provide
Our technical SEO services include but are not limited to the following:
- Comprehensive Site Audits
We conduct in-depth audits of your website to identify issues impacting its crawlability, indexability, and overall SEO health. We analyze factors like internal linking, site architecture, and page speed, and offer actionable insights for improvement. - Mobile Optimization
With mobile-first indexing now the norm, we ensure your website is fully optimized for mobile users. Our mobile optimization process involves improving load times, user experience, and accessibility on various devices. - Page Speed Optimization
Speed is a ranking factor and a crucial part of user experience. We analyze your site’s load times using various tools and strategies to improve it, from optimizing images to minimizing CSS and JavaScript. - Crawl Budget Optimization
We help you maximize the efficiency of search engine crawlers, ensuring they prioritize important pages and avoid wasting crawl budget on irrelevant or low-value pages. - Structured Data and Schema Markup
We implement and optimize structured data on your site to help search engines understand your content better, which can lead to enhanced search result features like rich snippets. - Technical Support for Site Migrations
Moving a site or updating a major feature can wreak havoc on your SEO if not done correctly. We guide you through smooth, search engine-friendly migrations, ensuring minimal disruption to your rankings. - Custom Reporting and Monitoring
We don’t just fix issues and leave. Our team sets up ongoing monitoring and custom reports, keeping you informed of your site’s performance and highlighting areas that require attention.
Why Choose The Metasuite
- Tailored Approach: We don’t use a one-size-fits-all strategy. Our audits and solutions are specifically designed for your website’s unique needs.
- End-to-End Service: From the initial audit to ongoing optimization, we provide a comprehensive service that ensures long-term success.
- Expertise: Our team has a proven track record of driving technical SEO improvements that result in higher rankings, better user experiences, and faster websites.
Drawbacks
- Pricing: As a customized service, our technical SEO offerings may be more expensive than some off-the-shelf software solutions.
- Requires Collaboration: Clients need to be involved throughout the process for maximum results, especially when implementing large-scale changes.
Best For
Our technical SEO services are best suited for businesses that need a hands-on, tailored approach to their SEO challenges. Whether you’re an e-commerce platform, a content-heavy site, our team can provide the expertise and support to boost your SEO performance.
Click here to learn more about our services
Alternative 2: Sitebulb
Sitebulb is an intuitive, data-driven SEO auditing tool that stands out for its visual, graphical approach to site audits. It’s a favorite among SEO professionals who need to present insights to clients or teams in a way that’s easy to digest.
Key Features
- Visual Reports: Sitebulb generates visually engaging audit reports that simplify complex technical SEO data for better understanding.
- Prioritized Issues: Issues are categorized by severity, helping you focus on the most impactful changes first.
- Structured Data Analysis: Includes a built-in schema testing tool to validate structured data, ensuring correct implementation.
- Crawl Comparison: Sitebulb allows you to compare crawls over time, which is essential for tracking improvements and ongoing issues.
Drawbacks
- Resource Intensive: Sitebulb can be demanding on system resources, especially on lower-end computers.
- Limited Integrations: It has fewer integrations with platforms like Google Analytics compared to other tools.
Best For
Sitebulb is an excellent choice for SEO professionals who prioritize visual reports and data-driven prioritization, especially those who frequently share findings with clients or teams.
Alternative 3: DeepCrawl
DeepCrawl is a cloud-based SEO crawler designed for large enterprises or websites with complex structures. Its SaaS-based solution allows for crawling even the largest websites without taxing local computing resources.
Key Features
- Cloud-Based Crawling: DeepCrawl handles large websites directly from the cloud, reducing strain on local systems.
- Actionable Insights: The tool provides specific action recommendations, helping you address issues more effectively, especially for large-scale websites.
- Automated Crawl Schedules: Set up automated crawls to continuously monitor the health of your website without manual intervention.
- Integrations with Data Sources: DeepCrawl integrates seamlessly with Google Analytics, Google Search Console, and other data sources, making reporting easier.
Drawbacks
- Higher Pricing: DeepCrawl’s pricing can be prohibitive for small businesses or startups.
- Complexity: Its robust feature set can be overwhelming for smaller teams or those newer to technical SEO.
Best For
DeepCrawl is ideal for enterprise-level teams or large websites where ongoing, automated audits are crucial for maintaining SEO health.
Alternative 4: Ahrefs Site Audit
Ahrefs Site Audit is part of the comprehensive Ahrefs toolset, offering an accessible solution to check a site’s technical health. It’s particularly useful for users who already leverage Ahrefs for backlink analysis or keyword research.
Key Features
- User-Friendly Interface: Ahrefs Site Audit is known for its simplicity and clear explanations of technical issues, making it easy to use for both beginners and seasoned SEOs.
- Scalability: Ahrefs Site Audit can handle small and large websites, making it a versatile choice for various business sizes.
- Comprehensive Dashboard: The dashboard allows you to track important metrics such as crawlability, site speed, and on-page elements, all in one place.
- Regular Updates: Ahrefs continuously improves the Site Audit tool to align with the latest SEO trends and best practices.
Drawbacks
- Not a Dedicated Crawler: Since it’s part of a larger SEO suite, it lacks some of the advanced crawling features that standalone crawlers like Screaming Frog or DeepCrawl offer.
- Limited Customization: Compared to Screaming Frog, Ahrefs provides fewer options for customizing crawl configurations.
Best For
Ahrefs Site Audit is best for users who need an all-in-one tool that integrates technical SEO audits with other SEO tasks like keyword research and backlink analysis.
Alternative 5: OnCrawl
OnCrawl is a data-focused, cloud-based SEO crawler with powerful analytics and customizable crawl options. It’s a preferred tool for SEOs working with large, complex websites like e-commerce platforms or enterprise-level sites.
Key Features
- In-Depth Log File Analysis: OnCrawl includes log file analysis, offering a deep dive into how search engines interact with your site.
- Machine Learning Insights: Use machine learning to identify trends and patterns in your crawl data, making it easier to spot underlying issues.
- Advanced Data Visualization: OnCrawl’s visual reports help technical SEOs quickly identify SEO issues.
- Customizable Crawls: Tailor crawls based on specific subdomains, protocols, and more, allowing for highly targeted audits.
Drawbacks
- Pricing and Complexity: OnCrawl is primarily aimed at enterprise-level users, so it may not be cost-effective for smaller websites.
- Less User-Friendly: Its advanced features can be difficult to navigate for those unfamiliar with complex technical SEO concepts.
Best For
OnCrawl is perfect for large e-commerce or enterprise websites that require advanced data analysis and customization in their SEO audits.
Alternative 6: SEMrush Site Audit
SEMrush Site Audit is part of SEMrush’s comprehensive SEO suite, offering an easy-to-use solution for auditing technical SEO. It’s ideal for SEOs who already use SEMrush for keyword research, backlink analysis, and content optimization.
Key Features
- Comprehensive Audit Tool: SEMrush covers everything from crawlability to HTTPS and internal linking, making it an all-in-one solution for technical SEO.
- Actionable Insights: Each technical issue is paired with clear, actionable recommendations for resolution.
- Weekly Crawls: Automate audits to check for issues on a weekly basis and receive updates on your website’s SEO health.
- Integration with SEMrush Tools: Seamlessly integrates with SEMrush’s keyword, backlink, and content tools, providing a holistic view of your SEO performance.
Drawbacks
- Less Granular Control: For advanced users, SEMrush may not offer the level of customization or granularity available in other tools like Screaming Frog.
- Pricing: It can be expensive if you need access to the full suite of tools, especially for smaller businesses.
Best For
SEMrush Site Audit is a great choice for users who need a simple, all-in-one tool that works well for smaller websites or teams without the need for advanced configurations.
The Bottom Line
While Screaming Frog is a powerful and widely-used SEO audit tool, the alternatives we’ve covered offer diverse features that may better suit your needs depending on the complexity of your website, your team’s workflow, or your budget. Whether you need a tailored technical SEO service like The Metasuite’s offering or prefer a more automated tool like Sitebulb or SEMrush, there are plenty of options to explore to enhance your SEO strategy.
