SEO & Website Optimization · head to head
Lighthouse vs Screaming Frog SEO Spider
Lighthouse
SEO & Website Optimization
Audit web page performance and quality
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
Screaming Frog SEO Spider
SEO & Website Optimization
Crawl websites for SEO issues
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Lighthouse described by the vendor as an open-source, automated tool with community contributions welcomed, no commercial edition; Screaming Frog SEO Spider free version caps crawling at 500 URLs; unlocking unlimited crawling requires a paid licence at 245 EUR per year
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Lighthouse and Screaming Frog SEO Spider actually diverge.
| Attribute | Lighthouse | Screaming Frog SEO Spider |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | free | freemium |
| Platforms | Chrome, Edge | Web |
| Founded | 1998 | Unknown |
Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (SEO & Website Optimization).
What each one covers
Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.
Only in Lighthouse
- Performance scoring
- Accessibility audit
- SEO check
- PWA validation
- Chrome support
- Edge support
Only in Screaming Frog SEO Spider
Nothing recorded that Lighthouse does not also cover.
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Lighthouse
- Described by the vendor as an open-source, automated tool with community contributions welcomed, no commercial edition
Screaming Frog SEO Spider
- Free version caps crawling at 500 URLs; unlocking unlimited crawling requires a paid licence at 245 EUR per year
- Licence is annual only and must be renewed yearly to keep working
Pricing, plan by plan
Lighthouse
Free- FreeFree
- Performance audit
- Accessibility check
- SEO analysis
Screaming Frog SEO Spider
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the Screaming Frog SEO Spider review.
Which should you pick?
Choose Lighthouse if
- You need performance scoring.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Chrome, Edge.
- You also want accessibility audit.
Choose Screaming Frog SEO Spider if
- You want to start without paying.
Questions people ask
- Is Lighthouse or Screaming Frog SEO Spider better?
- Neither clearly leads. Lighthouse starts at Free and Screaming Frog SEO Spider at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Lighthouse or Screaming Frog SEO Spider?
- Lighthouse starts at Free and Screaming Frog SEO Spider at Free.
- Does Lighthouse or Screaming Frog SEO Spider run on more platforms?
- Lighthouse runs on Chrome, Edge. Screaming Frog SEO Spider runs on Web.
- Can I use Lighthouse for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What can Lighthouse do that Screaming Frog SEO Spider cannot?
- Lighthouse covers Performance scoring, Accessibility audit, SEO check, PWA validation.