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Lighthouse vs SE Ranking

Lighthouse logo

Lighthouse

Software

Audit web page performance and quality

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
SE Ranking logo

SE Ranking

Software

Grow your visibility with AI SEO

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Lighthouse has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Lighthouse described by the vendor as an open-source, automated tool with community contributions welcomed, no commercial edition; SE Ranking core plan caps keyword tracking at 2,000 keywords and 10 projects; Growth caps at 5,000 keywords and 30 projects

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Lighthouse and SE Ranking actually diverge.

Attributes where Lighthouse and SE Ranking differ
AttributeLighthouseSE Ranking
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelfreesubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsChrome, EdgeWeb
Founded1998Unknown

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

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 SE Ranking

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

SE Ranking

  • Core plan caps keyword tracking at 2,000 keywords and 10 projects; Growth caps at 5,000 keywords and 30 projects
  • The 20 percent discount requires paying annually upfront rather than monthly
  • AI prompt tracking is capped at 100 prompts daily on Core and 250 on Growth

Pricing, plan by plan

Lighthouse

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Performance audit
    • Accessibility check
    • SEO analysis

SE Ranking

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the SE Ranking 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.
Lighthouse review

Choose SE Ranking if

Nothing in the data separates SE Ranking from Lighthouse on the points above - pick on price and on how each one feels to use.

SE Ranking review

Questions people ask

Is Lighthouse or SE Ranking better?
Neither clearly leads. Lighthouse starts at Free and SE Ranking at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Lighthouse or SE Ranking?
Lighthouse has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Lighthouse and On request for SE Ranking.
Does Lighthouse or SE Ranking run on more platforms?
Lighthouse runs on Chrome, Edge. SE Ranking runs on Web.
Can I use Lighthouse for free?
Yes. Lighthouse has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. SE Ranking starts at On request.
What can Lighthouse do that SE Ranking cannot?
Lighthouse covers Performance scoring, Accessibility audit, SEO check, PWA validation.
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