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Software · head to head

Lighthouse vs Surfer SEO

Lighthouse logo

Lighthouse

Software

Audit web page performance and quality

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Surfer SEO logo

Surfer SEO

Software

AI search optimization and visibility

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; Surfer SEO entry Discovery plan at $49 per month limits users to a single seat and 120 documents

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Lighthouse and Surfer SEO actually diverge.

Attributes where Lighthouse and Surfer SEO differ
AttributeLighthouseSurfer SEO
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 Surfer SEO

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

Surfer SEO

  • Entry Discovery plan at $49 per month limits users to a single seat and 120 documents
  • AI prompt tracking is excluded on the Discovery plan and capped at 25 prompts weekly on Standard, 50 daily on Pro
  • Unlimited documents on the Peace of Mind plan are subject to a fair usage policy rather than being truly unlimited

Pricing, plan by plan

Lighthouse

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

Surfer SEO

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the Surfer SEO 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 Surfer SEO if

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

Surfer SEO review

Questions people ask

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