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Linkody vs Screaming Frog SEO Spider

Linkody logo

Linkody

SEO

Backlink monitoring tool for teams that only want link alerts, not a full SEO suite

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Screaming Frog SEO Spider logo

Screaming Frog SEO Spider

SEO

Desktop crawler for technical SEO audits and site analysis

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Screaming Frog SEO Spider has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Linkody its own backlink index is smaller than Ahrefs or Semrush, so it is weaker for discovering new link prospects than for monitoring links it already knows about.; Screaming Frog SEO Spider free version limited to 500 URL crawl limit for meaningful analysis
  • They diverge on capability: Linkody covers Backlink alerts, Screaming Frog SEO Spider covers Crawl up to 500 URLs (free) or unlimited (paid).
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Linkody and Screaming Frog SEO Spider actually diverge.

Attributes where Linkody and Screaming Frog SEO Spider differ
AttributeLinkodyScreaming Frog SEO Spider
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelPer month by tracked domains and backlinkssubscription
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWebWindows, macOS, Linux

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

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 Linkody

  • Backlink alerts
  • Link quality scoring
  • Competitor backlink tracking
  • Rank tracking
  • Campaign management
  • API access

Only in Screaming Frog SEO Spider

  • Crawl up to 500 URLs (free) or unlimited (paid)
  • 300+ SEO issue checks
  • JavaScript rendering with Chromium
  • XML sitemap generation
  • Custom data extraction
  • Google integrations
  • Scheduled crawls and comparisons
  • Multi-language support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Linkody

  • A link builder who wants alerts on new and lost backlinks without paying for a full SEO suite's research modulesnot Screaming Frog SEO Spider
  • A PR or outreach team monitoring whether placed links stay live over timenot Screaming Frog SEO Spider
  • An SEO consultant with clients on a budget who wants a cheap add-on tool alongside a primary research subscription elsewherenot Screaming Frog SEO Spider
  • An agency needing white-label backlink reporting at the Agency tier without the cost of Ahrefs Enterprisenot Screaming Frog SEO Spider

Screaming Frog SEO Spider

  • Identify broken links and server errors on large sitesnot Linkody
  • Audit redirect chains during site migrationsnot Linkody
  • Analyze and fix duplicate content issuesnot Linkody
  • Extract and validate structured data on pagesnot Linkody
  • Monitor site health with scheduled crawlsnot Linkody

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Linkody

  • Its own backlink index is smaller than Ahrefs or Semrush, so it is weaker for discovering new link prospects than for monitoring links it already knows about.
  • It has no keyword research, technical crawling or content tooling at all, so it never functions as a standalone SEO tool for a team that only buys one product.
  • Entry-tier domain and backlink allowances are modest, at 2 domains and 500 tracked backlinks, so a team with several client sites quickly needs to move up two or three tiers.
  • Rank tracking is bundled in from the Advanced tier but is a secondary feature rather than the deep, dedicated tracking a purpose-built tool like AccuRanker offers.
  • As a smaller, narrowly scoped vendor, roadmap pace and new feature development are slower than a well-funded full suite competing across every SEO category.

Screaming Frog SEO Spider

  • Free version limited to 500 URL crawl limit for meaningful analysis
  • Desktop application required, not available as web-based tool
  • Unlimited crawls depend on system memory and storage capacity
  • Annual licensing model with no monthly option
  • Learning curve for advanced features like custom extraction

Pricing, plan by plan

Linkody

On request
  • Webmaster$14.9/month
    • 2 domains, 500 tracked backlinks
    • 30-day free trial
    • Backlink and lost-link alerts
  • Advanced$24.9/month
    • Higher domain and backlink allowance than Webmaster
    • Competitor tracking
    • Rank tracking included
  • Pro$49.9/month
    • Agency-level domain and backlink allowance
    • API access
    • Campaign management
  • Agency$99.9/month
    • Higher agency-tier allowance than Pro
    • White-label reporting

Screaming Frog SEO Spider

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 500 URL crawl limit
    • Core features included
    • Link checking and metadata analysis
  • Paid License$199/year
    • Unlimited URL crawls (limited by system memory/storage)
    • All free version features
    • Advanced features unlocked

Which should you pick?

Choose Linkody if

  • You need backlink alerts.
  • You also want link quality scoring.
Linkody review

Choose Screaming Frog SEO Spider if

  • You need crawl up to 500 urls (free) or unlimited (paid).
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, macOS, Linux.
  • You also want 300+ seo issue checks.
Screaming Frog SEO Spider review

Questions people ask

Is Linkody or Screaming Frog SEO Spider better?
Neither clearly leads. Linkody starts at On request 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, Linkody or Screaming Frog SEO Spider?
Screaming Frog SEO Spider has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for Linkody and Free for Screaming Frog SEO Spider.
Does Linkody or Screaming Frog SEO Spider run on more platforms?
Linkody runs on Web. Screaming Frog SEO Spider runs on Windows, macOS, Linux.
Can I use Screaming Frog SEO Spider for free?
Yes. Screaming Frog SEO Spider has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Linkody starts at On request.
What is Linkody best used for?
Linkody is most often used for a link builder who wants alerts on new and lost backlinks without paying for a full seo suite's research modules, a pr or outreach team monitoring whether placed links stay live over time, an seo consultant with clients on a budget who wants a cheap add-on tool alongside a primary research subscription elsewhere, an agency needing white-label backlink reporting at the agency tier without the cost of ahrefs enterprise. Of those, a link builder who wants alerts on new and lost backlinks without paying for a full seo suite's research modules and a pr or outreach team monitoring whether placed links stay live over time are not what Screaming Frog SEO Spider is typically brought in for.
What can Linkody do that Screaming Frog SEO Spider cannot?
Linkody covers Backlink alerts, Link quality scoring, Competitor backlink tracking, Rank tracking. Screaming Frog SEO Spider covers Crawl up to 500 URLs (free) or unlimited (paid), 300+ SEO issue checks, JavaScript rendering with Chromium, XML sitemap generation.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Linkody: Does Linkody find new backlink opportunities?

It monitors and alerts on backlinks a site already has or gains; it is not built as a link prospecting or outreach discovery tool.

Screaming Frog SEO Spider: What is the difference between free and paid Screaming Frog licenses?

The free version crawls up to 500 URLs with core features. The paid license (GBP 199/year) includes unlimited URL crawls limited only by system memory and storage, plus advanced features.

Source
Linkody: Can it replace a full SEO suite like Ahrefs or Semrush?

No, it covers backlink monitoring and light rank tracking only; keyword research, site audits and content tools are not included.

Screaming Frog SEO Spider: Can Screaming Frog crawl JavaScript-rendered content?

Yes. Screaming Frog renders JavaScript through headless Chromium, enabling crawls of React, Angular, Vue.js, and other JavaScript frameworks.

Source
Linkody: Is there a free trial?

Yes, the Webmaster tier includes a 30-day free trial.

Screaming Frog SEO Spider: What platforms does Screaming Frog support?

Screaming Frog SEO Spider is available for Windows, macOS (Apple Silicon and Intel), and Linux (Ubuntu and Fedora).

Source
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