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Marketing · head to head

Moz vs Screaming Frog SEO Spider

Moz logo

Moz

Marketing

SEO software for smarter marketing

From
Free
Rated
-
Screaming Frog SEO Spider logo

Screaming Frog SEO Spider

SEO & Website Optimization

Crawl websites for SEO issues

From
Free
Rated
-

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Moz smaller keyword database with only 500M+ keywords compared to 25 billion for Semrush; 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 Moz and Screaming Frog SEO Spider actually diverge.

Attributes where Moz and Screaming Frog SEO Spider differ
AttributeMozScreaming Frog SEO Spider
Pricing modelUnknownfreemium
CategoryMarketingSEO & Website Optimization
Founded2004Unknown

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), platforms (Web), user rating (Not yet rated).

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 Moz

  • Keyword Explorer
  • Link Explorer
  • Site Crawl
  • Rank Tracking
  • Page Optimization
  • Competitive research
  • Local SEO tools
  • Fresh Web Explorer

Only in Screaming Frog SEO Spider

Nothing recorded that Moz does not also cover.

What people use each for

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

Moz

  • SEO auditsnot Screaming Frog SEO Spider
  • Keyword researchnot Screaming Frog SEO Spider
  • Link buildingnot Screaming Frog SEO Spider
  • Local SEOnot Screaming Frog SEO Spider
  • Competitive analysisnot Screaming Frog SEO Spider

Screaming Frog SEO Spider

No use cases recorded yet. See the Screaming Frog SEO Spider review.

Where each one falls short

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

Moz

  • Smaller keyword database with only 500M+ keywords compared to 25 billion for Semrush
  • Unreliable competitive analysis for B2B companies with niche competitor sets
  • Weekly rank tracking on lower plans creates bottlenecks versus daily updates on competitors

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

Moz

Free
  • Starter$39/month
    • Limited keyword tracking
    • Basic site audit
  • Standard$99/month
    • Enhanced keyword tracking
    • Competitive analysis

Screaming Frog SEO Spider

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Screaming Frog SEO Spider review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Moz if

  • You need keyword explorer.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want link explorer.

Choose Screaming Frog SEO Spider if

  • You want to start without paying.

Questions people ask

Is Moz or Screaming Frog SEO Spider better?
Neither clearly leads. Moz 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, Moz or Screaming Frog SEO Spider?
Moz starts at Free and Screaming Frog SEO Spider at Free.
Does Moz or Screaming Frog SEO Spider run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
Can I use Moz for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Moz best used for?
Moz is most often used for seo audits, keyword research, link building, local seo. Of those, seo audits and keyword research are not what Screaming Frog SEO Spider is typically brought in for.
What can Moz do that Screaming Frog SEO Spider cannot?
Moz covers Keyword Explorer, Link Explorer, Site Crawl, Rank Tracking.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Moz: What are Moz's main weaknesses compared to Semrush and Ahrefs?

Moz has a smaller keyword database (500M+ keywords vs Semrush's 25B), weaker competitive analysis tools for B2B niches, weekly rank tracking on lower plans, and limited local SEO features compared to modern competitors.

Source

Related pages

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