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OnCrawl vs Screaming Frog SEO Spider

OnCrawl logo

OnCrawl

SEO

Technical SEO crawler that joins crawl data with server log files

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: OnCrawl no pricing is published anywhere on the site, so early-stage comparison against Botify or Lumar requires getting quotes from all three before any evaluation can start.; Screaming Frog SEO Spider free version limited to 500 URL crawl limit for meaningful analysis
  • They diverge on capability: OnCrawl covers Log file analysis, 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 OnCrawl and Screaming Frog SEO Spider actually diverge.

Attributes where OnCrawl and Screaming Frog SEO Spider differ
AttributeOnCrawlScreaming Frog SEO Spider
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelquotesubscription
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 OnCrawl

  • Log file analysis
  • Crawl and log cross-analysis
  • Structured data and Core Web Vitals checks
  • Data Explorer
  • Google Search Console integration
  • 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.

OnCrawl

  • A large publisher or marketplace diagnosing wasted crawl budget on parameterised or low-value URLsnot Screaming Frog SEO Spider
  • A technical SEO team that needs server log data joined to crawl data, not just a crawl report on its ownnot Screaming Frog SEO Spider
  • An enterprise site comparing crawl-plus-log platforms against Botify or Lumar before committing to a multi-year contractnot Screaming Frog SEO Spider
  • A team wanting custom segmentation of crawl and log data without writing SQL against a raw exportnot Screaming Frog SEO Spider

Screaming Frog SEO Spider

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

Where each one falls short

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

OnCrawl

  • No pricing is published anywhere on the site, so early-stage comparison against Botify or Lumar requires getting quotes from all three before any evaluation can start.
  • Log file analysis requires the customer to actually supply raw server logs, which many marketing teams cannot get from their infrastructure team without a separate internal project.
  • It is a smaller company than Botify, so enterprise buyers evaluating vendor stability and roadmap longevity weigh that against the lower likely price.
  • The interface and terminology assume a working knowledge of crawl budget and log analysis concepts, so it is a poor fit for a generalist marketer without technical SEO background.
  • Data retention periods are tied to plan tier, so historical trend analysis beyond the contracted retention window is not available without upgrading before the data would otherwise be purged.

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

OnCrawl

On request
  • OnCrawl$undefined/month
    • Priced by monthly crawl volume, log line volume and data retention
    • Small-site, mid-market and enterprise tiers, all quote-based
    • Free trial available on request

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 OnCrawl if

  • You need log file analysis.
  • You also want crawl and log cross-analysis.
OnCrawl 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 OnCrawl or Screaming Frog SEO Spider better?
Neither clearly leads. OnCrawl 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, OnCrawl or Screaming Frog SEO Spider?
Screaming Frog SEO Spider has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for OnCrawl and Free for Screaming Frog SEO Spider.
Does OnCrawl or Screaming Frog SEO Spider run on more platforms?
OnCrawl 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. OnCrawl starts at On request.
What is OnCrawl best used for?
OnCrawl is most often used for a large publisher or marketplace diagnosing wasted crawl budget on parameterised or low-value urls, a technical seo team that needs server log data joined to crawl data, not just a crawl report on its own, an enterprise site comparing crawl-plus-log platforms against botify or lumar before committing to a multi-year contract, a team wanting custom segmentation of crawl and log data without writing sql against a raw export. Of those, a large publisher or marketplace diagnosing wasted crawl budget on parameterised or low-value urls and a technical seo team that needs server log data joined to crawl data, not just a crawl report on its own are not what Screaming Frog SEO Spider is typically brought in for.
What can OnCrawl do that Screaming Frog SEO Spider cannot?
OnCrawl covers Log file analysis, Crawl and log cross-analysis, Structured data and Core Web Vitals checks, Data Explorer. 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

OnCrawl: Do I need to provide my own server logs?

Yes, log file analysis is only available if you can export raw access logs from your web server or CDN; without them OnCrawl functions as a crawler only.

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
OnCrawl: How much does OnCrawl cost?

It is not published. Pricing is quoted based on crawl volume, log volume and retention period; get a quote before comparing it to Botify or Lumar.

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
OnCrawl: Is this suitable for a small business site?

Generally not economically; the log analysis capability that justifies the cost only pays off once a site is large enough that Google is not crawling every page anyway.

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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