SEO & Website Optimization · head to head
Screaming Frog SEO Spider vs Lighthouse
Screaming Frog SEO Spider
SEO & Website Optimization
Crawl websites for SEO issues
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
Lighthouse
SEO & Website Optimization
Audit web page performance and quality
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Screaming Frog SEO Spider free version caps crawling at 500 URLs; unlocking unlimited crawling requires a paid licence at 245 EUR per year; Lighthouse described by the vendor as an open-source, automated tool with community contributions welcomed, no commercial edition
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Screaming Frog SEO Spider and Lighthouse actually diverge.
| Attribute | Screaming Frog SEO Spider | Lighthouse |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | freemium | free |
| Platforms | Web | Chrome, Edge |
| Founded | Unknown | 1998 |
Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (SEO & Website Optimization).
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 Screaming Frog SEO Spider
Nothing recorded that Lighthouse does not also cover.
Only in Lighthouse
- Performance scoring
- Accessibility audit
- SEO check
- PWA validation
- Chrome support
- Edge support
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
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
Lighthouse
- Described by the vendor as an open-source, automated tool with community contributions welcomed, no commercial edition
Pricing, plan by plan
Screaming Frog SEO Spider
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the Screaming Frog SEO Spider review.
Lighthouse
Free- FreeFree
- Performance audit
- Accessibility check
- SEO analysis
Which should you pick?
Choose Screaming Frog SEO Spider if
- You want to start without paying.
Choose Lighthouse if
- You need performance scoring.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Chrome, Edge.
- You also want accessibility audit.
Questions people ask
- Is Screaming Frog SEO Spider or Lighthouse better?
- Neither clearly leads. Screaming Frog SEO Spider starts at Free and Lighthouse at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Screaming Frog SEO Spider or Lighthouse?
- Screaming Frog SEO Spider starts at Free and Lighthouse at Free.
- Does Screaming Frog SEO Spider or Lighthouse run on more platforms?
- Screaming Frog SEO Spider runs on Web. Lighthouse runs on Chrome, Edge.
- Can I use Screaming Frog SEO Spider for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What can Screaming Frog SEO Spider do that Lighthouse cannot?
- Lighthouse covers Performance scoring, Accessibility audit, SEO check, PWA validation.