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Majestic vs Screaming Frog SEO Spider

Majestic logo

Majestic

SEO

Backlink analysis and link intelligence platform for SEO

From
$41.67/month
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: Majestic pricing is based on consumable analysis units, so heavy usage can exhaust a plan's allowance before the month ends.; Screaming Frog SEO Spider free version limited to 500 URL crawl limit for meaningful analysis
  • They diverge on capability: Majestic covers Trust Flow & Citation Flow, Screaming Frog SEO Spider covers Crawl up to 500 URLs (free) or unlimited (paid).
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 29 August 2026.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Majestic and Screaming Frog SEO Spider differ
AttributeMajesticScreaming Frog SEO Spider
Starting price$41.67/monthFree
Free tierNoYes
Platformsweb, apiWindows, macOS, Linux
Founded2004Unknown

Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), 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 Majestic

  • Trust Flow & Citation Flow
  • Site Explorer
  • Fresh & Historic Index
  • Bulk Backlink Checker
  • Author Explorer
  • Link Graph
  • 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.

Majestic

  • Auditing a site's backlink profile before an SEO campaignnot Screaming Frog SEO Spider
  • Comparing link profiles between competitor domainsnot Screaming Frog SEO Spider
  • Bulk-checking backlinks across many URLs at oncenot Screaming Frog SEO Spider
  • Finding link-building opportunities via the link graphnot Screaming Frog SEO Spider

Screaming Frog SEO Spider

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

Where each one falls short

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

Majestic

  • Pricing is based on consumable analysis units, so heavy usage can exhaust a plan's allowance before the month ends.
  • Lite plan excludes the Historic Index and raw data exports, which are common needs for deeper backlink audits.
  • API access requires the most expensive plan, unlike some competitors that bundle limited API calls into mid-tier plans.
  • The 7-day money-back guarantee is limited to first-time subscribers on Lite and Pro plans only.

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

Majestic

$41.67/month
  • Lite$41.67/month
    • 1 user
    • 1 million analysis units
    • Fresh Index, Site Explorer
  • Pro$83.33/month
    • 1 user
    • 20 million analysis units
    • Historic Index, Index Merger
  • API$333.33/month
    • 5 users
    • 100 million analysis units
    • Full API access

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 Majestic if

  • You need trust flow & citation flow.
  • You work on web, api.
  • You also want site explorer.
Majestic 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 Majestic or Screaming Frog SEO Spider better?
Neither clearly leads. Majestic starts at $41.67/month 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, Majestic or Screaming Frog SEO Spider?
Screaming Frog SEO Spider has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $41.67/month for Majestic and Free for Screaming Frog SEO Spider.
Does Majestic or Screaming Frog SEO Spider run on more platforms?
Majestic runs on web, api. 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. Majestic starts at $41.67/month.
What is Majestic best used for?
Majestic is most often used for auditing a site's backlink profile before an seo campaign, comparing link profiles between competitor domains, bulk-checking backlinks across many urls at once, finding link-building opportunities via the link graph. Of those, auditing a site's backlink profile before an seo campaign and comparing link profiles between competitor domains are not what Screaming Frog SEO Spider is typically brought in for.
What can Majestic do that Screaming Frog SEO Spider cannot?
Majestic covers Trust Flow & Citation Flow, Site Explorer, Fresh & Historic Index, Bulk Backlink Checker. 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

Majestic: What payment options does Majestic support?

Majestic supports payment by Credit Card, Debit Card, and PayPal for recurring monthly and annual subscription plans.

Source
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
Majestic: Does Majestic offer a money-back guarantee?

Lite and Pro plans include a 7-day money-back guarantee for new customers purchasing their first ever subscription plan.

Source
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
Majestic: How do I cancel my Majestic subscription?

PayPal users manage cancellation through their PayPal account, while monthly credit card subscribers can cancel via the My Subscriptions page in their account.

Source
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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