Software · head to head
SpyFu vs Screaming Frog SEO Spider
SpyFu
Software
Competitor keyword research tool for SEO and PPC campaigns
- From
- $29/month
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Only Screaming Frog SEO Spider has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: SpyFu entry-level Basic plan caps search results and data exports at 10,000 rows, limiting deep research.; 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 SpyFu and Screaming Frog SEO Spider actually diverge.
| Attribute | SpyFu | Screaming Frog SEO Spider |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $29/month | Free |
| Pricing model | subscription | freemium |
| Free tier | No | Yes |
| Platforms | web, api | Web |
| Founded | 2005 | Unknown |
Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).
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 SpyFu
- Competitor Keyword Research
- Ad History
- Rank Tracking
- Backlink Analysis
- RivalFlow AI
- Automated Reporting
- API Access
Only in Screaming Frog SEO Spider
Nothing recorded that SpyFu does not also cover.
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
SpyFu
- Researching a competitor's paid search strategynot Screaming Frog SEO Spider
- Finding organic keyword gapsnot Screaming Frog SEO Spider
- Tracking weekly keyword rank changesnot Screaming Frog SEO Spider
- Building white-label SEO/PPC reports for clientsnot 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.
SpyFu
- Entry-level Basic plan caps search results and data exports at 10,000 rows, limiting deep research.
- API access is only available on the top Team/Agency tier, unlike some competitors that offer it at lower price points.
- Additional user seats cost an extra $30 per user per month even on paid plans.
- Weekly rank tracking refresh is less frequent than some competitors offering daily updates.
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
SpyFu
$29/month- Basic$29/month
- 10k row search results and data exports
- 5,000 weekly tracked keyword rankings
- 10 automated reports
- Pro + AI$89/month
- Unlimited search results and data exports
- 15,000 weekly tracked keyword rankings
- 100 automated reports
- Team/Agency$187/month
- Unlimited data exports and reports
- 50,000 weekly tracked keyword rankings
- RivalFlow AI (5 sites)
Screaming Frog SEO Spider
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the Screaming Frog SEO Spider review.
Which should you pick?
Choose SpyFu if
- You need competitor keyword research.
- You work on web, api.
- You also want ad history.
Choose Screaming Frog SEO Spider if
- You want to start without paying.
Questions people ask
- Is SpyFu or Screaming Frog SEO Spider better?
- Neither clearly leads. SpyFu starts at $29/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, SpyFu or Screaming Frog SEO Spider?
- Screaming Frog SEO Spider has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $29/month for SpyFu and Free for Screaming Frog SEO Spider.
- Does SpyFu or Screaming Frog SEO Spider run on more platforms?
- SpyFu runs on web, api. Screaming Frog SEO Spider runs on Web.
- 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. SpyFu starts at $29/month.
- What is SpyFu best used for?
- SpyFu is most often used for researching a competitor's paid search strategy, finding organic keyword gaps, tracking weekly keyword rank changes, building white-label seo/ppc reports for clients. Of those, researching a competitor's paid search strategy and finding organic keyword gaps are not what Screaming Frog SEO Spider is typically brought in for.
- What can SpyFu do that Screaming Frog SEO Spider cannot?
- SpyFu covers Competitor Keyword Research, Ad History, Rank Tracking, Backlink Analysis.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
SpyFu: What does SpyFu cost?
SpyFu has three plans: Basic at $29/month (billed annually) or $39/month, Pro + AI starting around $89/month annually (or $59 for the first month, then $119/month), and Team/Agency at $187/month annually or $249/month.
SourceSpyFu: What's included in the Basic plan?
Basic includes 10,000-row search results and data exports, 1 Live Site tracking project, 5,000 weekly tracked keyword rankings, 10 automated reports, and 1 user seat.
SourceSpyFu: What extra do Pro + AI and Team/Agency add?
Pro + AI adds unlimited search results and exports, 10 tracking projects, 10+ years of historical data, 15,000 weekly rank checks, and 100 reports. Team/Agency adds unlimited projects and reports, 50,000 weekly rank checks, and 5 user seats.
SourceSpyFu: Do all plans include AI features?
Yes, all plans include the RivalFlow AI tool, ChatGPT integration, AI Brand Monitoring, Google Ads campaign tools, Google Search Console integration, white-label reporting, and API access, though limits vary by tier.
SourceSpyFu: Is extra usage or extra users available beyond the base seats?
Yes, additional user seats can be added to Pro + AI and Team/Agency plans for $30 per additional user beyond the included seat count.
SourceRelated pages
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