AuditWidget vs Screaming Frog
Industry-standard desktop site crawler
Updated April 2026
Bottom line
These tools don't compete for the same job. Screaming Frog is the crawler you use when you're doing a real technical SEO audit for a client — it's a professional tool that takes time and effort. AuditWidget is what you put on your website so prospects can self-identify. Most agencies that use AuditWidget seriously also have a Screaming Frog license. They're complementary.
Feature comparison
| Feature | AuditWidget | Screaming Frog |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes 5 audits/mo | Yes 500 URL crawl limit, desktop app required |
| Embeddable widget (free) | Yes | No |
| Lead capture | Yes Paid plans | No |
| White-label reports | Yes Paid plans | No |
| Audit depth | 1 page | 500 URLs free; unlimited on paid ($229/year) |
| No visitor login required | Yes | No |
| Keyword data | No | No |
| Backlink data | No | No |
| Pricing | Free / $49 / $79 per mo | Free (500 URLs); $229/year for full access |
Where AuditWidget wins
- ✓ AuditWidget works in the browser — no desktop app to install or manage.
- ✓ Visitors can audit their own URL on your site. Screaming Frog requires your computer to be running.
- ✓ Lead capture is built in. Screaming Frog has no client-facing features.
Where Screaming Frog wins
- ✓ Screaming Frog's crawl depth is unmatched — 500 URLs free, unlimited for $229/year.
- ✓ Discovers issues AuditWidget's single-page audit will never find: redirect chains across the site, orphaned pages, JS rendering problems.
- ✓ The industry standard for a reason — if you need real technical SEO data, Screaming Frog is the answer.
Questions people ask
Is Screaming Frog free?
Yes, with a 500 URL limit. The free version is useful for small sites and quick checks. The paid version is $229/year and removes all limits. That's about $19/month — cheap for what it does.
Can Screaming Frog embed on my website?
No. Screaming Frog is a desktop application that runs on your computer. It crawls sites from your machine. There's no web-based version or embeddable widget.
Should I use AuditWidget or Screaming Frog?
Both, probably. Screaming Frog for in-depth technical audits when you're working on a client's site. AuditWidget on your agency website to generate leads. They solve different problems and most serious SEO agencies use both.
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