Ahrefs vs Screaming Frog
Ahrefs rates 4.6/5 and starts at $29/mo. Screaming Frog rates 4.7/5 and starts at Free. Screaming Frog is the cheaper entry point. Screaming Frog is the higher rated. Only Screaming Frog has a free tier.
Screaming Frog rates higher (4.7/5 vs 4.6/5). Screaming Frog is cheaper to start (Free vs $29/mo). Ahrefs suits SEO professionals, while Screaming Frog is aimed at Technical SEOs.
Ahrefs vs Screaming Frog at a glance
| Measure | Ahrefs | Screaming Frog |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.6/5 | 4.7/5 |
| Reviews | 7,400 | 96 |
| Starting price | $29/mo | Free |
| Free plan | No | Yes |
| Public API | Yes | No |
| Integrations listed here | 3 | 3 |
Feature & pricing comparison
Pricing side by side
Ahrefs
Full pricing →| Plan | Price | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| Starter | $29/mo | $348 |
| Lite | $129/mo | $1,548 |
| Standard | $249/mo | $2,988 |
Screaming Frog
Full pricing →| Plan | Price | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| Free | Free | — |
| Paid licence | $259/mo | $3,108 |
Which should you choose?
Choose Ahrefs if…
- Best backlink data matters to you.
- Great UX matters to you.
- Cheap entry plan matters to you.
- Desktop-only, RAM hungry would be a problem.
Choose Screaming Frog if…
- Deepest technical crawl available matters to you.
- Cheap flat annual licence matters to you.
- Free up to 500 URLs matters to you.
- No free trial would be a problem.
Ahrefs
Pros
- Best backlink data
- Great UX
- Cheap entry plan
Cons
- No free trial
- Credit-based limits
Screaming Frog
Pros
- Deepest technical crawl available
- Cheap flat annual licence
- Free up to 500 URLs
Cons
- Desktop-only, RAM hungry
- No keyword or backlink data
Frequently asked questions
Is Ahrefs better than Screaming Frog?+
Screaming Frog rates higher (4.7/5 vs 4.6/5). Screaming Frog is cheaper to start (Free vs $29/mo). Ahrefs suits SEO professionals, while Screaming Frog is aimed at Technical SEOs.
Which is cheaper, Ahrefs or Screaming Frog?+
Screaming Frog — it starts at Free, versus $29/mo for Ahrefs.
Do Ahrefs or Screaming Frog have a free plan?+
Screaming Frog has a free tier; Ahrefs does not (though trials may be available).
Which is better rated, Ahrefs or Screaming Frog?+
Screaming Frog, at 4.7/5 across 96 reviews, versus 4.6/5 for Ahrefs.
What is Ahrefs best for, and what is Screaming Frog best for?+
Ahrefs is aimed at SEO professionals (backlink analysis, keyword research). Screaming Frog is aimed at Technical SEOs (technical site audits, migration QA).