Ahrefs vs Screaming Frog: Which Is Better in 2026?
A detailed comparison to help you choose the right seo & marketing tool for your needs.
Our Pick: Ahrefs (by a slight margin)
Ahrefs edges out with a slightly higher rating (8.5 vs 8)
Quick Comparison
| Aspect | A Ahrefs(Winner) | S Screaming Frog |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating | 8.5/10 | 8/10 |
| Starting Price | $99/mo | $259/mo |
| Free Plan | ||
| Free Trial | ||
| Best For | any | small |
| Ease of Use | 8/10 | 6/10 |
| Features | 9/10 | 9/10 |
| Value for Money | 7/10 | 9/10 |
| Support | 7/10 | 7/10 |
Overview
Ahrefs is known for its industry-leading backlink index and site explorer. Excellent for link building, keyword research, and competitive analysis.
Screaming Frog SEO Spider is a desktop crawler for technical SEO audits. Essential tool for finding on-page issues, broken links, and duplicate content.
Pricing Comparison
Better value: AhrefsAhrefs
Better ValueScreaming Frog
Features Comparison
Winner: Ahrefs| Feature | Ahrefs | Screaming Frog |
|---|---|---|
| Keyword Research | ||
| Backlink Analysis | ||
| Rank Tracking | ||
| Site Audit | ||
| Competitor Analysis | ||
| Content Optimization | ||
| Local Seo | Limited | |
| Ppc Tools | ||
| Projects | 5-unlimited | Unlimited |
| Keywords Tracked | 750-10000 | 0 |
5
features unique to Ahrefs
0
features unique to Screaming Frog
Pros & Cons
Ahrefs
Pros
- Best backlink database in industry
- Excellent Site Explorer tool
- Great content gap analysis
- Clean, intuitive interface
- Strong keyword difficulty scores
Cons
- No free trial (only $7 trial)
- Expensive for individuals
- Limited rank tracking on lower plans
- No built-in PPC tools
Screaming Frog
Pros
- Most powerful site crawler available
- Desktop app (your data stays local)
- One-time annual fee
- Excellent for technical SEO
- Free version crawls 500 URLs
Cons
- Technical learning curve
- Desktop only (no cloud)
- Resource-intensive on large sites
- Single-purpose tool
The Verdict: Ahrefs Edges Out
This was a close comparison, but Ahrefs edges out Screaming Frog with a slightly higher overall rating of 8.5/10 versus 8/10. Both are solid choices, but Ahrefs offers a marginally better overall package.
Ahrefs's advantages include Best backlink database in industry and Excellent Site Explorer tool, though Screaming Frog counters with Most powerful site crawler available and Desktop app (your data stays local).
Our recommendation: We give the slight edge to Ahrefs, but don't count out Screaming Frog if its specific strengths align better with your needs.
Choose Ahrefs if you...
- • Need link building campaigns
- • Need content marketing teams
- • Need competitive backlink analysis
Choose Screaming Frog if you...
- • Need technical seo audits
- • Need large site migrations
- • Need finding duplicate content
Ready to Get Started?
Read our full reviews:
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