Screaming Frog vs Semrush: Which Is Better in 2026?

A detailed comparison to help you choose the right seo & marketing tool for your needs.

Our Pick: Semrush

Semrush has a significantly higher overall rating (9 vs 8)

Quick Comparison

Aspect
S
Screaming Frog
S
Semrush(Winner)
Overall Rating
8/10
9/10
Starting Price
$259/mo
$129.95/mo
Free Plan
Free Trial
Best For
small
any
Ease of Use
6/10
8/10
Features
9/10
10/10
Value for Money
9/10
7/10
Support
7/10
8/10

Overview

S

Screaming Frog

Screaming Frog SEO Spider is a desktop crawler for technical SEO audits. Essential tool for finding on-page issues, broken links, and duplicate content.

S

Semrush

Semrush is a comprehensive SEO and digital marketing platform offering keyword research, competitor analysis, site audits, and content marketing tools. Industry standard for marketing agencies.

Pricing Comparison

Better value: Semrush
S

Screaming Frog

Pricing ModelFreemium
Starting Price$259/mo
Free Trial
Free Tier
S

Semrush

Better Value
Pricing ModelPaid
Starting Price$129.95/mo
Free Trial
Free Tier

Features Comparison

Winner: Semrush
FeatureScreaming FrogSemrush
Keyword Research
Backlink Analysis
Rank Tracking
Site Audit
Competitor Analysis
Content Optimization
Local Seo
Ppc Tools
Projects
Unlimited
5-40
Keywords Tracked
0
500-5000

0

features unique to Screaming Frog

7

features unique to Semrush

Pros & Cons

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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
S

Semrush

Pros

  • Most comprehensive feature set
  • Excellent competitor analysis
  • Largest keyword database
  • Great content marketing tools
  • Integrations with Google tools

Cons

  • Expensive for small businesses
  • Can be overwhelming for beginners
  • Limited projects on lower tiers
  • Add-ons increase cost further

The Verdict: Semrush Wins

After thorough evaluation, Semrush emerges as the clear winner in this comparison. With an overall rating of 9/10 compared to 8/10, it offers a noticeably better experience across most evaluation criteria.

Semrush particularly excels in SEO agencies and consultants and Enterprise marketing teams, making it the go-to choice for most users looking for a seo & marketing solution.

Our recommendation: We confidently recommend Semrush for most users. However, Screaming Frog remains a viable option if you specifically need technical seo audits.

Choose Screaming Frog if you...

  • • Need technical seo audits
  • • Need large site migrations
  • • Need finding duplicate content

Choose Semrush if you...

  • • Need seo agencies and consultants
  • • Need enterprise marketing teams
  • • Need comprehensive digital marketing

Ready to Get Started?

Try Screaming FrogTry Semrush

Read our full reviews:

Screaming Frog Full ReviewSemrush Full Review

* We may earn an affiliate commission when you visit these tools through our links. This doesn't affect our ratings or comparisons.

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Screaming Frog vs Semrush FAQ

Based on our evaluation, Semrush has a slight edge with an overall rating of 9/10. However, the best choice depends on your specific needs and use case.
Yes, Semrush is more affordable with plans starting at $129.95/month, compared to $259/month for the other.
Semrush scores higher in ease of use (8/10) compared to Screaming Frog (6/10).
Yes, migration between Screaming Frog and Semrush is possible. Most tools offer data export features. Check each tool's documentation for specific migration guides and import capabilities.
For small teams, Screaming Frog is specifically designed for this use case. Consider your budget and specific feature needs when choosing.
For startups, consider your growth trajectory. Screaming Frog offers a free tier which is great for bootstrapped startups.
Yes, each tool has unique strengths. Screaming Frog excels at: Technical SEO audits, Large site migrations. Semrush is better for: SEO agencies and consultants, Enterprise marketing teams. Review our detailed feature comparison above.
Semrush rates higher in customer support (8/10) compared to Screaming Frog (7/10).
Screaming Frog offers better value for money with a rating of 9/10 compared to Semrush's 7/10.
Consider switching if Semrush's strengths (SEO agencies and consultants) align better with your current needs. However, factor in migration effort and learning curve before making the switch.