Head-to-Head Comparison · Alternative to Screaming Frog SEO Spider · 📈 seo & marketing
Screaming Frog SEO Spider vs Crawly
Unlimited local crawling, JavaScript rendering and crawl diffs in a native Mac app; other operating systems get nothing. Here is how Crawly ($0/mo free) stacks up against Screaming Frog SEO Spider ($23.55/mo) across cost, hosting, data privacy, and real-world trade-offs.
Screaming Frog SEO Spider vs Crawly Specification Matrix
facts verified 2026-08-11
| Dimension | Screaming Frog SEO Spider (Paid) | Crawly (Replacement) |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly Price | $23.55 / mo | $0 / mo |
| 1-Year Cost (1 seat) | $283 / yr | $0 / yr (Save $283) |
| 1-Year Cost (5 seats) | $1,413 / yr | $0 / yr (Save $1,413) |
| 1-Year Cost (10 seats) | $2,826 / yr | $0 / yr (Save $2,826) |
| Source & License | Proprietary SaaS | free proprietary, free |
| Where It Runs | Vendor Cloud | Local (on your machine) |
| Platforms | Web / Cloud | desktopone-click install |
| GitHub Stars | — | ★ $0 forever |
Deep Dive: Switching from Screaming Frog SEO Spider to Crawly
Trade-offs, installation & data architecture
What you trade away
It is macOS-only, lacks JavaScript rendering and offers far fewer crawl controls, extraction options, reports and integrations than Screaming Frog.
How to deploy Crawly
Download and install the native universal macOS app
What it takes to run
macOS only
Where your data lives
Crawl projects and history live in a local SQLite database on the Mac; there is no hosted account or cloud sync
Why fork Crawly instead of vibe-coding a Screaming Frog SEO Spider clone?
The core loop is small enough for a capable coding agent to produce a useful local version in one sitting. For Screaming Frog SEO Spider, crawl an owned site locally, inspect technical signals, and export raw audit data. The hard boundary is years of crawl edge cases, javascript rendering, integrations, and desktop performance, plus crawl scale, rule depth, and operational polish.
Screaming Frog SEO Spider vs Crawly FAQ
Is Crawly a good free alternative to Screaming Frog SEO Spider?+
Yes. Crawly is a verified free replacement for Screaming Frog SEO Spider. Unlimited local crawling, JavaScript rendering and crawl diffs in a native Mac app; other operating systems get nothing.
What is the catch when switching from Screaming Frog SEO Spider to Crawly?+
It is macOS-only, lacks JavaScript rendering and offers far fewer crawl controls, extraction options, reports and integrations than Screaming Frog.
How much do you save switching from Screaming Frog SEO Spider to Crawly?+
Screaming Frog SEO Spider costs $23.55/mo ($283/yr) per seat, whereas Crawly is $0/mo. Switching saves $283/yr for a solo user, $1,413/yr for a 5-person team, and $2,826/yr for a 10-person team.
How do I install or self-host Crawly instead of Screaming Frog SEO Spider?+
Install: Download and install the native universal macOS app. Setup: macOS only
