oncrawl vs screaming-frog-seo-spider
Oncrawl vs Screaming Frog SEO Spider — features, pricing, and which to choose for your SEO workflow in 2026.
Quick Verdict
Oncrawl and Screaming Frog represent two different approaches to technical SEO crawling. Screaming Frog is the industry standard desktop crawler that most SEOs cut their teeth on, while Oncrawl positions itself as the enterprise-grade solution with advanced data science capabilities.
The core difference comes down to scale and sophistication. Screaming Frog excels at straightforward technical audits and is accessible to agencies and in-house teams of all sizes. Oncrawl targets enterprise clients who need log file analysis, machine learning insights, and the ability to crawl massive sites without desktop limitations.
Feature Comparison
Screaming Frog covers all the technical SEO fundamentals exceptionally well: broken links, redirect chains, duplicate content, missing meta tags, image optimization, and schema markup analysis. Its desktop interface provides immediate access to crawl data with powerful filtering and export options. The tool handles sites up to 500 URLs for free, with the paid version removing crawl limits entirely. Oncrawl goes beyond basic crawling with log file analysis, which correlates crawl data with actual Googlebot behavior from your server logs. This reveals which pages Google actually crawls versus what your sitemap suggests it should crawl. Oncrawl also provides machine learning-powered insights to predict crawl budget optimization and identify technical SEO opportunities that traditional crawlers miss. The platform includes data visualization tools that help enterprise teams communicate technical findings to stakeholders. Where Screaming Frog requires manual analysis of crawl results, Oncrawl automates pattern recognition and provides actionable recommendations based on data science algorithms.
Pricing Comparison
Screaming Frog offers exceptional value with a free tier covering sites up to 500 URLs and a single £149/year license for unlimited crawling. This makes it accessible to solo consultants, small agencies, and in-house teams with limited budgets. Oncrawl uses custom enterprise pricing, typically starting in the thousands per month. The investment reflects its advanced capabilities and the enterprise support that comes with it. For large organizations crawling massive sites or needing sophisticated log analysis, the ROI justifies the cost difference.
Best For
Screaming Frog is the better choice for agencies, consultants, and in-house teams conducting regular technical audits. Its straightforward interface, comprehensive feature set, and affordable pricing make it ideal for most technical SEO needs. Choose Screaming Frog if you want proven reliability, industry-standard reporting, and don't need advanced data science features. Oncrawl suits enterprise organizations with large, complex websites where technical SEO decisions impact significant revenue. It's the right choice when you need log file analysis, want to automate technical SEO insights, or require advanced data visualization for executive reporting. Choose Oncrawl if crawl budget optimization and machine learning insights justify the premium pricing.
The Verdict
Screaming Frog wins for 90% of technical SEO use cases. Its combination of comprehensive features, ease of use, and affordable pricing makes it the clear choice for most teams. Oncrawl only makes sense for enterprise organizations with specific needs for log analysis, advanced automation, or data science-powered insights that justify its premium pricing structure.