In the world of SEO, keywords, backlinks, and content marketing often take center stage. However, technical SEO is equally important. By optimizing page load speed, improving website crawlability, and resolving technical issues, you can enhance both your site’s search engine visibility and user experience.
Technical SEO may seem challenging due to its specialized nature, but powerful tools can simplify the process. In this article, we compare two leading technical SEO tools: Sitebulb and Screaming Frog. We’ll explore their unique features, pricing, and suitability for different users to help you make an informed choice.
Screaming Frog: A Veteran in Technical SEO
Background
Founded in 2010, Screaming Frog has been a trusted technical SEO tool for over a decade. It remains a powerful desktop-based solution for crawling large websites and providing actionable data to enhance onsite SEO.
Key Features
- Desktop-Based: Ideal for those who prefer offline work. Cloud functionality is available via Google Compute Engine.
- Unlimited Crawls: The paid version allows unlimited website crawls, regardless of site size.
- Custom Configurations: Enables crawling specific status codes or identifying pages without meta descriptions.
- JavaScript Rendering: Crawls JavaScript elements on your website.
- Visualization Tools: Word clouds and internal link visualizations help identify potential issues.
Pricing
- Paid Version: $259/year per user, with discounts for multiple licenses.
- Free Version: Crawls up to 500 URLs, including images, CSS, and JS files.
Customer Feedback
“Screaming Frog helps me analyze client websites and identify key issues to solve. It’s essential for understanding a site’s structure and SEO health.”
— Lauren, Capterra Review
Sitebulb: The Newer, User-Friendly Contender
Background
Launched six years ago, Sitebulb has quickly gained a reputation as a flexible and user-friendly technical SEO tool, popular among agencies and organizations.
Key Features
- Desktop & Cloud Options: Offers both desktop and cloud versions. The cloud version is faster and more feature-rich.
- Customizable Projects: Allows tailored audits focusing on the most relevant SEO elements.
- Hints System: Provides plain-English suggestions for technical SEO improvements.
- Visualization Tools: Facilitates the visualization of internal link structures and page relationships.
- Eco-Friendly Initiative: Offsets its carbon footprint by planting trees for each new user.
Pricing
- Desktop Version: Starts at $135/year.
- Cloud Version: Starts at $2,940/year with a crawl limit of up to 250K URLs.
- Free Trial: 14-day free trial with no credit card required.
Customer Feedback
“Sitebulb goes beyond standard auditing checks and dives deep into your website. The customer support is unmatched.”
— Matt, Capterra Review
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | Sitebulb | Screaming Frog |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | From $135/year (Desktop) | $259/year |
| Cloud Version | Yes | No |
| Free Version | No | Yes (500 URLs) |
| Free Trial | 14 Days | No |
| Crawl Limit | 1M URLs/month (Cloud) | Unlimited (Paid) |
| Integrations | GA, GSC, Slack, Google Docs | GA, GSC, Moz, Majestic |
| Platform | Windows, Mac | Windows, Mac, Linux |
| Customizable Reports | Yes | Yes |
| Visualization Tools | Yes | Yes |
| Technical Support | Free | Free |
| JavaScript Rendering | Yes | Yes |
Which Tool is Best for You?
Consider Sitebulb if:
- You prefer user-friendly insights and actionable suggestions.
- You work in a marketing team needing cloud access.
- You prioritize eco-conscious services.
Consider Screaming Frog if:
- You need unlimited crawl capacity.
- You require advanced features for in-depth website analysis.
- You are comfortable with technical SEO.
Can You Use Both?
Absolutely! Many professionals leverage both tools to enhance their technical SEO strategy. For example:
- Use Screaming Frog to identify duplicate content.
- Export the data to Sitebulb for a detailed duplicate content score.
This combination helps determine which pages to keep and which to redirect, maximizing SEO efficiency.
Final Thoughts
Both Sitebulb and Screaming Frog are excellent technical SEO tools. The choice ultimately depends on your level of technical expertise and the insights you require.
- For comprehensive, beginner-friendly insights, Sitebulb is ideal.
- For advanced, in-depth data analysis, Screaming Frog is unmatched.
With Screaming Frog offering a free version and Sitebulb providing a 14-day free trial, why not try both? Regardless of your choice, you’ll be one step closer to optimizing your website for peak performance.