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Screaming Frog SEO Spider vs Sitebulb for Agencies (2026): Which Is Better?
By Red Kite Search Agency Created Updated 7 min read
Summary
Choose Screaming Frog for low cost and technical depth. Choose Sitebulb for explained audits and client reports. Prices and ratings were checked in October 2026.
Screaming Frog SEO Spider vs Sitebulb: which is better for agencies in 2026?
Screaming Frog and Sitebulb are the two crawlers agencies compare most. Screaming Frog is the deep, low-cost standard. Sitebulb explains what it finds and makes reports for clients.
We compared price, reporting, and fit.
| Tool | Editorial score | Review-site ratings | Pricing | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Screaming Frog SEO Spider | 4.5 / 5 | G2 4.7 | Free version up to 500 URLs. Paid licence $279 per licence per year, with discounts from 5 licences. | Freelancers to large agencies |
| Sitebulb | 4.2 / 5 | G2 4.5 | 14-day free trial. Lite $18, Pro $42, and Cloud from $125 per month. Yearly plans save 15%. | Freelancers and small to mid-size agencies |
How do Screaming Frog SEO Spider and Sitebulb compare on price?
Screaming Frog costs $279 per licence per year, with a free version up to 500 URLs. Sitebulb Lite costs $18 per month and Pro costs $42 per month for one user, and Cloud starts at $125 per month.
| Tool | Plan | Price | What stands out |
|---|---|---|---|
| Screaming Frog SEO Spider | Free | $0 | Crawl up to 500 URLs, core features |
| Screaming Frog SEO Spider | Paid licence | $279 per licence/year (annual billing) | Unlimited crawl, JavaScript rendering, scheduling, custom extraction and advanced configuration, full technical support |
| Sitebulb | Lite | $18 per month (monthly billing) | 1 user, 10,000 URLs per audit, 100+ hints, JavaScript crawling, Google Analytics, Search Console and Sheets |
| Sitebulb | Pro | $42 per month (monthly billing) | 1 user (extra users $11 a month), 500,000 URLs per audit, 300+ hints, audit comparisons, scheduled audits, customized PDF reports |
| Sitebulb | Cloud | $125 per month (monthly billing) | 2 or more users, cloud crawling without project limits, recurring crawls, Data Studio integration |
Which costs less?
Screaming Frog. One annual licence costs less than a few months of Sitebulb Pro, and it has a free version. Both charge per user, with extra Sitebulb users costing a monthly fee.
For a five-person team, compare the yearly total of licences with Sitebulb monthly plans.
Which is better for client reports?
Sitebulb. Customized PDF reports and audit comparisons are on Pro, and the hints explain issues in plain language. Screaming Frog exports data and automates Looker Studio reports but states no white-label option.
Sitebulb mentions white-label PDFs in a testimonial, but the plan that includes them was not stated.
Which is better for deep technical work?
Screaming Frog, with custom extraction, JavaScript rendering, scheduling, and wide API integrations. Sitebulb offers JavaScript crawling and 300 or more hints on Pro.
Many technical SEOs use Screaming Frog for analysis and Sitebulb for reports.
How do Screaming Frog SEO Spider and Sitebulb compare on integrations, security, and support?
Beyond price, agencies ask about connections to their other tools, what to tell clients about security, and how quickly they can get help. This is what each vendor states publicly, as checked in October 2026.
| Area | Screaming Frog SEO Spider | Sitebulb |
|---|---|---|
| Integrations | Google Analytics, Search Console, PageSpeed Insights, Majestic, Ahrefs and Moz APIs; Looker Studio crawl reports, Google Sheets exports, and AI prompts through OpenAI, Gemini, Ollama and Anthropic | Google Analytics, Search Console and Sheets on all Desktop plans, plus a Data Studio integration; MCP access to connect audits to Claude and other AI tools |
| Security | Runs locally by default and stores crawl data on disk; robots.txt compliant with basic, digest and form authentication; Annual licence tied to an account and key; no SSO or compliance certifications apply or were stated | Data storage for Desktop versus Cloud, GDPR and SSO were not stated; its security page returned an error |
| Support | Email support and a support page, with full technical support for licensed users; Response times are not stated | In-product chat, email and a searchable help center; Hours and response times are not stated |
| Apps | Windows, macOS and Linux desktop; no mobile app | Desktop for Windows and Mac, and a browser-based Cloud version; no mobile app |
What are the pros and cons of Screaming Frog SEO Spider and Sitebulb?
Here is where each tool helps agencies and where it can get in the way, based on plan details and public feedback.
Screaming Frog SEO Spider pros
- Free for up to 500 URLs, then one annual licence for unlimited crawling.
- JavaScript rendering, custom extraction, and scheduled crawls with automatic exports.
- Pulls data from Google Analytics, Search Console, PageSpeed Insights, Ahrefs, Majestic and Moz.
- Volume discounts from 5 licences.
Screaming Frog SEO Spider cons
- Licences are per user, so a team pays for every seat.
- White-label client reports are not stated, so agencies build reports elsewhere.
- It runs on your computer, so large crawls need a powerful machine.
- Support response times are not stated.
Sitebulb pros
- Hints and explanations that turn crawl data into prioritized actions.
- Customized PDF reports and audit comparisons on Pro.
- Scheduled audits on Pro and automated recurring crawls on Cloud.
- Monthly pricing with a 14-day free trial.
Sitebulb cons
- Lite caps audits at 10,000 URLs and offers 100+ hints; Pro raises this to 500,000.
- Cloud starts at a much higher price and needs two or more users.
- Security, GDPR and SSO details were not stated, and its security page was unavailable.
- Only 13 reviews on G2.
What do reviewers say about Screaming Frog SEO Spider and Sitebulb?
G2 shows Screaming Frog at 4.7 from 187 reviews and Sitebulb at 4.5 from 13 reviews. Sitebulb has only a small review base.
| Tool | Source | Rating | Number of reviews |
|---|---|---|---|
| Screaming Frog SEO Spider | G2 | 4.7 / 5 | 187 |
| Sitebulb | G2 | 4.5 / 5 | 13 |
Reviewer themes for Screaming Frog SEO Spider
- G2 shows Screaming Frog at 4.7 from 187 reviews.
- A G2 reviewer uses it to run technical audits of client sites in bulk.
- Reviewers value the comprehensive data it pulls for pinpointing issues.
Reviewer themes for Sitebulb
- G2 shows Sitebulb at 4.5 from 13 reviews.
- A G2 reviewer says it finds technical flaws and makes them look clever in front of clients.
- Reviewers mention easy setup and very good technical support.
How does setup differ between Screaming Frog SEO Spider and Sitebulb?
Getting value from either tool depends on how you set it up, and the first steps differ. Here is the practical starting point for each.
Screaming Frog SEO Spider: Start with the free version on a small client site, and connect Google Analytics and Search Console through their APIs.
Sitebulb: Use the 14-day trial on one client site, and connect Google Analytics and Search Console.
What should agencies check before choosing between Screaming Frog SEO Spider and Sitebulb?
Small details in plans and limits decide whether a tool works in practice. Check these points for each tool during a trial on a real client account.
Before you buy Screaming Frog SEO Spider
- Count the people who need a licence.
- Check your computer can handle your largest crawl.
- Decide how you will build client reports.
- Test the free version on a real site first.
Before you buy Sitebulb
- Confirm Pro covers scheduling and PDF reports.
- Ask which plan includes white-labeling.
- Check whether you need Cloud and two users.
- Compare a crawl with Screaming Frog.
How should you test Screaming Frog SEO Spider and Sitebulb before deciding?
The fairest test is to run both tools on the same real client account for two weeks, with the same people, and compare the results rather than first impressions.
What to measure
- How long it takes a new team member to be productive in Screaming Frog SEO Spider versus Sitebulb.
- How often people open each tool without being reminded.
- Whether the plan you need includes the features you tested, not just the entry price.
- How a client reacts if you invite them to either tool.
- How much time the team spends on notifications, setup, and cleanup each week.
Which should you choose: Screaming Frog SEO Spider or Sitebulb?
Choose Screaming Frog for low cost and technical depth. Choose Sitebulb for explained audits and client reports.
Many agencies own both.
Choose Screaming Frog SEO Spider if
- You run technical audits and want the deepest configuration.
- You want a low-cost annual licence and a free version to test.
- You are comfortable exporting data and building your own reports.
Skip Screaming Frog SEO Spider if
- You need white-label client reports out of the box.
- You want a cloud tool with no installation.
- You have many users and want flat pricing.
Choose Sitebulb if
- You want crawl audits explained in plain language.
- You send customized PDF reports to clients.
- You want monthly pricing and a 14-day trial.
Skip Sitebulb if
- You want the lowest cost and deepest configuration.
- You need published security details.
- You need a large public review base.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Screaming Frog or Sitebulb better?
- Screaming Frog for depth and cost, Sitebulb for explained audits and reports.
- Which is cheaper?
- Screaming Frog, and it has a free version.
- Which makes client reports?
- Sitebulb, with customized PDF reports on Pro.
- Does either have a free option?
- Screaming Frog has a free version. Sitebulb has a 14-day trial.
- Can I use both?
- Yes. Many agencies use both.
Sources
Prices, plan limits, and ratings were gathered in October 2026 from:
- Screaming Frog pricing page
- Sitebulb pricing page
- G2