Comparison · SEO tools
Moz Pro vs Screaming Frog SEO Spider: which is better in 2026?
Screaming Frog SEO Spider ranks higher in our list of SEO tools (#3 against #5, score 91.5 against 88.5).
- 88.5Editorial score91.5
- 1Platforms3
- NoFree to useYes
- NoOpen sourceNo
Which should you choose?
Choose Moz Pro if you want
Teams that want a suite with learning resources.
A well-regarded suite with a large link index, Site Crawl, rank tracking and strong learning resources. It has no free plan for the suite, and tracked keyword limits tighten on the lower tiers.
Choose Screaming Frog SEO Spider if you want
Technical SEO audits on a desktop.
The best desktop crawler for technical audits, and its free version handles small sites. Crawls stop at 500 URLs without a paid license, and it does not track rankings or research keywords.
The main differences
- Only Screaming Frog SEO Spider runs on Linux.
- Only Screaming Frog SEO Spider runs on Windows.
- Only Screaming Frog SEO Spider runs on macOS.
- Only Moz Pro runs on Web.
- Screaming Frog SEO Spider can be used for free; Moz Pro requires payment.
Side by side
 Moz Pro |  Screaming Frog SEO Spider | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 88.5 | 91.5 |
| Rank in list | #5 of 10 | #3 of 10 |
| Price | SubscriptionPaid plans from $79 a month billed yearly; free Moz tools are separate | Free plan, paid upgradesFree up to 500 URLs; paid yearly license for larger crawls |
| Free to use | No | Yes |
| Open source | No | No |
| Platforms | WebWeb | WindowsmacOSLinuxWindows, macOS, Linux |
| Made by | Not stated | Not stated |
| Data it works from | Link Explorer, over 40 trillion links | Your own crawl of the site |
| Site audit | Site Crawl with on-demand re-crawls | Desktop crawler, up to 500 URLs free |
| Rank tracking | Keyword rankings, 300 to 3,000 by plan | Not offered |
| Best for | Teams that want a suite with learning resources | Technical SEO audits on a desktop |
| Strengths |
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| Limits |
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| Links | Visit site | Visit site |
Questions about Moz Pro vs Screaming Frog SEO Spider
- Is Screaming Frog SEO Spider better than Moz Pro?
- Screaming Frog SEO Spider ranks higher in our list of SEO tools (#3 against #5, score 91.5 against 88.5). Moz Pro is best for: teams that want a suite with learning resources. Screaming Frog SEO Spider is best for: technical SEO audits on a desktop.
- Which is cheaper, Moz Pro or Screaming Frog SEO Spider?
- Moz Pro: Paid plans from $79 a month billed yearly; free Moz tools are separate. Screaming Frog SEO Spider: Free up to 500 URLs; paid yearly license for larger crawls.
- Do Moz Pro and Screaming Frog SEO Spider run on the same platforms?
- Moz Pro supports Web. Screaming Frog SEO Spider supports Windows, macOS, Linux.
Choosing between the two
Learning Center
1:17How to decide between two good optionsSettle a close call by sorting it by how hard it is to undo, setting a deadline, scoring the criteria as a tie-breaker and writing down why you chose.
1:20How to compare products fairly: what to keep in mindDefine the job, cap the must-haves, compare like with like, count total cost over one period and weigh the criteria. Includes a worked example.
