Technical SEO Audit: A Detailed Comparison of Ahrefs Webmaster Tools, Screaming Frog, and SpiderNow
A technical SEO audit is essential for ensuring that a website is fully optimized for search engines. It helps identify issues related to crawling, indexing, site structure, and overall performance. Several tools can help conduct a thorough technical SEO audit, but today, we’ll compare three of the most popular ones:
- Ahrefs Webmaster Tools (AWT)
- Screaming Frog SEO Spider
- SpiderNow
Each of these tools has its strengths and weaknesses, making them suitable for different types of users. Below, we’ll explore the key features, pros, and cons of each tool.
1. Ahrefs Webmaster Tools (AWT)
Ahrefs is well-known for its backlink analysis capabilities, but its Webmaster Tools (AWT) also provide a strong technical SEO audit feature. AWT is a free tool designed to help website owners uncover technical SEO issues, monitor backlinks, and analyze keyword performance.Key Features:
- Site Audit – Provides a detailed breakdown of on-page SEO issues, including crawlability, redirects, broken links, and duplicate content.
- Backlink Analysis – Helps monitor toxic backlinks and discover new link-building opportunities.
- Keyword Tracking – Tracks organic search traffic trends and keyword performance.
- Indexability & Crawlability Checks – Identifies indexing issues and highlights blocked pages.
- Security Issues – Alerts users about HTTPS errors, mixed content issues, and security vulnerabilities.
Pros:
- User-friendly Interface – The clean dashboard makes it easy to find and resolve issues.
- Google Search Console Import Feature - You can directly import your sites verified in Google Search Console to your Ahrefs Webmaster Tools account.
- Free for Website Owners – AWT allows users to audit their own sites without paying for a full Ahrefs subscription.
- Backlink & SEO Data – Unlike other audit tools, it provides off-page SEO insights in addition to technical SEO fixes.
- Great for Beginners – Offers an easy-to-understand breakdown of SEO errors with recommendations.
Cons:
- Limited Free Usage – The free plan is restricted to personal websites (you cannot audit competitor sites).
- Not as In-depth as Screaming Frog – While it covers major SEO issues, it does not crawl JavaScript-heavy websites as effectively.
Best For:
- Website owners and beginners who need a free SEO audit with backlink insights.
- Small businesses that want an easy-to-use SEO monitoring tool.
2. Screaming Frog SEO Spider
Screaming Frog is a desktop-based SEO crawler that scans websites to identify technical issues, broken links, and indexing problems. It is highly customizable and widely used by SEO professionals for in-depth technical audits.Key Features:
- Comprehensive Website Crawling – Analyzes all URLs, metadata, images, and scripts on a website.
- JavaScript Rendering – Unlike other tools, Screaming Frog can crawl JavaScript-heavy websites effectively.
- Custom Extraction & Data Scraping – Users can extract specific data from web pages using XPath, CSS selectors, and regex.
- Log File Analysis – Helps analyze server logs to understand how search engine bots crawl a website.
- Integration with Google Analytics & Search Console – Enhances insights with real search performance data.
Pros:
- Real-time Crawling – Screaming Frog crawls sites in real-time, making it a great tool for live audits.
- Advanced Customization – Users can set crawl limits, define custom parameters, and export granular data for deep analysis.
- Excellent for Large Sites – Handles thousands of URLs efficiently, making it ideal for e-commerce and enterprise-level sites.
- Yearly License Fee – Unlike cloud-based tools, Screaming Frog offers a yearly license instead of monthly subscriptions.
Cons:
- Requires Installation – Being a desktop-based tool, it requires installation and does not work in a browser.
- Steep Learning Curve – Beginners may find it complex compared to Ahrefs Webmaster Tools.
- Limited Free Version – The free version only allows crawling of 500 URLs, which isn’t enough for larger websites.
Best For:
- SEO professionals and agencies who need advanced crawling features and JavaScript analysis.
- Technical SEOs working on enterprise-level websites with complex structures.
3. SpiderNow
SpiderNow is an AI-powered SEO audit tool that provides automated SEO issue detection and recommendations. It’s designed for users who want a simple and fast website audit without much manual configuration.Key Features:
- AI-Driven SEO Audit – Uses AI to detect SEO problems like missing meta tags, duplicate content, and broken links.
- Automated Reports – Generates instant reports with actionable recommendations.
- Cloud-Based Crawler – Does not require installation and runs audits directly in the browser.
- Speed & Performance Analysis – Checks website loading speed, Core Web Vitals, and mobile-friendliness.
- User-Friendly Interface – Designed for beginners with simple explanations of SEO issues.
Pros:
- Fast & Lightweight – Unlike Screaming Frog, SpiderNow does not require installation and runs on the cloud.
- Beginner-Friendly – Offers clear, actionable insights for those new to SEO audits.
- Affordable – Cheaper than Ahrefs Paid Plan, making it a budget-friendly alternative.
Cons:
- Less Customization – Lacks the advanced settings and configurations available in Screaming Frog.
- No Backlink Analysis – Unlike Ahrefs, it does not provide any off-page SEO insights.
Best For:
- Small business owners and marketers who need an easy-to-use SEO audit tool.
- Users who prefer cloud-based solutions without the hassle of software installation.
Final Comparison: Which Tool is Right for You?
| Feature | Ahrefs Webmaster Tools | Screaming Frog | SpiderNow |
|---|---|---|---|
| SEO Audit |  Yes (Good) | Yes (Advanced) | Yes |
| Backlink Analysis | Yes |  No | No |
| Cloud-Based | Yes | No (Desktop) | Yes |
| Ease of Use | Beginner-Friendly | Complex for Beginners | Very Easy |
| Customization | Limited | Highly Customizable | Basic |
| Pricing | Free for Own GSC Verified Sites |  Yearly Fee | Subscription-Based |
Which Tool Should You Choose?
✔ If you are a beginner or a small business owner, Ahrefs Webmaster Tools or SpiderNow are the best options due to their ease of use and automation.✔ If you are an SEO professional or an agency managing multiple websites, Screaming Frog is the most powerful tool for in-depth technical audits and custom crawls.
✔ If you want a quick, automated cloud-based solution, SpiderNow is a great budget-friendly alternative.
Each tool has its place in the SEO ecosystem, so the best choice depends on your technical expertise, budget, and website needs.
Disclaimer: I used ChatGPT to assist in writing this detailed content, followed by my personal manual review and edits to the best of my knowledge, as I have been using all these three tools for long.
