Technical SEO tools form the backbone of every successful SEO strategy, helping website owners and SEO professionals identify issues, improve site structure, and fine-tune performance for maximum search visibility. Two of the most prominent players in this arena are Screaming Frog SEO Spider and Sitebulb. Both tools are widely respected for their ability to audit websites efficiently, but as we look into 2025, how do they stack up against each other?
TL;DR
Screaming Frog remains a powerful, fast, and customizable crawler ideal for seasoned SEO professionals and larger sites. Sitebulb, on the other hand, offers a visually rich and beginner-friendly interface designed to explain technical issues with in-depth analysis and justification. Each tool serves a slightly different audience: Screaming Frog favors speed and flexibility, while Sitebulb excels in reporting and user experience. Your ultimate choice depends on your team size, technical level, and reporting needs.
Overview of Each Tool
Screaming Frog SEO Spider
Screaming Frog is a desktop-based website crawler that has been a staple in the SEO industry for years. It excels in technical auditing and boasts high-speed crawling, robust filter options, custom extractions, and integration with Google tools like Search Console and Analytics. Screaming Frog is continually evolving, and the 2025 version now includes even better JavaScript rendering and more seamless API integrations.
Sitebulb
Sitebulb is also a desktop crawler but with a heavy emphasis on visually-driven reports and explanations. It is particularly popular among solo consultants, agencies, and in-house teams needing to communicate technical SEO findings to stakeholders. Sitebulb in 2025 includes enhanced scoring systems, accessibility audits, and collaboration tools that make it more than just an auditing tool—it’s a teaching and strategy resource.
Key Feature Comparison
Crawling and Performance
- Screaming Frog: Known for its lightning-fast crawl speed, especially on well-optimized websites. It allows users to fine-tune crawl behavior via custom configurations.
- Sitebulb: Slower in comparison but offers a more detailed post-crawl analysis. It uses more system resources and has higher minimum system requirements.
Verdict: For speed and customization, Screaming Frog has the edge. Sitebulb takes more time but offers more context-rich analysis.
User Interface and Usability
- Screaming Frog: The UI is functional but can be initially intimidating. It focuses on tables and raw data presentation, which appeals to data-heavy users.
- Sitebulb: Offers a beautiful visual layout, complete with charts, graphs, and prioritization indicators. It explains SEO issues and suggests possible fixes, ideal for beginners and intermediates.
Verdict: Sitebulb wins in user-friendliness and visual reporting. Screaming Frog appeals more to technical professionals already familiar with SEO nuances.
Reporting and Exporting
- Screaming Frog: Provides raw data exports to Excel or CSV. Reports are flexible but require advanced knowledge to interpret effectively.
- Sitebulb: Offers ready-made PDF reports, complete with commentary, charts, and scoring metrics. Perfect for sharing with clients or management.
Verdict: Sitebulb’s rich reporting capabilities make it the go-to tool for agencies and in-house SEOs who need to present findings. Screaming Frog gives total control over data but lacks polish in report presentation.
JavaScript Rendering
- Screaming Frog: As of 2025, it still maintains a solid implementation of JavaScript rendering via Chrome headless, great for Single Page Applications (SPAs).
- Sitebulb: Also supports JS rendering, but performance can be slower. The tool presents JS-heavy errors more clearly, helping you debug client-side SEO issues more easily.
Verdict: Both tools support JavaScript rendering, but your choice may depend on how deeply you want to analyze JS-related SEO differences. Sitebulb adds explanation layers that are useful, while Screaming Frog wins on scrape speed.
Pricing and Licensing
- Screaming Frog: Uses a simple flat-rate license model—£199 per year per user. Unlimited projects, unlimited crawls (with a few hardware-based limitations).
- Sitebulb: Subscription-based pricing—starts around $35/month with tiered access based on crawl limits and concurrency. Offers cloud-based functionality via Sitebulb Server for teams.
Verdict: Screaming Frog is a cost-effective long-term solution, especially if you’re crawling frequently. Sitebulb’s monthly model is easier for freelancers or short-term users to adopt but becomes more expensive over time.
Advanced Features in 2025
Screaming Frog
- Improved API support for tools like Ahrefs, SEMrush, and Google Search Console
- Custom extraction scripting using XPath and Regex
- Content search and duplicate detection via hash comparison
- New AI-powered suggestions plugin via beta release
Sitebulb
- Accessibility audits (WCAG compliance scoring)
- Built-in prioritization of issues based on potential impact
- Google Cloud integration for collaborative audits
- Interactive crawl maps and issue flowcharts
Who Should Use Which?
The choice between Screaming Frog and Sitebulb often comes down to the user’s specific needs and workflow. Here’s a breakdown:
- Choose Screaming Frog if you:
- Are a technical SEO expert or developer
- Require high-volume site crawling and speed
- Need maximum flexibility and configuration
- Have data visualization tools already in place
- Choose Sitebulb if you:
- Are new to SEO or handle client communication
- Need to share beautiful and understandable reports
- Want explanations for SEO issues and scores to prioritize work
- Work collaboratively and need cloud data access
Integrations and Ecosystem
Screaming Frog integrates out-of-the-box with services like Google Analytics, Google Search Console, Ahrefs, and Moz. Integration requires configuration but offers powerful merging of data streams.
Sitebulb also connects with many of the same platforms but bundles insights into the UI without needing as much setup. Its ecosystem favors clarity and ease-of-access over configuration control.
Verdict: Screaming Frog wins on the breadth of APIs and export flexibility, but Sitebulb provides plug-and-play convenience and simplicity.
Support and Community
- Screaming Frog has extensive documentation, active online forums, and a responsive email support team.
- Sitebulb offers in-tool guidance with hover help, video walkthroughs, and an excellent newsletter that regularly educates users.
Both tools have strong support, but Sitebulb excels at onboarding new users thanks to its educational slant and guided UI walkthroughs.
Conclusion
The battle of Screaming Frog vs Sitebulb in 2025 doesn’t result in a single winner. Instead, it highlights two incredible tools tailored for different types of SEO professionals. Screaming Frog offers speed, power, and incredible customization for those who prefer to get into the gritty details of crawling. Sitebulb creates digestible, visually-rich audits that make communicating SEO insights a breeze. The best choice ultimately comes down to your workflow—if you need detailed audit documentation and presentation, go with Sitebulb. If you care more about speed and control, Screaming Frog is your champion.
In the ever-evolving world of SEO, having the right audit tool in your arsenal could spell the difference between average performance and top-ranking success. Consider using both tools in tandem for full coverage; it’s an investment that pays for itself in insight.
