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Best SEO audit tools

Find technical issues that hold rankings back. 6 tools in this list, 3 with a free plan.

How this list is ranked. Tools are ordered by how strongly they are built for this job (as tagged in VERILO’s catalogue), then by editorial score and editor rating. Affiliate relationships and featured status are never inputs.

  1. 01

    Semrush

    Built for it

    All-in-one SEO and marketing suite for keyword research, competitor analysis, audits and rank tracking.

    4.7From $139/moFree plan
    • This is a core use case of the product.
    • Includes AI assistant, API access, Reporting & dashboards
    View SemrushVisit Semrush
  2. 02

    Ahrefs

    Built for it

    SEO toolset known for its backlink index, with keyword research, site audits and rank tracking.

    4.6From $29/moFree plan
    • This is a core use case of the product.
    • Includes AI assistant, Roles & permissions, API access
    View AhrefsCompare with SemrushVisit Ahrefs
  3. 03

    SE Ranking

    Built for it

    SEO platform centred on daily rank tracking, with audits, keyword research and agency reporting.

    4.3From $129/moFree trial
    • This is a core use case of the product.
    • Includes AI content generation, Roles & permissions, API access
    View SE RankingCompare with SemrushVisit SE Ranking
  4. 04

    Moz Pro

    Built for it

    SEO suite with keyword research, rank tracking, site crawls and the Domain Authority link metric.

    4.0From $49/moFree trial
    • This is a core use case of the product.
    • Includes API access, Reporting & dashboards, Browser extension
    View Moz ProCompare with SemrushVisit Moz Pro
  5. 05

    Screaming Frog SEO Spider

    Built for it

    Desktop website crawler for technical SEO audits, free for up to 500 URLs per crawl.

    Not yet ratedFree planFree plan
    • This is a core use case of the product.
    • Includes Desktop app, Site audit
    View Screaming Frog SEO SpiderCompare with SemrushVisit Screaming Frog SEO Spider
  6. 06

    Surfer SEO

    Supports it

    Content optimization tool that scores pages against top-ranking results and guides on-page writing.

    4.2From $49/mo
    • Possible, but other tools on this list are more purpose-built.
    • Includes AI assistant, AI content generation, API access
    View Surfer SEOCompare with SemrushVisit Surfer SEO

How to choose

A site audit crawls your pages the way a search engine does and reports what holds them back: broken links, redirects, duplicate pages, missing metadata and pages that cannot be indexed. Every suite on this list includes one, and Screaming Frog SEO Spider is a dedicated desktop crawler.

Compare crawl allowances, because they are the limit that bites. Suites cap the pages crawled on each plan, and Screaming Frog's free version caps the URLs in each crawl.

Decide whether you want a report or a workbench. A suite's audit runs in the cloud next to its keyword and backlink data; a desktop crawler such as Screaming Frog gives you control over how the crawl is configured, on your own machine.

Common questions

Which SEO audit tools have a free plan?
Semrush, Ahrefs and Screaming Frog SEO Spider have a free plan, with limits on usage, users or features. SE Ranking (14 days) and Moz Pro (7 days) offer a free trial instead.
How much does SEO audit software cost?
The entry paid plans as each vendor lists them, checked against its pricing page: Ahrefs Starter at $29 a month, Moz Pro Entry-level at $49 a month, Surfer SEO Discovery at $49 a month, SE Ranking Core at $129 a month, Semrush SEO at $139 a month and Screaming Frog SEO Spider Licence at £199 per user a year. Some vendors quote the annual-billing rate, and seat minimums, higher tiers and add-ons all change the real cost, so price the plan you actually need.
Is a free SEO audit enough?
For a small site, often. Screaming Frog SEO Spider's free version audits a site within its URL limit, and Google Search Console reports the indexing problems Google itself has found. A paid audit earns its place on larger sites and when you want audits run and compared over time.
How often should I audit a site?
After any significant change — a redesign, a migration or a new template — and on a regular schedule for a site that publishes often, so new problems are caught before they spread across many pages.

Choosing between the top two?

See Semrush and Ahrefs side by side on pricing, free plans, ease of use and features.

Compare Semrush vs Ahrefs

Guides for this decision

6 tools compared. Each listing shows when its information was last reviewed; prices can change, so check the vendor’s pricing page before you decide.

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