Best SEO Audit Tools Guide

Last Updated on April 22, 2023 by Ewen Finser

Do you have a website? If so, you know that it’s important to make sure that your site is optimized for search engines. The best way to do this is by performing an SEO audit. However, SEO is a complex field, and it can be difficult to know where to start when you are trying to improve your website’s SEO.

Luckily, there are many SEO audit tools on the market, but it can be difficult to know which one is right for you. In this blog post, we will discuss what types of SEO audits are available, whether or not SEO audit tools are useful, and what to look for in an SEO audit tool. We will also provide product recommendations for some of the best SEO audit tools on the market!!

Bottom Line Up Front

The best SEO audit tools are those that can help you find a wide range of technical SEO problems, provide insights into your website’s link profile, and offer a comprehensive suite of research tools.

Moz Pro is a great option for businesses of all sizes that are serious about improving their search engine optimization. However, DeepCrawl is also a very comprehensive tool that can be used to find a wide range of technical SEO problems. For a free to GTMetrix and Google Search Console are also great options.

How Many Types of SEO Are There?

So, before we dive into the different types of SEO audit tools, it’s important to understand what types of SEO there are. This way, you can choose the right audit tool for your needs. There are three types of SEO: on-page SEO, off-page SEO, and technical SEO.

On-page SEO refers to all of the actions that you can take on your own website to improve your search engine ranking. This includes things like optimizing your title tags, meta descriptions, and header tags. It also includes optimizing your website content for keywords.

Off-page SEO refers to all of the actions that you can take outside of your own website to improve your search engine ranking. This includes things like link building and social media engagement.

Technical SEO refers to all of the actions that you can take on the back-end of your website to improve your search engine ranking. This includes things like site speed optimization and fixing broken links. When it comes to choosing the best SEO audit tools, you’ll need to work out whether you need to target all three types of SEO, or just one or two.

How Do I Do an SEO Audit?

To do an SEO audit, you will need to check things like your website’s title tags, meta descriptions, header tags, and content. You will also need to check for any broken links and site speed issues. Once you have identified any areas that need improvement, you can then start to fix them.

Of course, in order to audit your website, you don’t have to use an SEO audit tool. In fact, you could do it manually. However, this can be a very time-consuming task and it’s unlikely that you would find all of the issues that need to be fixed.

This is exactly why SEO audit tools are so useful. These tools will help you to quickly identify any areas of your website that need to be improved. They can also save you a tonne of time and help you to identify issues that you might not have found otherwise.

My Top SEO Audit Tool Recommendations

So, without further ado, here are my top SEO audit tool recommendations!

ScreamingFrog

ScreamingFrog is a desktop-based program that is designed to help you audit your website. It’s easy to use and can be very helpful in identifying any areas of your website that need improvement.

The program is primarily an SEO Spider – a website crawler that rapidly analyzes websites of every size and offers technical SEO recommendations to users. It will examine the URLs for common SEO issues, such as 404 errors, redirect chains, and duplicate content. It can also detect pages with low-quality or missing data, produce accurate XML sitemaps that help your webpages get indexed more quickly, discover duplicate pages, and more.

With this tool, there is both a free and a paid option. ScreamingFrog’s free edition allows users to crawl up to 500 URLs and diagnoses all of the most typical technical SEO problems. The paid plan is much more in-depth.

For a price of $149 per year, it will provide you with unlimited URL crawling, scheduled crawling, and additional capabilities. And, while the free plan is certainly worth it if you’re just starting out with an SEO auditor, if you want bonus features like the ability to integrate with Google Analytics, the paid plan is your best bet.

Pros:

• Crawls 500 URLs for free
• Detects all of the most common technical SEO problems
• Produces accurate XML sitemaps
• Will analyze websites of any size
• Has a wide range of features, especially on the paid plan

Cons:

• The free version is quite limited
• The interface can be a bit confusing for beginners

GTMetrix

Mostly known for its speed testing capabilities, GTMetrix is a great tool for auditing your website’s performance. It will test your site’s speed and give you a report with recommendations on how to improve it. These days, page speed is super important. Google is increasingly prioritizing user experience in its search results. As such, if your website is slow, it’s likely that you’re going to lose out on rankings.

The program provides users with actionable insights on how to make their websites faster and more efficient. In addition to speed testing, GTMetrix also offers features like waterfall reports, video recordings of your page loading, file compression, and caching. In addition, it will check your website for common SEO issues, such as missing title tags and meta descriptions.

One of the best things about GTMetrix is that it’s free to use! However, there is also a paid plan that offers additional features, such as the ability to test from multiple locations, get more detailed reports, use advanced diagnostics tools, and receive priority support. The paid plan starts at $14.95 per month.

Pros:

• Free to use
• Offers actionable insights on how to make your website faster
• Checks for common SEO issues
• It will give you speed test results that can help you improve your rankings
• Compare your page speed to other websites

Cons:

• The results can be a little bit inconsistent

SEMRush

One of the most popular SEO audit tools available on the market, SEMRush is a comprehensive solution that can be used for a variety of different tasks. It’s primarily known for its keyword research capabilities, but it can also be used for website audits.

The program will help you to identify any technical SEO issues on your websites, such as duplicate content, broken links, and 404 errors. In addition, it will also give you insights into how your website is performing in terms of search engine rankings.

In fact, SEMRush can diagnose over 130 technical and on-page SEO issues, through its powerful single platform. SEMrush‘s unique selling proposition, however, is the inclusion of a wide range of features for data analysis and reporting. This includes thematic reports designed to help you better understand your website’s traffic, a custom report builder for things like crawlability, site performance, and more, and even an API.

If you’re looking for a comprehensive SEO audit tool that can do it all, SEMrush is a great option. However, it’s worth noting that the program can be a bit pricey. Prices start at $119.95 per month for their Pro Plan and rise to $449.95 per month for their Business Plan. But, if you’re willing to pay for the features, it’s definitely worth it.

Pros:

• Can be used for a very wide range of SEO tasks
• In-depth keyword research capabilities
• Very comprehensive dashboard that will give you a high-level overview of your site at a glance
• Reporting and analytics capabilities are second to none
• You can analyze your competitors as well as your own site

Cons:

• It can be a bit pricey for some budgets

Ahrefs

Another of the most popular SEO audit tools on the web, Ahrefs is a comprehensive solution that offers a wide range of features and tools. Ahrefs is one of the most thorough and user-friendly technical SEO audit tools on this list. Much like SEMrush, it is mostly known for its keyword research capabilities but can also be used to audit your website.

The tool runs entirely in the cloud, meaning that it is constantly updated with the latest data. This also makes it very easy to use and scale, as you can simply add more users as your needs change.

Ahrefs also offers a very user-friendly interface, with an intuitive dashboard that gives you a high-level overview of your website’s SEO at a glance. The tool will also help you to identify any technical SEO issues, such as duplicate content, broken links, and 404 errors.

In addition, Ahrefs provides insights into how your website is performing in terms of search engine rankings. The site audit tool finds more than 100 technical and on-page SEO problems that might be harming your rankings by scanning your website automatically.

Ahrefs’ main selling point is its ability to help you improve your website’s traffic, through its powerful suite of features designed for data analysis and reporting. Prices start at $99 per month for the Lite Plan and rise rather dramatically to $999 per month for the Agency option. They also offer a 7-day trial of the tool for $7 which is great if you want to try it before you buy.

Pros:

• Can be used for a very wide range of SEO tasks
• In-depth keyword research capabilities
• Very user-friendly interface with an intuitive dashboard
• Reporting and analytics capabilities are second to none
• You can analyze your competitors as well as your own site

Cons:

• It can get very expensive very quickly

Google Search Console

Arguably one of the best free SEO audit tools, Google Search Console is a must-have for any website, big or small. While it doesn’t have all of the bells and whistles that some of the other options on this list do, it is an incredibly powerful tool that can be used to audit your website’s SEO.

Google Search Console is a free service offered by Google that helps you monitor, maintain, and troubleshoot your website’s presence in Google Search results. The tool is essential for any website that wants to rank well in search engine results pages (SERPs), as it provides insights into how Google sees your site.

It also aids in the detection of several of the most prevalent technical SEO problems. For example, it’s possible to confirm that Google’s web crawlers can access all of your site’s pages, identify and fix broken links, and help you to submit your website to Google for indexing. It also lets you view the complete backlink profile of your website and keep track of all of your keyword ranking positions.

While it doesn’t have all of the features of some of the other options on this list, Google Search Console is an incredibly powerful tool that is absolutely essential for any website that wants to rank well on search engine results pages.

Pros:

• It’s a free tool provided by Google
• Helps you to monitor, maintain, and troubleshoot your website’s presence in Google Search results
• Aids in the detection of several of the most prevalent technical SEO problems

Cons:

• Doesn’t have an in-depth list of features like some of the other options on this list.

DeepCrawl

DeepCrawl is a cloud-based website crawler that helps you to audit your website’s technical SEO health. The tool provides an in-depth analysis of your website, with insights into more than 50 technical SEO issues.

DeepCrawl is a very comprehensive tool that can be used to find a wide range of technical SEO problems. For example, the tool can be used to find broken links, duplicate content, test XML sitemaps, and find pages with thin content. In addition, DeepCrawl’s greatest strength is its historical data view, which makes it simple to compare audit results over time and see what still needs to be fixed.

Pricing for DeepCrawl is paid per project. It starts at $14 per month for one project, then rises to $62 per month for multiple. You can have up to 3 projects on a single account, and this plan also comes with custom packages available on-demand for users that require additional resources.

Pros:

• In-depth analysis of your website, with insights into more than 50 technical SEO issues
• The historical data view makes it simple to compare audit results over time
• Pricing is paid per project and starts at $14 per month

Cons:

• You can only have up to three projects on a single account
• The custom packages available on-demand can be expensive for users that require additional resources.

Moz Pro

Moz Pro is an all-in-one SEO platform that offers a range of features, including keyword research, link building, and site audits. It’s a great option for businesses of all sizes that are serious about improving their search engine optimization. Moz’s suite of research tools offers visitors the tools they need to find SEO possibilities, track progress, create reports, and optimize their activities.

Moz Pro’s greatest strength is its comprehensive site audit feature. The tool will crawl your website and analyze it for more than 70 different on-page and technical SEO issues. In addition, Moz Pro provides insights into your website’s link profile, including a list of your website’s backlinks, the anchor text used for those links, and the PageRank of the linking pages.

You can use Moz to check your domain authority, and page authority, see which keywords you are ranking highest for, view your top competitors, conduct in-depth keyword research, and analyze SERP results.

But like many of these other all-in-one SEO dashboards, Moz isn’t the cheapest option. Pricing for Moz Pro starts at $99 per month for their Standard version and rises to $599 per month for their Large Plan. However, unlike many of the other tools on this list, there is also a 30-day free trial available for those that want to try out the platform before committing to a paid plan.

Pros:

• All-in-one SEO platform that offers a range of features, including keyword research, link building, and site audits
• Comprehensive site audit feature
• Pricing starts at $99 per month
• 30-day free trial available

Cons:

• The pricing can be expensive for some businesses

What Criteria Did We Use to Come up With These Suggestions?

We used a range of criteria to come up with these suggestions, including:

• The tool’s ability to find SEO problems
• The comprehensiveness of the site audit feature
• The price of the tool
• Whether or not there is a free trial available

First, we looked at the tool’s ability to find all types of SEO problems. We wanted to make sure that the tool could find a wide range of technical SEO issues, on-page, and off-page problems, and that it did this accurately.

Second, we looked at the comprehensiveness of the site audit feature. We wanted to make sure that the tool would provide insights into more than just a few on-page SEO issues.

Third, we looked at the price of the tool. We wanted to make sure that the tool was affordable for businesses of all sizes. Finally, we looked at whether or not there was a free trial available. We wanted to make sure that businesses could try out the tool before committing to a paid plan.

However, on top of these factors, we also looked at customer reviews and the price. This is because, as with anything, customer reviews can be very helpful in getting a sense of whether or not a tool is worth the money. And when it came to price, we wanted to make sure that we selected a range of tools that were affordable for businesses of all sizes.

What Should You Look For in an SEO Audit Tool?

So, while all these SEO audit tools that we’ve mentioned have a range of great features, which ones will be specifically useful? Well, when you’re looking for an SEO audit tool, it’s important to find one that is user-friendly and offers a wide range of features.

It should also be able to generate detailed reports so that you can see where your website needs improvement. Additionally, the tool should be affordable and offer a free trial so that you can try it before committing to a paid plan.

Here are some of the top things you should look for in an SEO audit tool:

Accuracy

The accuracy of the tool is important because you want to be able to trust the results that it generates. When conducting an audit, you need to be able to rely on the tool to give you accurate information so that you can make informed decisions about where to focus your efforts.

Comprehensive site audit

A comprehensive site audit will give you insights into more than just a few on-page SEO issues. It should be able to provide you with a detailed report that covers a wide range of SEO issues.

User-friendly interface

The tool should be easy to use so that you can get started with your audit as soon as possible. Nobody likes buying a tool that you then have to spend weeks simply learning how to use. As a result, it should have a user-friendly interface that is intuitive and easy to navigate.

Analytics

The tool should offer some form of analytics so that you can track your progress over time. This is important because it will allow you to see whether or not your efforts are paying off. Additionally, it can help you to identify any areas that need further improvement.

How far back does the data go?

Another thing you should understand about your SEO tool is how far back it records the data. This is important because you need to be able to track your progress over time. If the tool only goes back a few weeks, then it will be difficult to see the long-term effects of your efforts.

Identify thin and duplicate content

The ability to identify thin and duplicate content is important because it can help you to improve the quality of your website. By removing thin and duplicate content, you can make your website more user-friendly and improve your chances of ranking higher in the search results.

Link building opportunities

Any good SEO audit tool should be able to identify link-building opportunities. This is important because links are one of the most important ranking factors. By identifying opportunities for link building, you can improve your website’s chances of ranking higher in the search results.

Identify keyword opportunities

Another key aspect of SEO, and something you should look for in a quality audit tool, is the ability to identify keyword opportunities. This is important because it can help you to improve your website’s chances of ranking higher in the search results for those keywords.

Generate detailed reports

As we mentioned above, a good SEO audit tool should be able to generate detailed reports. This is important because it will allow you to see where your website needs improvement. Additionally, it can help you to track your progress over time and identify any areas that need further work.

Understand competitor analysis

Arguably an even more important aspect of SEO than keyword research is competitor analysis. This is important because it will allow you to see what your competitors are doing and identify any areas where you can improve. If you’re looking for an SEO audit tool, make sure it has the ability to conduct competitor analysis.

Affordable price

Last but not least, the price of the tool is something you should consider. There are a lot of great SEO audit tools out there, but not all of them are affordable. You need to find a balance between finding a tool that has all the features you need and one that fits within your budget.

FAQs

Best SEO Audit Tools Guide: Conclusion

Overall, SEO is a great way to improve your website’s ranking in the search results and get more traffic. However, which tool you should get depends on your needs. If you’re just starting out, then a free tool like Google Search Console or Google Analytics should be sufficient. But, if you’re looking to take your SEO to the next level, then a paid tool is worth considering.

There are a lot of great SEO audit tools out there, but not all of them are affordable. You need to find a balance between finding a tool that has all the features you need and one that fits within your budget.

Moz Pro, DeepCrawl, and Ahrefs are our favorite paid tools for SEO audits and they all offer a wide range of features. And, for a free tool, we recommend Google Search Console, which is completely free to use and also offers a range of features.

So, there you have it! The best SEO audit tools on the market at the moment. We hope you found this article helpful and are ready to rapidly scale up your website’s rankings!