Crab
Crab: A free desktop crawler with unusually deep technical and structured-data audits. Ranked #22 of 35 in SEO Audit Software by our editors (6.7/10); pricing: Free plan; best for free audits with structured-data depth.
At a glance
- Editor score6.7 / 10
- PricingFree plan
- Best forFree audits with structured-data depth
- Free planYes
- Paid fromFree
- Facts checked20 Sep 2026
Where it wins
- JavaScript rendering supports audits of SPA websites.
- Validates hreflang and JSON-LD structured data.
- Visualizes hierarchy, crawl depth, and orphan pages.
Where it doesn't
- Desktop-only workflow may not suit browser-based collaboration.
- Focused on technical crawling rather than a full SEO suite.
- Local crawling requires installing software on a supported desktop.
Our verdict on Crab
Crab is a free desktop SEO crawler for technical site audits on macOS, Windows, and Linux. It is aimed at SEO professionals, students, solo founders, and others who need occasional or private website audits. The crawler checks broken links, HTTP statuses, redirects, metadata, canonical directives, robots directives, hreflang, structured data, duplicate content, accessibility, JavaScript-rendered pages, site architecture, and page performance. It also generates XML sitemaps and supports recurring crawl scheduling.
Its strongest differentiator is the depth of its technical and structured-data coverage at no cost. Crab can render JavaScript for single-page applications, detect redirect chains and loops, identify exact and near-duplicate content, validate JSON-LD, and visualize crawl depth and orphan pages. That combination makes it useful for audits where a basic link checker would not be enough. Recurring crawl scheduling adds a way to revisit technical issues, while the local desktop model supports private crawling without a subscription or URL limit.
Crab is a focused crawler rather than a broader SEO suite, so it suits buyers whose priority is technical site quality and information architecture. Its desktop-only format may be less suitable for teams seeking a browser-based, shared workspace or a wider workflow around ongoing search performance. Choose Crab when structured-data validation, JavaScript rendering, redirects, hreflang, and site hierarchy are central to the audit. Choose another category of tool when the primary need is a wider SEO platform rather than local technical crawling.
Your product? Our editors can test Crab in depth and publish a review, labelled as paid · from $149/mo →
Crab pricing
Crab fact sheet
| Free plan | Yes |
|---|---|
| Paid from | Free |
| Pages per crawl | Not verified |
| Scheduled audits | Not verified |
| JavaScript crawling | Not verified |
| On-page audits | Not verified |
| Search visibility audits | Not verified |
| API access | Not verified |
| Deployment | Desktop |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Support | Community |
| Built for | Solo, Small business (editorial estimate) |
| Pricing | Free plan |
| Website | crab.so |
| Facts checked | 20 Sep 2026 |
Alternatives to Crab
- Screaming Frog SEO SpiderA mature desktop crawler for detailed audits, automation, and integrations.9.3
- SitebulbA visual, technically focused crawler for recurring audits and clear issue prioritization.8.8
- SEO PowerSuiteA broad desktop SEO suite with free access and paid plans from $349 per year.8.7
Also Ranked In
Crab is ranked in 4 of our directories.
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Featured on iTechGuides
Crab is listed in our SEO Audit Software directory. Add the badge to your site — it links back to this page.
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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
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