A desktop crawler for focused audits
A free Screaming Frog alternative.
Calm Toad is a free desktop crawler for a first pass of one site. It does less than Screaming Frog. That is either what you want, or a reason to stay.
Calm Toad is an independent product and is not affiliated with Screaming Frog Ltd.
Short answer
Free to use, with a page limit you choose.
Calm Toad is a free desktop website crawler. There is no account and no fixed page cap: you set the page limit for each crawl. Depth defaults to 3 levels and can be set up to 10. It does not render JavaScript, export reports, or save a crawl to reopen. Screaming Frog SEO Spider is free for up to 500 URLs. A paid licence, listed at £199 per user per year on Screaming Frog’s site, removes that cap and adds rendering, exports, and the rest of its toolkit.
At a glance
Calm Toad vs. Screaming Frog SEO Spider
| What you need | Calm Toad | Screaming Frog SEO Spider |
|---|---|---|
| Main checks | URLs, titles, meta descriptions, H1s, responses, canonicals, image alt text, and internal links. | These checks plus a broad set of technical SEO, content, and integration features. |
| Crawl size | No fixed page cap. Defaults to 40 pages and 3 levels deep. You set the page limit; depth can go up to 10. | Free version crawls up to 500 URLs. A paid licence removes the fixed crawl limit, subject to available memory and storage. |
| JavaScript rendering | Not currently supported. Calm Toad reads the HTML returned by the server. | Available with a licence, using a headless Chromium browser. |
| Exports and saved crawls | Does not currently export reports or save and reopen crawls. | Licensed users can save and reopen crawls and export data for analysis. |
| Advanced workflows | Focused on a simple crawl and readable results. | Offers custom extraction, configuration, integrations, scheduling, and many other advanced features. |
| Price | Free to download and use. | Free up to 500 URLs; the official site currently lists paid licences at £199 per user per year. Check current pricing ↗ |
Screaming Frog’s limits and licence features are based on its pricing page and FAQ. Pricing can change; check its site before purchasing.
Calm Toad fits when
You want the crawl, then the issues.
- You’re checking one site and want the core page-level SEO details in one desktop app.
- You prefer a small set of views over a configurable technical SEO suite.
- You want to set your own page limit and don’t depend on rendered JavaScript.
- You need more than Screaming Frog’s free 500 URLs and do not want the paid licence yet.
- You want to try a free crawler without setting up an account.
Stick with Screaming Frog when
You need the depth of its toolkit.
- Your site relies on JavaScript to reveal links or page content.
- You need detailed configuration, custom extraction, or scheduled runs.
- You depend on exports, saved crawl projects, custom extraction, or analytics integrations.
- You already have a workflow built around its advanced reports and settings.
Same site, side by side
See Calm Toad crawl pmprompt.com
This demo compares both desktop crawlers on the same site. The result is specific to this site, connection, and crawl setup; speed will vary on other websites.
What this is not
Free on your computer, not an open-source project.
The usual reason to look for a free Screaming Frog alternative is the 500-URL cap, or the £199 licence. Calm Toad is free to use and has no fixed page cap. Choose a page limit for each crawl; how large a crawl your computer can handle depends on its available resources.
It is a desktop app for Mac (Apple silicon and Intel), Windows, and Linux. It is not an online Screaming Frog alternative. You download it and crawl from your own computer. It does not run in a browser tab.
It is not an open-source crawler. The installers are published on GitHub, and the repository is public, but there is no open-source licence. If you need a crawler you can modify and self-host, this is not that.
Getting started
Trying Calm Toad takes a new crawl.
Calm Toad does not import Screaming Frog projects or crawl exports. Download the app, enter your site’s starting URL, set the page and depth limits, and start a fresh crawl. Results stream into the app as pages arrive.
Calm Toad follows same-host links, observes robots.txt rules, and reads server-returned HTML. It does not render JavaScript or replace a full technical SEO workflow.
Get the latest Calm Toad download for your computerCommon questions
Calm Toad and Screaming Frog FAQs
Is Calm Toad a free Screaming Frog alternative?
Yes. Calm Toad is free to download and use, with no account and no fixed page cap. The default is 40 pages and 3 levels deep. You set the page limit, and depth can go up to 10. Screaming Frog is free up to 500 URLs, and its site lists a paid licence at £199 per user per year.
Can Calm Toad replace Screaming Frog?
It can replace a simpler first-pass crawl for some sites. It is not a like-for-like replacement if you need JavaScript rendering, exports, saved projects, custom extraction, or integrations.
Can Calm Toad crawl JavaScript websites?
No. Calm Toad reads the HTML returned by the server and does not run page JavaScript. Screaming Frog offers JavaScript rendering with a paid licence.
Is Calm Toad an online alternative to Screaming Frog?
No. Calm Toad is a desktop app for Mac, Windows, and Linux. It does not crawl a site from a browser tab.
Is Calm Toad open source?
No. Calm Toad is free to use, and the installers are published on GitHub. It is not released under an open-source licence, and it is not a crawler you self-host.
Does Calm Toad work on Mac?
Yes. Downloads are available for Mac with Apple silicon, Mac with an Intel processor, Windows, and Linux.
Want to try a calmer crawl?
Start with one site and see if the focused workflow fits.
Download Calm Toad