Screaming Frog SEO Spider Update – Version 23.0 – Screaming Frog

10/20/25
Source: Screaming Frog by screamingfrog. Read the original article

TL;DR Summary of Screaming Frog SEO Spider Version 23.0 Update

The latest Screaming Frog SEO Spider 23.0 release, codenamed ‘Rush Hour’, introduces critical updates to Lighthouse and PageSpeed Insights integrations, reflecting API and audit changes. The tool now supports the Ahrefs v3 API with OAuth authentication and adds automated crawl deletion with customizable retention settings. Enhanced visualization features include displaying all links in site and semantic cluster diagrams, while additional user experience improvements and bug fixes round out the update.

Optimixed’s Overview: Key Enhancements Powering Screaming Frog SEO Spider’s Latest Version

Updated Integrations for Seamless SEO Auditing

The SEO Spider version 23.0 refreshes core integrations to maintain compatibility and improve user experience. Notably, Lighthouse 13 and PageSpeed Insights audits have been overhauled—retiring some metrics, consolidating others, and renaming key audits like the new “Improve Image Delivery.” These changes align audits across platforms but require users to update their automated crawling reports and scheduled tasks accordingly.

Ahrefs API Upgrade Expands Data Access

This release integrates Ahrefs API v3, enabling broader access beyond enterprise plans through an OAuth-based authentication system. Users can now retrieve updated backlink, domain, and organic traffic metrics with revised naming conventions and enhanced data accuracy.

Automated Crawl Retention and Locking for Efficient Data Management

Users gain control over crawl data storage with newly introduced auto-deleting crawl retention settings. By configuring retention policies, crawls can be deleted automatically after a set period, reducing manual management. Additionally, crawls or entire projects can be locked to prevent accidental deletion, safeguarding important data.

Advanced Semantic Similarity and Visualization Features

  • Embedding Rules: Customize semantic similarity analysis by defining URL patterns, improving redirect mapping and content clustering precision.
  • Link Visualizations: Enhanced site and semantic cluster diagrams now allow users to right-click nodes to show all inlinks and outlinks, providing deeper insight into internal linking structures and opportunities.

Additional Improvements and Bug Fixes

  • Limit crawl totals per subdomain for targeted sampling.
  • Improved heading counts showing total occurrences beyond the first two.
  • Drag-and-drop ordering for custom searches, extractions, and JavaScript snippets.
  • Configurable percent encoding for URLs to improve compatibility with certain servers.
  • Support for Irish language spelling and grammar.
  • Updated AI models for system prompts enhancing automation capabilities.
  • New bulk exports and reports targeting error inlinks and redirects leading to errors.
  • Introduction of a filter for HTTP refresh redirections to improve reporting accuracy.

Overall, Screaming Frog SEO Spider 23.0 focuses on keeping pace with evolving SEO tools and APIs, streamlining crawl data management, and enriching visualization options to empower SEO professionals with more precise and manageable insights.