Ever wondered why some SEO professionals can identify and fix technical website issues in mere hours, whilst others struggle for weeks? As an experienced SEO consultant, I've discovered that the difference often lies in the tools they're using. Today, I'm bringing you my DeepCrawl review – a deep dive into one of the industry's most powerful technical SEO platforms.
In today's complex digital landscape, website health has become increasingly important for search visibility. Large enterprise sites with thousands of pages need robust solutions that can scale with their requirements and provide actionable insights. This is where DeepCrawl (now part of the Lumar platform) has carved its niche.
In this comprehensive assessment, I'll share my experiences using DeepCrawl, analyse its core features, compare it with alternatives, and help you determine if it's the right investment for your SEO toolkit.
DeepCrawl, which has now been rebranded as part of the Lumar platform, was founded in 2010 as a specialised website crawler designed to help SEO professionals identify technical issues affecting website performance. The platform has evolved significantly over the years, transforming into a comprehensive website intelligence suite.
As a cloud-based SaaS platform, DeepCrawl offers unparalleled crawling capabilities for websites of all sizes, though it particularly excels with large enterprise sites. Its robust architecture allows it to handle millions of URLs, making it a favourite among agencies and in-house teams managing complex websites.
What separates DeepCrawl from basic website auditing tools is its focus on providing actionable insights rather than simply listing issues. The platform is designed to help users prioritise fixes based on potential SEO impact, effectively turning technical data into strategic advantage.
My extensive experience with the DeepCrawl platform has revealed several standout features that make it a powerful addition to any SEO professional's toolkit:
DeepCrawl offers one of the most thorough site auditing capabilities I've encountered. The platform checks for over 200 technical SEO issues, including:
One aspect where DeepCrawl truly shines is its customisable crawl settings. Users can fine-tune crawls based on specific requirements:
DeepCrawl excels at visualising complex website architecture through:
The DeepCrawl interface has undergone significant refinements since its integration into the Lumar platform. The dashboard presents a clean, intuitive layout that balances depth of information with accessibility.
The platform organises findings into logical sections, with the main dashboard providing an at-a-glance overview of critical issues and opportunities. This hierarchy of information helps users quickly identify priorities without feeling overwhelmed by the wealth of data available.
Navigation within the tool follows a logical flow, though new users may experience a learning curve due to the depth of available options. However, this complexity is necessary given the comprehensive nature of the tool and its enterprise-focused capabilities.
The interface also features:
When it comes to raw crawling power, few tools can match DeepCrawl's capabilities. The platform offers:
DeepCrawl's enterprise-grade architecture allows for truly impressive crawling capacity. Depending on your subscription level, you can crawl millions of URLs per project. This scalability makes it particularly valuable for large websites where other tools might hit limitations.
The platform allows for scheduled crawls at various intervals, enabling users to monitor changes over time and track the impact of implemented fixes. This historical data becomes invaluable for demonstrating SEO progress to stakeholders.
With more websites relying heavily on JavaScript, DeepCrawl's ability to render JS content during crawls is increasingly important. The tool offers various rendering options to ensure that content loaded via JavaScript is properly analysed for SEO issues.
| Crawl Feature | DeepCrawl Capability | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum URLs | Millions (plan dependent) | Essential for enterprise sites |
| Crawl Speed | Adjustable (up to 600 URLs/minute) | Balances server load and efficiency |
| JavaScript Rendering | Full headless browser rendering | Captures dynamically loaded content |
| Custom Extraction | XPath, CSS selectors, regex | Enables tailored data collection |
| Authentication | Multiple methods supported | Allows crawling of secure areas |
DeepCrawl transforms complex technical data into actionable insights through its comprehensive reporting features:
The platform allows users to create tailored reports focused on specific aspects of website health. These reports can be customised to highlight the most relevant metrics for different stakeholders, from technical teams to executive management.
One of DeepCrawl's most valuable features is its ability to track changes over time. This historical perspective helps users understand how website health evolves and measure the impact of implemented changes.
DeepCrawl doesn't just identify issues—it helps prioritise them based on potential impact. The platform uses intelligent algorithms to highlight high-priority issues that are likely to have the greatest effect on organic performance.
For those who prefer to work with data in external tools, DeepCrawl offers robust export functionality, including CSV exports, API access, and integration with data visualisation platforms.
DeepCrawl's value is amplified by its ability to connect with other platforms in your marketing technology stack:
DeepCrawl integrates seamlessly with various Google services, including:
The platform also connects with various third-party solutions:
For teams requiring programmatic access, DeepCrawl offers a robust API that enables:
DeepCrawl positions itself as a premium enterprise solution, and its pricing reflects this market positioning. While exact pricing details can vary based on specific requirements and negotiation, the platform generally follows a tiered structure:
| Plan Level | Approximate Monthly Cost | Typical URL Allowance | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starter | £500-£1,000 | 500,000 URLs | Small agencies, growing websites |
| Professional | £1,000-£2,500 | 1-3 million URLs | Mid-sized agencies, larger websites |
| Enterprise | £2,500+ | 5+ million URLs | Large agencies, enterprise websites |
| Custom | Negotiable | Custom requirements | Global enterprises, special use cases |
It's worth noting that DeepCrawl operates on a subscription model with annual contracts being the norm, though some flexibility may be available for smaller organisations.
When evaluating value for money, it's important to consider not just the cost but the potential return on investment. For large websites where technical SEO issues could be costing significant organic traffic, the insights provided by DeepCrawl can deliver returns that far exceed the investment.
To illustrate the practical impact of DeepCrawl, let me share a recent case study from my consulting practice:
Using DeepCrawl, we initiated a comprehensive technical audit with custom configurations to address the client's specific concerns:
DeepCrawl's analysis revealed several critical issues that had been missed by previous tools:
Based on DeepCrawl's prioritised recommendations, the client implemented fixes over a 12-week period:
| Metric | Before | After (12 weeks) | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indexed Pages | 1.2 million | 2.8 million | +133% |
| Organic Traffic | 450,000 monthly sessions | 720,000 monthly sessions | +60% |
| Conversion Rate | 2.1% | 2.3% | +9.5% |
| Revenue from Organic | £1.2 million | £2.1 million | +75% |
This case demonstrates how DeepCrawl's enterprise-level crawling capabilities can uncover technical issues that directly impact business performance—issues that might go undetected with less sophisticated tools.
To provide a balanced DeepCrawl review, it's important to consider how it stacks up against other technical SEO platforms:
| Feature | DeepCrawl | Screaming Frog | Sitebulb | OnCrawl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deployment Model | Cloud-based | Desktop application | Desktop with cloud options | Cloud-based |
| Max Crawl Size | Millions (plan dependent) | 500 free; unlimited with license | Varies by license | Millions (plan dependent) |
| Enterprise Features | Extensive | Limited | Moderate | Extensive |
| JavaScript Rendering | Advanced | Basic | Moderate | Advanced |
| API Access | Comprehensive | Limited | Limited | Comprehensive |
| Pricing Model | Enterprise (£££) | Annual license (£) | Subscription (££) | Enterprise (£££) |
After extensive use of DeepCrawl across numerous client projects, I've compiled a balanced assessment of its strengths and limitations:
After conducting this comprehensive DeepCrawl review, it's clear that the platform represents the gold standard for enterprise-level technical SEO analysis. Its unparalleled crawling capabilities, depth of insights, and extensive customisation options make it an invaluable tool for managing complex websites and large-scale SEO initiatives.
However, the platform's premium positioning and associated costs mean it might not be the right fit for every organisation. For enterprise websites and agencies managing multiple large clients, the investment is likely to deliver significant returns through improved organic performance and efficiency gains.
In the ever-evolving landscape of search engine optimisation, having the right tools can make the difference between mediocre and exceptional results. DeepCrawl, with its enterprise-grade capabilities and focus on actionable insights, stands as one of the most powerful weapons in the modern SEO professional's arsenal.
As with any significant investment in your SEO technology stack, I recommend requesting a personalised demonstration and trial period to ensure the platform aligns with your specific requirements before committing to a full subscription.
This article was written by Gaz Hall, a UK based SEO Consultant on 15th October 2024. Gaz has over 25 years experience working on SEO projects large and small, locally and globally across a range of sectors. If you need any SEO advice or would like me to look at your next project then get in touch to arrange a free consultation.
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