Brandwave

Screaming Frog vs Surfer:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Screaming Frog had more branded searches than Surfer among AI SEO tools worldwide. Screaming Frog had about 40 branded searches, while Surfer had 10. Screaming Frog made up <0.01% of all AI SEO tool searches we track, and Surfer accounted for <0.01%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about AI SEO tools, Surfer appeared in all five answers and Screaming Frog in two. Surfer was mentioned before Screaming Frog in every answer.

Among AI SEO tools worldwide in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

Screaming Frog, about 4 searches for every 1 for Surfer

Screaming Frog 40 searchesSurfer 10 searches

Who does AI mention more?

Surfer, mentioned in every answer we collected

Surfer in 5 of 5Screaming Frog in 2 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

Surfer, named ahead of Screaming Frog in every answer

Surfer first in 5Screaming Frog never first

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Top AI SEO tools in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Surfer appeared in all five answers. Screaming Frog was mentioned in two out of five: in one of the three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Surfer was listed before Screaming Frog in every answer.

Most recommended by AI

Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.

  1. Surfer1st
  2. Semrush2nd
  3. Clearscope3rd
  4. Frase4th
  5. Ahrefs5th
  6. MarketMuse6th
  7. Screaming Frog7th
  8. WriterZen–

Mentioned by AI

Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.

  • Semrush5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Surfer5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Frase4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Clearscope4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Ahrefs3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Screaming Frog2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • MarketMuse1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • WriterZen0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about AI SEO tools

5 answers

Not named in any answer:

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 20, 2026.

Is Screaming Frog or Surfer more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Screaming Frog and Surfer by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all eight AI SEO tools we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.

Screaming Frog and Surfer among AI SEO tools worldwide, by month

Share of searches by month for Screaming Frog, Surfer. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthSemrushAhrefsFraseClearscopeMarketMuseWriterZenScreaming FrogSurfer
Oct 202563.9%35%0.16%0.45%0.36%0.12%<0.01%<0.01%
Nov 202568.4%30.6%0.17%0.39%0.32%0.16%<0.01%<0.01%
Dec 202572.3%26.4%0.17%0.41%0.42%0.2%<0.01%<0.01%
Jan 202663.8%34.9%0.22%0.44%0.53%0.15%<0.01%<0.01%
Feb 202664%35%0.22%0.37%0.3%0.12%<0.01%<0.01%
Mar 202668.4%30.6%0.17%0.39%0.32%0.11%<0.01%<0.01%
Apr 202668.5%30.6%0.19%0.32%0.26%0.13%<0.01%<0.01%
May 202664%35%0.37%0.3%0.24%0.12%<0.01%<0.01%
Jun 202668.4%30.6%0.33%0.31%0.2%0.13%<0.01%<0.01%
Jul 202668.5%30.6%0.35%0.26%0.17%0.1%<0.01%<0.01%
Aug 202668.5%30.6%0.28%0.26%0.17%0.1%<0.01%<0.01%
Sep 202668.6%30.7%0.25%0.21%0.17%0.09%<0.01%<0.01%

How has the Screaming Frog and Surfer comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • Screaming Frog was ahead of Surfer in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Screaming Frog’s share of searches among AI SEO tools worldwide held steady at <0.01%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 20 to 40.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Surfer’s share of searches among AI SEO tools worldwide held steady at <0.01%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 20 to 10.

How did search popularity change for AI SEO tools worldwide in September 2026?

2 changes

  1. Estimated monthly branded searches for Screaming Frog worldwide rose 100% over 12 measured months, from 20 to 40 in September 2026.

  2. Estimated monthly branded searches for Surfer worldwide fell 50% over 12 measured months, from 20 to 10 in September 2026.

How are branded searches counted?

2 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Screaming Frog’s and Surfer’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.

Screaming Frog

1 branded search term

  • crawler screaming frog

Surfer

1 branded search term

  • surfer content optimization

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among AI SEO tools

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