Checkbot

Checkbot is a Chrome extension for auditing websites across SEO, speed and security, aimed especially at solo site owners and developers. Its broad checks and ability to crawl private development environments make it a capable technical auditor, but JavaScript-dependent sites may need another tool.

Overview

Checkbot checks more than 50 best practices and can crawl hundreds of pages in minutes, flagging issues such as broken links, duplicate content, invalid HTML and insecure forms. It also maps linked pages, image and script files, non-indexable pages and redirects, giving site owners a view of structure as well as individual problems.

Crawling runs on the user's machine rather than through a web service. It can access staging and local development sites, password-protected pages and private networks, which is useful for catching problems before launch or reviewing sites that are not public. The central limitation is that crawls do not execute JavaScript, so rendered content and links that depend on scripts may not be assessed.

Extension analytics and crash reporting are opt-in. Checkbot says its usage tracking does not collect crawled URLs or personally identifiable information. Support includes email, a chat widget and a bug-report form.

Key features

Audits and crawl limits

The free Basic plan allows 100 URLs per crawl; Professional raises that to 10,000. Both include unlimited crawls and unlimited sites, so the plan choice turns largely on the size of each crawl and the need for paid features. Basic can suit small sites or targeted checks, but its cap will constrain larger audits.

Professional adds URL-skipping rules, HTTP authentication support, PDF summaries, CSV and bulk export, and localhost crawling. These controls and exports are more valuable for recurring or larger audits than for occasional checks on a small public site.

Local and development-site access

Local processing and access to staging, private-network and password-protected sites make Checkbot a sensible fit for developers auditing before release. The same local approach will not compensate for the JavaScript limitation: sites whose important pages or links appear only after scripts run need a crawler that handles rendered pages.

Pricing

Basic is free and ad-supported, with 100 URLs per crawl, unlimited crawls and unlimited sites. It is a useful way to audit a small site without a subscription, but does not include Professional's reporting, export or crawl controls.

Professional — Yearly plan costs $10 a year, billed $120 per year (saves 33%). It includes 10,000 URLs per crawl, unlimited crawls and sites, ad-free use, localhost crawling, PDF summary reports, CSV and bulk export, HTTP Auth password support, URL-skipping rules, and one user on unlimited devices. The annual option suits an individual who wants those features and can commit to yearly billing.

Professional — Monthly plan costs $15 a month, billed once every month, with the same features and single-user, unlimited-device terms. It costs more over a year than the annual plan but avoids an annual billing commitment. A subscription is for one individual, can be used on as many of that user's devices as desired, and can be cancelled at any time.

Platforms

Checkbot is a Chrome extension that runs on Windows, macOS, Chrome OS and Linux. Its support for Linux, macOS and Windows covers the main desktop systems, while use through Chrome makes it browser-dependent.

Who it's for

Checkbot is best suited to individual site owners and developers who want a broad technical audit, particularly when a site is still in staging or behind authentication. Basic can serve small sites; Professional is the more practical choice for larger crawls or users who need exports and reports. It is a poor fit for audits that depend on JavaScript execution or for teams needing multiple subscription seats.

Pros and cons

• Pros: More than 50 SEO, speed and security checks cover issues from broken links to insecure forms.
• Pros: Local crawling can reach development, password-protected and private-network sites.
• Pros: Unlimited crawls and sites keep the free plan useful for repeated small audits.
• Pros: Professional combines a 10,000-URL crawl cap with PDF reports and CSV and bulk export.
• Cons: No JavaScript execution can leave script-generated content and links out of a crawl.
• Cons: Basic's 100-URL cap is restrictive for larger sites.
• Cons: Professional covers one individual only, so it is not a multi-seat subscription.

Alternatives

SEO Audit Software is the broader category to browse if Checkbot's crawl limits or JavaScript constraint do not fit.

Choose Lighthouse if you want a free, open-source automated web page audit with API and web platform options. Open SEO Crawler is a better match for anyone seeking a free, MIT-licensed self-hosted crawler with unlimited URLs and no account or API key.

A1 Website Analyzer offers a free mode with 500 page URLs per website that continues after its 30-day evaluation period. Beam Us Up is another free option, with no limits stated for its crawler.

Crab is an open-source alternative. FreeCrawl is worth considering for a free crawler with unlimited URLs and no paid tier. Greenflare is a free and open-source option under GPLv3+.

Netpeak Spider may suit users who want a Windows or macOS crawler with a free tier capped at 500 URLs and a five-thread limit.

Verdict

Choose Checkbot if you are an individual site owner or developer who wants broad technical checks and needs to crawl private or in-development sites locally. Professional's larger crawl ceiling and reporting make it the stronger fit for substantial audits. Look elsewhere if JavaScript-rendered pages are central to your work or if your team needs several user seats.