Start with the same URL
Choose a page you know well, ideally one with a real issue you can verify: a redirect, blocked crawler, missing markup or broken link. Run each free audit on that exact URL. Record whether the check covered one page, a sample of pages or a full crawl. A finding is more useful when it names the affected URL, shows the evidence and tells you how to confirm it.
| Shipwork | SEOptimer | |
|---|---|---|
| Free audit | Start a sampled audit without an account | SEOptimer advertises a free website analysis; confirm its current page and report limits before comparing |
| Useful for | Outside-network technical diagnosis | Audits, research and client reporting |
| White-label reports | No; branded printable report | Available on paid plans |
| Shopping feed checks | Dedicated feed and page checks | Check the audit for your feed-specific needs |
| AI crawler checks | Dedicated checks for named agents | GEO checks advertised; verify depth in your audit |
| Ongoing monitoring | Paid monitoring available | Paid tracking and scheduled reports available |
Compare the evidence
For each finding, open the named page and confirm the response or markup yourself. Compare whether the tool identifies a specific URL and failure, or only gives a broad score. If your site sells products, test a product URL and its feed or structured data. If AI access matters, compare what each audit actually checks rather than assuming the label means the same thing.
Check free and paid limits
Both offer a free starting audit. Before choosing a plan, check how many pages each run covers, what the free report includes, whether a login is required for the output you need, and which features need payment. SEOptimer's official product page describes white-label reporting, an embeddable audit form, keyword and backlink tools, and a site crawler; confirm today's plan limits there. Shipwork has a branded report and paid full-crawl and monitoring options.
Choose by your next task
- Try Shipwork when you need to reproduce a crawler, feed or page-response problem from outside your network.
- Try SEOptimer when you need keyword or backlink research or a white-label client report.
- Use the two results together when one finds an issue the other does not: verify it on the live page, then decide whether it is worth fixing.
Read the feature comparison
For the current feature-by-feature decision, see the SEOptimer alternative comparison. This guide is the repeatable test to use on your own site; the comparison page covers the product fit.
Related: vs Ahrefs · Shipwork for agencies · the free audit itself
Run the free sampled audit on the same URL you use in SEOptimer, then verify any finding against the live page. Free, no account, no signup. Paste your store address.
Run the free auditQuestions
How should I compare the free audits?
Does Shipwork do white-label reports?
Can agencies use Shipwork?
Is either audit really free?
Where is the feature comparison?
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