Comparison

PageGrader vs Google Lighthouse

An honest comparison to help you pick the right website audit tool.

Quick summary

PageGrader runs 200+ checks across 11 categories with no signup required. Google Lighthouse runs 80+ checks across 4 categories with no signup required.

Google Lighthouse

Strengths

Free and built directly into Chrome — zero setup required
Official Google tool with authoritative performance scores
Excellent Core Web Vitals detail with full diagnostic information
Runs in CI/CD pipelines via CLI

Limitations

Runs locally — results vary based on your computer's speed and network
No content quality checks — thin content and readability out of scope
No link analysis — broken links and anchor text not covered
No social meta tag checks — Open Graph and Twitter Cards not audited
No historical tracking — each run is independent, no trend data

PageGrader

Why PageGrader

200+ checks — the most comprehensive free scanner online
No signup required for free scans
Business impact explanations for every issue
Priority action plan with score projections (Pro)
11 distinct categories including AI readiness
Embeddable badge and shareable reports

Feature comparison

FeaturePageGraderGoogle Lighthouse
Number of checks200+80+
Signup requiredNoNo
SEO checksYes (25)Yes
Performance / Core Web VitalsYes (26)Yes
Security checksYes (18)No
Accessibility (WCAG)Yes (42)Yes
Mobile checksYes (13)No
Free tier5 scans/month, all 200+ checks, no signup requiredCompletely free, built into Chrome DevTools
Paid pricing$29/mo (Pro) or $499 lifetimeFree
Fix recommendationsYes (Pro)Varies
Priority action planYes (Pro)No

Which tool is right for you?

Choose Google Lighthouse if you need

Developers who want fast performance and accessibility feedback during development, directly in the browser they're already using.

Visit Google Lighthouse

Choose PageGrader if you need

Complete site health with consistent server-side results, content quality, link auditing, social meta tags, and historical score tracking over time.

Try PageGrader free

See for yourself

Paste any URL and see your score in 30 seconds. No signup needed.

Audit my site free

Frequently asked questions

Is PageGrader better than Google Lighthouse?

It depends on your needs. PageGrader runs 200+ checks across 11 categories (SEO, performance, security, mobile, accessibility, content quality, link quality, image quality, social sharing, AI readiness, best practices) with no signup required. Google Lighthouse developers who want fast performance and accessibility feedback during development, directly in the browser they're already using. PageGrader is better if complete site health with consistent server-side results, content quality, link auditing, social meta tags, and historical score tracking over time.

Is PageGrader free?

Yes. PageGrader's free tier includes 5 scans per month with all 200+ checks, your score, grade, and business impact explanations — no signup or email required. Pro ($29/mo) adds fix instructions and a priority action plan.

Is Google Lighthouse free?

Completely free, built into Chrome DevTools