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PageSpeed Insights vs a real site audit (under $30)
Last reviewed · WebVitalist
Google PageSpeed Insights gives you lab and field numbers. It does not tell a Squarespace, Wix, or Shopify owner which setting to open next.
Monthly SEO suites crawl the web for keywords and backlinks. Most owners of one site need a one-time diagnosis.
Free scan, no account. Want the plan? Get the Deep Audit – $29
PageSpeed, a monthly suite, or a one-time audit
| What | Google PageSpeed Insights | Semrush / Ahrefs | WebVitalist |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | About $129 a month | Free scan · Deep Audit $29 one-time · Fix Pack $149 |
| What you get | Lighthouse and Core Web Vitals scores, plus an opportunities list | Crawl, keywords, backlinks, and a broad SEO toolset | Site-specific checks, paid Lighthouse, and a prioritized plan. Fix Pack adds platform-specific code. |
| Best for | A quick score check | Agencies and ongoing SEO programs | Squarespace, Wix, and Shopify owners who want a plan, not a seat |
| Gap | A score is not a prioritized, platform-specific fix plan | More product and cost than one brochure or local site needs | Not a full keyword or backlink suite |
A score is not a fix plan
Core Web Vitals and Lighthouse are inputs. Google classes Largest Contentful Paint as good at 2.5 seconds or less, Interaction to Next Paint as good at 200 milliseconds or less, and Cumulative Layout Shift as good at 0.1 or less, at the 75th percentile of field data. Read what LCP measures, what INP measures, and what CLS measures. Core Web Vitals are one ranking signal, used with content and links. A red score says a metric failed. It does not name the hero image, the app, or the header script that caused it.
Other one-time site audits exist. WebVitalist's difference is the platform path: the report names issues for the builder it detects, and Fix Pack ($149) adds code plus an implementation guide for that platform. Deep Audit is $29, one time, which is under $30. It complements PageSpeed Insights. It is not a keyword or backlink suite.
When to stay on PageSpeed Insights
Stay on PageSpeed Insights when you are validating a deploy, reading Chrome field data, or comparing a page before and after a change. Those jobs need a measurement, and PageSpeed Insights is the right measurement. A score is enough when you are only measuring.
When you are ready for a plan, run the free scan on the same URL.
When a $129 a month suite makes sense
A suite around $129 a month makes sense for a content team, an agency, or a company running SEO on many sites. Keyword research, backlink tracking, and rank monitoring are what that subscription is for. You do not need Ahrefs for one website if the job is a single checkup. A one-time audit is the closer fit when you will not use the suite every month.
If you only needed an audit once, you do not need the suite. Pay for the report, then leave.
The WebVitalist path
The free scan runs 19 technical checks on one public URL and shows the 3 most severe issues. No account is required to see that result. From the results page you can email that scan to yourself. It does not run Lighthouse.
Deep Audit is $29, one time, for up to 15 pages: technical checks, mobile Lighthouse through Google PageSpeed Insights, and a prioritized 30-day plan. Audit is $9 for up to 5 pages. Full Test is $79 when you also want links, buttons, and forms exercised. Fix Pack is $149 when you want code and steps for the platform we detect.
Platform guides: Squarespace, Wix, and Shopify. Prices for every product are on pricing. You can also start from the WebVitalist homepage.
Questions
Is WebVitalist a PageSpeed replacement?
No. PageSpeed Insights remains the right place to read Google lab and field data. WebVitalist complements that measurement: the free scan reads the public HTML, and a paid audit adds mobile Lighthouse plus a prioritized plan. Use both when you need a score and a next step.
Do I need Ahrefs for one site?
No. Ahrefs is built for ongoing keyword and backlink research. One brochure or local site usually needs a one-time audit. Read the short answer on Ahrefs for one website.
What is in Deep Audit versus Fix Pack?
Deep Audit is $29, one time: a crawl of up to 15 pages, technical checks, mobile Lighthouse, and a 30-day plan. Fix Pack is $149. It includes the Full Test plus platform-specific code and an implementation guide. Fix Pack is the step for someone who wants the fixes written out. It is not the starting price. See pricing for Audit, Deep Audit, Full Test, and Fix Pack.
Is this only for Squarespace, Wix, and Shopify?
No. Those three are the usual small-business sites this page is written for. Each has a guide: Squarespace, Wix, and Shopify. The scan also detects WordPress, Webflow, and the other platforms listed on the platform index. The free scan works on any public URL.
Is Deep Audit a subscription, and what if you cannot run it?
Deep Audit is a one-time purchase. There is no monthly seat. If we cannot analyse the site, we refund the card charge to the original payment method, usually within 1–2 business days, or return credits. Completed reports are digital content delivered immediately. If you are unhappy with a delivered report, contact us within 14 days. The details are on the refund help page.
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Paste a public URL and see the technical score and top issues in about 30 seconds. No account, no credit card.
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