Screaming Frog SEO Spider is the best sitemap software for most site owners who want a real XML file, because its free version crawls 500 URLs and the licence version generates XML sitemaps with a full technical audit. XML-Sitemaps.com is the cheapest way to get a finished XML file for a small site, with a free generator for up to 500 pages and a PRO plan from $2.44 per month on annual billing. Slickplan, Octopus.do and WriteMaps plan a site visually, while Screaming Frog, Sitebulb, Dyno Mapper and Inspyder crawl a live site, so pick a planner for a redesign and a crawler for an existing site.
A sitemap tool can mean two different things. One kind crawls a live website and writes an XML file that search engines can read. The other kind draws the planned structure of a site as a visual tree for clients and teams. This list covers both kinds, with prices and limits checked on 12 November 2026, so you can match the tool to the job in front of you.
On this page
Best sitemap software: comparison table
Swipe the table sideways on a phone to see every column.
| # | Name | Best for | Starting price | Free plan / trial | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Screaming Frog SEO Spider | Small sites needing a real XML file and audit | $279 per user/year | Yes | Visit |
| 2 | Sitebulb | Guided audits with clear client reports | $18 per month | Free trial (14 days) | Visit |
| 3 | XML-Sitemaps.com | Quick XML file for a small site | $2.44 per month | Yes | Visit |
| 4 | Dyno Mapper | Large sites needing visual maps and audits | $39 per month | Free trial (14 days) | Visit |
| 5 | Slickplan | Visual planning for redesigns | $10.79 per month | Yes | Visit |
| 6 | Octopus.do | Fast visual sitemaps with wireframes | $14 per month | Yes | Visit |
| 7 | WriteMaps | Simple visual maps for small teams | $16 per month | Yes | Visit |
| 8 | Inspyder Sitemap Creator | Windows desktop XML generation | $39.95 one-time | Free trial (up to 25 pages) | Visit |
The 8 best best sitemap software tools, in detail
Screaming Frog SEO Spider
Best for: Small sites needing a real XML file and audit
Screaming Frog SEO Spider is a desktop crawler for Windows, Mac and Linux. The free version crawls up to 500 URLs with no sign-up, and it covers broken links, redirects, titles, meta data, duplicate pages and XML sitemap generation. The licence version removes the 500 URL cap, with the practical limit set by the memory and storage on your own computer, and it adds saved crawls, scheduling, JavaScript rendering, custom extraction and integrations with Google Analytics, Search Console and PageSpeed Insights.
- The licence costs $279 per user per year, or 245 euros, for 1 to 4 licences.
- Volume pricing drops the cost to $265 each for 5 to 9 licences, $249 each for 10 to 19, and $235 each for 20 or more.
- Each licence covers one person for one year and needs renewal.
- Choose this tool when you want one desktop program that audits a site and writes the XML file in the same pass.
Pros
- Free version crawls 500 URLs
- generates XML sitemaps and finds broken links
Cons
- Licence is annual only with no monthly option
- crawl size depends on computer memory and storage
Sitebulb
Best for: Guided audits with clear client reports
Sitebulb is a desktop crawler for Windows and Mac, with a cloud version for teams. It checks more than 300 issues and turns the results into prioritised Hints, with an explanation of each issue and how to fix it, plus crawl maps and custom PDF reports. Lite costs $18 per month for 1 user, with 10,000 URLs per audit and more than 100 Hints.
- Pro costs $42 per month for 1 user, with 500,000 URLs per audit, more than 300 Hints, audit comparisons, scheduled audits and custom PDF reports, and
- Annual billing lowers the cost to $180 per year for Lite and $425 per year for Pro.
- Sitebulb Cloud starts at $125 per month for 2 users, and the 14-day trial matches Pro.
Pros
- Hints explain and prioritise issues
- Pro crawls 500,000 URLs per audit
Cons
- No permanent free plan, only a 14-day trial
- Lite caps at 10,000 URLs per audit
XML-Sitemaps.com
Best for: Quick XML file for a small site
XML-Sitemaps.com is the fastest option in this list when you only need a file. Enter a URL on the site, let it crawl up to 500 pages for free with no registration, then download the XML, HTML and text versions and upload the file to your site. The free version covers most small sites, and it also handles image, video and news sitemaps in the PRO plans.
- There is nothing to install, and no account is needed for the free crawl.
- PRO starts at $2.44 per month on annual billing, and the price rises with the number of pages on the site.
- PRO adds automatic scheduled updates, full configuration, broken link detection, a history of sitemap reports and API access.
- Choose this tool for a one-off file on a small site, and skip it when you need a visual plan or a technical audit.
Pros
- Free generator needs no sign-up for 500 pages
- PRO adds scheduled updates and image and video sitemaps
Cons
- Free version needs manual updates after new pages are added
- PRO price rises with page count
Dyno Mapper
Best for: Large sites needing visual maps and audits
Dyno Mapper crawls a live site and turns it into an interactive visual sitemap, with a content inventory, a content audit, accessibility testing, keyword tracking and Google Analytics integration. It also generates XML sitemaps with image and video extensions, page priority settings and custom update frequencies, plus HTML sitemaps for site visitors. The crawler covers password-protected sections and JavaScript heavy pages, which matters for large sites that a simple online generator cannot reach.
- Lite costs $39 per month on annual billing, or $49 per month on monthly billing, for 1 user and 2,500 pages per crawl.
- Pro costs $49 per month on annual billing for 5,000 pages per crawl, Standard costs $99 per month, and Organization costs $360 per month on annual bil
- A 14-day trial is available.
- Choose Dyno Mapper when a large site needs a visual map, an inventory and an audit in one place.
Pros
- Visual maps plus content inventory and accessibility testing
- crawls password-protected sections
Cons
- Entry price is $39 per month on annual billing, above most visual planners
- Lite caps at 2,500 pages per crawl
Slickplan
Best for: Visual planning for redesigns
Slickplan is a website planning tool rather than a crawler for XML files. You build a site structure with drag and drop, import an existing site with its crawler on Pro and above, or let its AI assistant suggest a structure. The sitemap builder sits next to a Content Planner, a Diagram Maker for user flows and simple design mockups, so a whole site plan lives in one project.
- That mix suits agencies planning a redesign with a client who needs to approve the structure before any pages are built.
- Basic costs $10.79 per month on annual billing for 1 user, 3 active projects and 1 GB of storage, with a free plan for one sitemap.
- Pro costs $31.49 per month on annual billing for 3 users and 10 active projects, and it adds the crawler and Content Planner.
- Team costs $62.99 per month on annual billing for 10 users, and Agency costs $103.49 per month on annual billing for unlimited users.
Pros
- Free plan covers one sitemap
- Pro adds crawler and Content Planner
Cons
- Crawler is missing from Basic
- Basic covers only 1 user and 3 active projects
Octopus.do
Best for: Fast visual sitemaps with wireframes
Octopus.do is a browser based visual sitemap builder for planning websites. Start a project by crawling an existing site, using a template, or generating a structure from a prompt. Blocks inside each page card sketch the sections of that page, which turns the sitemap into a low fidelity wireframe at the same time.
- Pro adds SEO metadata editing, Figma sync, password protection and TXT, CSV and XML export, while the free plan exports PNG and PDF only.
- The free plan covers 1 user, 1 project, unlimited editors and a 300 page crawler, with 200 MB of storage and no time limit.
- Pro costs $16 per month, or $14 per month on annual billing, for 1 user, 8 projects, a 3,000 page crawler and 10 GB of storage.
- Team costs $24 per seat per month, or $20 per user per month on annual billing, for unlimited projects and 25 GB of storage.
Pros
- Free plan has no time limit
- Pro adds Figma sync and XML export
Cons
- Free plan covers only 1 project and 300 pages in the crawler
- crawler caps at 3,000 pages even on Pro and Team
WriteMaps
Best for: Simple visual maps for small teams
WriteMaps is a simple visual sitemap builder with real-time collaboration. Build a structure from scratch, crawl an existing website, or use AI to generate a starting sitemap, then share it with a team or a client through a private link. You can export a visual sitemap as a PDF or share it with a unique URL, and you can upgrade, downgrade or cancel at any time.
- The focus is on a clean plan that a small team can agree on, without the extra audit tools that larger platforms carry.
- The free plan covers 2 projects with 10 pages each.
- The Unlimited plan costs $16 per month, and it removes the project and page caps for a single user.
- Choose WriteMaps when a small team needs a shared visual plan with little setup, and skip it when you need XML export, a deep audit or a crawl of a la
Pros
- Free plan covers 2 projects with 10 pages each
- real-time collaboration for teams
Cons
- Free projects cap at 10 pages each
- no desktop app, it runs in the browser only
Inspyder Sitemap Creator
Best for: Windows desktop XML generation
Inspyder Sitemap Creator runs on your Windows computer, crawls your website and builds the sitemap for you, with nothing installed on your server. The full version has no page or site limits, and it can create separate sitemaps for images, video and mobile pages. You can schedule sitemap generation, receive an email notification when a sitemap is complete, and upload the file to your server automatically.
- It is compatible with Google, Bing and Yahoo, and it supports sitemaps in XML, HTML, text and RSS formats.
- The price is $39.95 as a one-time licence, with a free trial that covers up to 25 pages.
- That one-time model is unusual in this list, where most tools charge every month or every year, so the total cost stays flat after the first purchase.
- Choose Inspyder when you work on Windows, you want unlimited pages, and you prefer a single purchase over a monthly charge.
Pros
- One-time licence with no page or site limits in the full version
- scheduled generation with email alerts
Cons
- Windows only
- trial caps at 25 pages
How we chose
We picked tools that do one of two real jobs: crawl a live site and write an XML sitemap, or plan a site as a visual map that a team can approve. Every tool here is a real product with an official homepage and a published price or trial, and every price in this article comes from the vendor pricing page or from a published check of that page. Prices were checked on 2026-11-12. We did not test any tool hands-on.
Pick by site size and job
| Your situation | Pick | Why it fits | Cost to start |
|---|---|---|---|
| Site under 500 pages, need an XML file | XML-Sitemaps.com | Free crawl to 500 pages, no sign-up | $0 |
| Site under 500 URLs, need an audit too | Screaming Frog SEO Spider | Free crawl to 500 URLs plus full audit | $0 |
| Redesign plan for a client | Slickplan | Visual builder plus Content Planner on Pro | $10.79 per month (billed annually) |
| Visual plan with wireframes | Octopus.do | Page cards double as wireframes | $0 |
| Site over 10,000 pages, need guided audit | Sitebulb Pro | 500,000 URLs per audit with Hints | $42 per month |
| Large site, need map plus inventory | Dyno Mapper | Visual map, inventory and accessibility tests | $39 per month (billed annually) |
| Windows user, unlimited pages, one purchase | Inspyder Sitemap Creator | No page limit in the full version | $39.95 one-time |
Frequently asked questions
What is the best sitemap software for a small website?
Screaming Frog SEO Spider is the best pick for most small sites, because its free version crawls 500 URLs and writes a real XML file with a full audit. XML-Sitemaps.com is the simpler choice when you only need the file, since its free generator covers 500 pages with no sign-up. Pick the crawler when you also want to find broken links and duplicate pages.
How much does sitemap software cost?
Costs run from $0 to $279 per user per year in this list. XML-Sitemaps.com PRO starts at $2.44 per month on annual billing, Slickplan starts at $10.79 per month on annual billing, Sitebulb Lite starts at $18 per month, and Screaming Frog costs $279 per user per year. Inspyder is the only one-time purchase here, at $39.95.
Which is best for a visual sitemap?
Slickplan is the best pick for a visual sitemap on a redesign, because it pairs the sitemap builder with a Content Planner and a Diagram Maker for user flows. Octopus.do is the best pick when you also want wireframes, since blocks inside each page card sketch the sections of that page. WriteMaps is the simplest choice for a small team that needs a shared visual plan.
Do I need a visual sitemap tool and an XML generator?
No, you need the tool that matches the job. A visual sitemap shows page structure for people, while an XML file lists URLs for search engines. Use a visual planner such as Slickplan or Octopus.do for a redesign, and use a crawler such as Screaming Frog or XML-Sitemaps.com for a live site that needs an XML file.
Can I make a sitemap for free?
Yes, several tools in this list have a free option. Screaming Frog free crawls 500 URLs, XML-Sitemaps.com free covers 500 pages, Octopus.do free covers 1 project with a 300 page crawler, and Slickplan free covers one sitemap. Check your page count first, and move to a subscription plan when your site passes the cap.
Does a sitemap tool replace an SEO audit?
No, a sitemap file alone does not audit a site. Screaming Frog, Sitebulb and Dyno Mapper combine sitemap generation with audits, broken link checks and issue lists, while XML-Sitemaps.com and the visual planners focus on the file or the plan. Choose a crawler with audit features when you need to find technical issues, not just list URLs.
Sources
- https://www.screamingfrog.co.uk/
- https://www.screamingfrog.co.uk/seo-spider/pricing/
- https://sitebulb.com/
- https://sitebulb.com/subscriptions/pricing/index/?annual=true
- https://www.xml-sitemaps.com/
- https://dynomapper.com/
- https://slickplan.com/
- https://octopus.do/
- https://writemaps.com/
- https://www.inspyder.com/
Prices and features were read on each company’s own website in November 2026. They change often, so confirm the current offer on the official site before you sign up or buy.