Private & Free Tools for Instant SEO + UX Health Checks in 2026 – What’s Your Stack?

[yliac]

Hey all,

G'day from Australia, new member here, but I've been reading threads on here for a while and really like the practical UK/AU-focused chats.

With Google pushing UX and core web vitals harder in recent updates, I've found that classic crawl tools often miss the full picture when you need fast insights into both technical SEO health and real user experience issues like mobile usability, accessibility, load feel, or even day/night mode support for better engagement.

I'm curious what quick, free (or low-cost) setups people are using in 2026 for a proper 360° view? Specifically things that cover:

Instant overall health scoring (technical + on-page + UX signals).
Spotting competitive gaps quickly.
Actionable fix suggestions (ideally AI-assisted to save time).
Educational explanations so you actually understand why something matters.
Mobile-first reports with modern features.

For my own sites and quick client scans, I've put together a lightweight personal tool called TrafficTorch. It's designed exactly for this: drop a URL, get an instant report with plugin solutions and fix recommendations and clear education on each issue. Fully mobile-optimized and uses latest best practices (GitHub + Cloudflare Pages build).

Genuinely interested in what others rely on. Are you combining free tools like Lighthouse + manual checks? Using newer AI-powered ones? Or sticking with paid suites for everything?

Would love your thoughts and recommendations.


Cheers,
Ylia