Google PageSpeed Insights and PageSpeed Exporter run the same Lighthouse engine. The difference is what you get back: a visual dashboard with no export (PSI web UI), a 500KB–2MB raw JSON blob (PSI API / CLI), or a stripped AIReport under 50KB (PageSpeed Exporter).
If you are feeding performance data to an AI agent, the format matters more than the audit itself. Here is a side-by-side comparison to help you choose.
Quick Comparison
| | PSI Web UI | Raw PSI JSON (API/CLI) | PageSpeed Exporter AIReport |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost | Free | Free (API key required) | Free tier: 5/month |
| Export button | No | Manual (curl/CLI) | One click |
| Typical file size | N/A | 500 KB – 2 MB | Under 50 KB |
| Screenshots included | Visual only | Yes (base64 in JSON) | No |
| Passing audits | Shown in UI | All in JSON | Stripped |
| Failing audits | Shown in UI | All in JSON | Prioritized by impact |
| CrUX field data | Shown in UI | Yes, nested | Yes, flattened |
| Stack pack hints | Shown in UI | Yes | Yes |
| Performance weights | Hidden | In auditRefs | On each issue |
| AI prompt templates | No | No | Yes (4 templates) |
| Mobile + Desktop in one file | Two separate runs | Two API calls | Both strategy (paid) |
| Fits in ChatGPT upload | N/A | Often too large | Yes |
| MCP / API access | No | Build yourself | Yes |
When Raw PSI JSON Makes Sense
Use the raw Lighthouse JSON when you need everything:
- Archival storage — keep the complete audit record for compliance or debugging
- Custom tooling — you are building your own dashboard or CI pipeline that reads specific audit fields
- Screenshot analysis — you need the filmstrip or final screenshot programmatically
- Treemap visualization — you are rendering bundle analysis charts in a custom UI
For these cases, call the PSI API directly or use the Lighthouse CLI:
lighthouse https://example.com --output=json --output-path=./report.jsonYou get the full LHR object. You also get 500KB–2MB of data to manage yourself.
When Stripped JSON Makes Sense
Use a stripped AIReport when your goal is action:
- Paste into ChatGPT, Claude, Cursor, Copilot, or Windsurf
- Get code-level fixes without writing a JSON parser first
- Share performance data with a developer who will feed it to an AI agent
- Run monthly client audits and need consistent, compact deliverables
- Connect via MCP so Claude Desktop audits URLs without file handling
The stripped format removes ~80% of the payload that AI agents ignore anyway. What remains is every failing audit, sorted by estimated savings, with CrUX field data and framework hints intact.
Real-World Size Example
We audited a typical WordPress marketing site (mobile strategy):
| Format | File size | Audits in export | Upload to ChatGPT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Raw PSI JSON | 1.4 MB | 152 (including 118 passing) | Failed — exceeds limit |
| AIReport | 38 KB | 34 failing/actionable only | Succeeded |
The AIReport contained the same 12 opportunities and 22 diagnostics that mattered. The raw file additionally included 4 screenshot audits (~420KB), treemap data (~95KB), and 118 passing audits the AI would never act on.
What PageSpeed Exporter Adds Beyond Stripping
Stripping JSON is step one. PageSpeed Exporter also provides:
Prioritized issue list
Raw JSON lists audits by ID. AIReport sorts opportunities by numericValue (estimated ms savings) and diagnostics by worst score. Your AI agent sees the highest-impact fix first.
Performance weights on each issue
Lighthouse assigns weights to audits that affect the performance score (e.g., LCP-related audits weight higher). AIReport surfaces performanceWeight on each issue so your agent knows which fixes move the score needle.
AI prompt templates
Four built-in prompts tuned for different workflows:
- Full Analysis — comprehensive audit review
- Quick Wins — top 3 fixes by impact
- Code Diffs — before/after code blocks
- Performance Score — score-weighted audit focus
Click Copy Prompt on the results page to bundle the AIReport with a ready-to-paste prompt.
Dual strategy merge
On Starter and Pro plans, the Both strategy runs mobile and desktop audits and merges them into one AIReport with prefixed scores (mobile_performance, desktop_performance).
MCP server
Claude Desktop and Cursor can call speedexporter.com/api/mcp to run live audits and receive AIReport JSON without downloading files.
The Workflow Comparison
Raw PSI → AI (manual)
- Get a Google API key
- Write a curl command or script
- Download 1MB+ JSON
- Optionally write a strip script
- Paste into ChatGPT with a custom prompt
- Hope it fits in context
PageSpeed Exporter → AI
- Paste URL at speedexporter.com
- Click Download AIReport (JSON) or Copy Prompt
- Paste into your AI agent
- Get prioritized, code-level fixes
Same Lighthouse data. Fraction of the friction.
Pricing Context
PageSpeed Exporter is free for 5 reports/month (mobile only). Paid plans add volume and features — not the stripped export itself:
- Free — 5 reports/month, stripped AIReport, 1 prompt template
- Starter ($9/mo) — 50 reports, desktop + both strategies, all 4 prompts, before/after comparison
- Pro ($29/mo) — 200 reports, batch ZIP export for agencies
Every plan includes the stripped AIReport. You are paying for volume and workflow features, not access to the core export.
Bottom Line
| Your goal | Best option |
|---|---|
| Quick visual check | PSI web UI (pagespeed.web.dev) |
| Full archival / custom tooling | Raw PSI JSON via API or CLI |
| AI-powered code fixes | PageSpeed Exporter AIReport |
| Automated AI agent pipeline | PageSpeed Exporter MCP or REST API |
Raw PageSpeed Insights JSON is the complete record. Stripped Lighthouse JSON is the actionable record. For AI workflows, actionable wins every time.
Further Reading
- Why Raw Lighthouse JSON Is Too Big for AI Agents
- What Is an AIReport? Full Schema Explained
- PageSpeed Exporter vs. Google PageSpeed Insights
- How to Export PageSpeed Insights as JSON
- Lighthouse score glossary