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URL Redirect Checker

How many hops to the final page? Check redirects, catch loops, and see every status code before visitors do.

Enter a full URL or domain - e.g. https://yoursite.com or yoursite.com

Full redirect chain

Every hop with status code and URL

301 vs 302

Permanent or temporary - which type is used?

Final destination

Where the chain ends, or where it loops

No account required · Free · Results in under 1s

What is a URL redirect checker?

Redirect chains and status codes in plain terms

A redirect sends visitors and crawlers from one URL to another. A single redirect is usually harmless, but long chains slow page loads, waste crawl budget, and can break the path to an important page. Our checker follows every hop and shows the full chain, so you see exactly where a URL ends up.

Broken redirects and redirect loops cause the same damage even when the final page looks fine. A free URL redirect checker lets you check redirects and trace every hop before visitors hit a dead end, an error page, or a loop. Use the checker after migrations, URL changes, or any time a page lands somewhere unexpected.

Run a one-time check after server changes, HTTPS rollouts, or relaunches. Add the URL to TotalSiteControl monitoring for automated alerts when chains break, loop, or grow too long.

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How to use the URL Redirect Checker

Check redirects for any public URL in under a minute - no account needed.

  1. Enter the URL

    Type the URL visitors use, for example yourdomain.com/old-page or a shortened campaign link. Every redirect starts somewhere - enter the exact starting URL, including the www or non-www version you want to test.

  2. Run the redirect check

    Click Check Redirects. We follow every hop and record the status codes, the chains, and the final destination URL. The checker stops when it reaches the last page or detects a loop.

  3. Read the result

    See where the URL redirects, how many hops it takes, and whether the chain is clean. Then fix long redirect chains, remove loops, or turn on monitoring so you get alerts when redirects break.

Typical redirect issues and solutions

What crawlers and visitors hit - and how to fix it before traffic drops.

Redirect loop

The URL redirects back to itself or cycles between two pages. Browsers give up with an error, crawlers drop the page, and visitors never reach it.

Break the loop

Find the hop that points back and fix its target. Re-run the checker to confirm the loop is gone and the page loads.

Too many redirects

Every redirect adds latency. Chains of three or more redirects slow the page, waste crawl budget, and dilute link equity on every visit.

Shorten the chain

Point the old URL directly at the final page. Remove intermediate redirects so the chain is one hop or zero, then re-check the page.

Wrong status code type

A 302 where a 301 is expected tells crawlers the redirect is temporary. Link equity stays on the old URL, and rankings can split across the chain.

Use the right status code

Use 301 for permanent redirects and 302 or 307 for temporary ones. Check redirects after every change to confirm the page resolves correctly.

Final URL is wrong

A campaign or legacy path lands on a 404 page, a staging host, or the wrong locale. The redirect works - it just points at the wrong destination.

Retarget the last hop

Update the forwarding map or CMS rule to the live page, purge the CDN cache if needed, then verify with a fresh check.

What you get with monitoring

Comprehensive data

Redirect chains, status codes, and reachability history in one place.

Trusted & accurate

Checks run from our servers - the same path users hit.

Fast & easy

Turn a one-off redirect check into monitoring in under a minute.

Global coverage

External probes so internal network blind spots do not hide issues.

Instant alerts

Email and Telegram when a redirect breaks or a chain grows too long.

30 monitors free

Start free - no credit card required to begin monitoring.

Get 30 monitors FREE

Start free monitoring with email alerts. No credit card required.

URL redirect tips

Quick habits that keep redirect chains clean.

Tip #1 Check the URL visitors actually use

The homepage, www, and non-www versions can each forward differently. Run the checker on every public URL that matters.

Tip #2 Keep chains to one hop

Every redirect adds a round trip. Point old URLs straight at the final page instead of chaining redirects.

Show more tips Show less tips
Tip #3 Watch redirects after migrations

Site moves and CMS changes often break redirect chains. Re-check redirects after every deploy.

Tip #4 Use 301 for permanent moves

A 302 tells crawlers the redirect is temporary. Use 301 when the page has moved for good.

Tip #5 Test shortened links first

Shorteners hide the real destination. Check redirects before you publish a campaign link.

Frequently asked questions

What does a URL redirect checker do?

It follows every hop from a starting URL to the final destination and reports each step, the status codes, and the full chain. You see where a page ends up before your visitors do - and can fix the path if something is broken.

Is this URL redirect checker free?

Yes. Enter any public URL and get instant results - no signup, no credit card, and no limit on one-off checks. Optional monitoring alerts are also free to start, so you can watch important redirects over time.

Why do redirect chains hurt SEO?

Every hop passes crawlers to another URL. Long chains waste crawl budget, add latency, and can dilute link equity before it reaches the final page. A clean chain keeps ranking signals intact and your pages fast.

What is the difference between 301 and 302 redirects?

A 301 is a permanent redirect - crawlers transfer ranking signals to the new URL. A 302 is temporary and keeps equity on the original page. Use the right status code for every redirect so search engines treat the move the way you intend.

What is a redirect loop?

A redirect loop happens when a URL redirects back to itself or cycles between two pages. Browsers stop with an error, and crawlers drop the page from the index. The checker detects loops and shows which hops repeat.

How do I fix redirect chains?

Point each old URL directly at the final destination and remove intermediate hops. After fixing, run the redirect checker again on the same URL to confirm the chain is clean and the page resolves correctly.

Can I check a shortened URL?

Yes - enter any shortened link and the checker follows every redirect to the final page. Useful before clicking unknown links or auditing the short links you use in campaigns and emails.

How often should I check redirects?

Check redirects after migrations, CMS changes, or CDN updates. For production sites, automated monitoring is the safer option - it catches broken redirects before visitors and search engines do.

What is crawl budget, and how do redirects waste it?

Crawl budget is the number of pages a search engine is willing to crawl on your site. Every hop consumes a crawl without indexing a page, so long chains leave fewer crawls for the pages that actually matter.

Do redirects affect page speed?

Yes. Each redirect adds a round trip before the page loads. Multiple redirects in a chain can add hundreds of milliseconds, which hurts Core Web Vitals and the user experience on every visit.

What is the difference between 307 and 308 redirects?

A 307 is a temporary redirect that preserves the request method, and a 308 is its permanent version. Both are newer status codes that browsers and crawlers support alongside the classic 301 and 302.

Should I redirect HTTP to HTTPS with a 301?

Yes - use a 301 redirect from HTTP to HTTPS so crawlers transfer ranking signals to the secure page. Check redirects on both www and non-www versions to avoid accidental chains.

What is a meta refresh redirect, and is it OK to use?

A meta refresh redirect happens in the page HTML instead of the server response. It works, but it is slower and passes less link equity than a 301 redirect, so server-side redirects are the preferred option.

Can redirects pass link equity?

Yes - a 301 redirect passes most link equity to the destination page. Chains dilute it slightly with each hop, which is one more reason to keep redirect chains as short as possible.

Does the checker follow URL redirects automatically?

Yes - the checker follows 301, 302, 303, 307, and 308 redirects hop by hop until it reaches the final page or detects a loop. You get the full chain with every status code in one report.

Never miss a broken redirect again

Free monitoring with alerts when redirect chains break or a status code changes.

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