Free tools / Redirect chain checker
Free redirect chain checker
Enter a web address and see every redirect on the way to the final page, with the status code for each step.
See the free redirect chain checker in 23 seconds
Enter a web address and see every redirect on the way to the final page, with the status code for each step. The result in the video is a real run.
Read the video transcript
Check every redirect, for free. Type a web address, and press Check redirects. Each step has its status code. Two redirects in a row are marked Check. Point the first address straight at the final page. That is one page. SEOSage checks every page of your website. Start your fourteen-day free trial at seosage.co.
What this tool checks
- Each hop with its status code (301, 302 and others)
- The final page and its status
- Chains longer than one redirect
- Redirect loops
- Redirects that drop from HTTPS to HTTP
Why it matters
A redirect sends visitors and search engines from one address to another. Long chains slow pages down and can lose the link value that points to them. Ideally there is one hop at most.
Want this for every page of a website? See Redirect checks in SEOSage.
Source: Google Search Central: redirects.
How to read your result
- Each row is one hop with its status code. 301 and 308 are permanent. 302 and 307 are temporary.
- One redirect is normal, for example http to https, or adding a slash.
- Two or more in a row is a chain. Each hop adds delay.
- A loop never ends. An error at the end means visitors reach a broken page.
Common problems and fixes
- A chain of redirects. Point the first address straight at the final page.
- A redirect loop. Fix the rule that sends the address back to where it started.
- A 302 used for a permanent move. Use a 301 so search engines know the move is permanent.
- A redirect from HTTPS to HTTP. Redirect to the HTTPS address instead.
What is a redirect chain checker?
A redirect chain checker is a tool that follows every redirect from a URL until it reaches the final destination, recording each hop and its status code. A redirect tells a browser and a search engine that a page has moved to a new address. A 301 redirect is permanent; a 302 is temporary. One redirect is normal — for example, redirecting http to https, or adding a trailing slash. A redirect chain is when two or more redirects happen in a row before reaching the final page.
This free redirect chain checker follows up to 10 hops, shows the status code at each step and flags chains, loops and redirects that end on an error. For chains across a whole website — hundreds of pages with old redirects that have accumulated over years of site migrations — SEOSage finds them all in one crawl and shows which pages link to each chain.
Why redirect chains are worth fixing
- Each hop adds latency. A browser and a search engine bot each spend time waiting for every redirect response. Long chains slow page load for real visitors.
- Link value can be diluted. When backlinks point to an address that redirects through a chain, some search engines treat each hop as a small signal loss. Pointing the first address directly at the final destination removes the uncertainty.
- A chain often reveals a forgotten migration. Most chains are the result of two or three site moves where the redirect from the first move was never updated. A redirect chain checker surfaces these quickly.
- Loops never end. A redirect that points back to itself, or that creates a circle, will never resolve. Browsers and bots give up after a fixed number of hops.
Questions about the redirect chain checker
What is a redirect chain?
A redirect chain is when one address redirects to a second, which redirects to a third. Each extra hop adds delay.
What is the difference between a 301 and a 302?
A 301 is permanent and tells search engines the page has moved. A 302 is temporary. Use a 301 when the move is for good.
How many redirects are too many?
One is normal. Two or more in a row is worth fixing by pointing the first address straight at the final page.
Can SEOSage find redirect chains across a whole site?
Yes. A crawl lists chains, loops, redirects that end on a broken page and redirects from HTTPS to HTTP.
Check every page of your website
SEOSage crawls your whole website on your own computer, with no page limit, and lists what to fix. Free for 14 days, cancel any time.