Free tools / Sitemap checker
Free sitemap checker
Enter a website. The tool finds its XML sitemap, counts the URLs and tests a sample of them for errors and redirects.
What this tool checks
- Finds the sitemap from robots.txt, or at the usual address
- Reads sitemap index files and the sitemaps inside them
- Counts URLs and repeated URLs
- Tests a spread sample of URLs for errors and redirects
- Notes when lastmod dates are missing
Why it matters
A sitemap lists the pages you want search engines to find. It should match what is really on your site. Broken or redirected pages in a sitemap waste crawl time.
Want this for every page of a website? See Sitemap checks in SEOSage.
How to read your result
- Sitemap found shows where it lives and whether robots.txt lists it.
- The URL count comes from the sitemap, or from the first three files of a sitemap index.
- We test a spread sample of URLs. Anything that is not a 200 is worth a look.
- A sitemap should list final, indexable addresses only.
Common problems and fixes
- URLs that return errors. Remove them from the sitemap or fix the pages.
- URLs that redirect. List the final address instead.
- Sitemap not in robots.txt. Add a Sitemap line to robots.txt, or submit it in Google Search Console.
- More than 50,000 URLs in one file. Split it into several sitemaps and list them in a sitemap index.
Questions about the sitemap checker
What is an XML sitemap?
An XML sitemap is a file that lists the pages of a website you want search engines to find and crawl.
How do I find a website sitemap?
Look in its robots.txt file for a Sitemap line, or try example.com/sitemap.xml. This tool does both for you.
What should a sitemap not contain?
Pages that redirect, return errors, are blocked by noindex, or point to a different canonical page. They send search engines mixed signals.
Does it test every URL?
No. It tests a spread sample so the result is quick. SEOSage checks every sitemap URL in a full crawl and flags broken, redirected and noindex entries.
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.