Free URL Redirect Checker — Trace 301, 302 & Redirect Chains Instantly

What Is a URL Redirect Checker?

A URL Redirect Checker is an essential SEO tool that allows you to trace the complete redirect path of any URL. When you enter a URL, this tool follows every hop — from the initial request to the final destination — showing you each 301 redirect, 302 redirect, and any other HTTP status codes along the way. Whether you're debugging a broken link, auditing your site's redirect chains, or verifying a domain migration, this free tool gives you instant, clear results.

Why URL Redirects Matter for SEO

Redirects play a critical role in how search engines crawl and index your website. Properly configured redirects preserve link equity (also known as "link juice") and ensure users reach the right page. Misconfigured or excessive redirects can:

• Slow down page load times — each redirect adds latency, hurting Core Web Vitals and user experience.
• Dilute link equity — long redirect chains can reduce the SEO value passed from backlinks.
• Cause crawl budget waste — search engine bots spend resources following redirects instead of indexing new content.
• Create redirect loops — misconfigured redirects can trap users and bots in an infinite loop, making pages inaccessible.

Types of Redirects Explained

301 Redirect (Permanent)

A 301 redirect tells search engines and browsers that a page has permanently moved to a new URL. This is the most SEO-friendly redirect because it passes approximately 90-99% of link equity to the destination URL. Use 301 redirects when you've permanently changed a page's URL, merged two pages, or migrated to a new domain.

302 Redirect (Temporary)

A 302 redirect indicates a temporary move. Search engines will continue to index the original URL because they expect the redirect to be removed eventually. Use 302 redirects for A/B testing, temporary maintenance pages, or geo-targeting redirects.

Meta Refresh & JavaScript Redirects

These client-side redirects are less SEO-friendly than server-side 301 and 302 redirects. They can be slower and may not pass full link equity. Our URL Redirect Checker detects these redirect types as well.

How to Use the URL Redirect Checker

1. Enter the URL you want to check in the input field above.
2. Click the submit button to start the redirect trace.
3. Review the results — you'll see each redirect hop, the HTTP status code, and the final destination URL.

The tool follows up to 10 redirect hops, which is more than enough to identify redirect chains, loops, and misconfigured URLs.

Common Use Cases

• Website migration audits — verify that old URLs properly redirect to new ones after a domain change or site restructure.
• Backlink analysis — check if valuable backlinks are being redirected correctly or losing link equity through chains.
• Affiliate link debugging — trace affiliate URLs to ensure they reach the correct destination.
• Competitor research — analyze how competitors handle their URL structures and redirects.
• Broken link fixing — identify and resolve redirect issues causing 404 errors.

Best Practices for URL Redirects

• Use 301 redirects for permanent changes — never use 302 for permanent moves.
• Avoid redirect chains — each URL should redirect directly to the final destination (1 hop max).
• Update internal links — point them directly to the final URL instead of relying on redirects.
• Monitor regularly — redirects can break over time, especially after CMS updates or server changes.
• Remove unnecessary redirects — clean up old redirects that are no longer needed to improve crawl efficiency.

Related SEO Tools

Boost your SEO workflow with these complementary tools from SEO Tools Suite:

• DNS Lookup — check A, AAAA, CNAME, MX, NS, and other DNS records for any domain.
• SSL Lookup — verify SSL certificate details and ensure your site is secure.
• Safe URL Checker — check if a URL is flagged as unsafe by Google Safe Browsing.
• HTTP/2 Checker — verify if your website supports the faster HTTP/2 protocol.
• Ping Tool — test connectivity and response times for any server or website.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a 301 and 302 redirect?

A 301 redirect is permanent — it tells search engines the page has moved forever and to transfer ranking power to the new URL. A 302 redirect is temporary — search engines keep the original URL indexed and don't transfer full link equity.

How many redirects are too many?

Ideally, a URL should have zero or one redirect. Google can follow redirect chains, but each additional hop adds latency and risks losing link equity. If you see more than 2 hops, you should optimize your redirect configuration.

Do redirects hurt SEO?

Properly implemented 301 redirects do not significantly hurt SEO — they pass most link equity to the destination URL. However, redirect chains, redirect loops, and using 302 redirects for permanent moves can negatively impact your search rankings.

How do I fix a redirect loop?

A redirect loop occurs when URL A redirects to URL B, and URL B redirects back to URL A (or through a chain that leads back). To fix it, review your server configuration (.htaccess, nginx config, or CMS settings) and ensure each URL points to a single, final destination without circular references.

Can I check multiple URLs at once?

This tool checks one URL at a time to provide detailed redirect path information. For bulk redirect checking across your entire website, consider using a site crawling tool alongside this checker for individual URL verification.