Redirect and HTTP Status Checker

Trace the full redirect chain of any URL hop by hop. See every status code, Location header and response time, and catch loops, chains and insecure hops before Google does.

Free SEO Tool

Redirect and HTTP Status Checker

Trace the full redirect chain of any URL hop by hop. See every status code, Location header and response time, and catch loops, chains and insecure hops before Google does.

— Redirect hops
— Final status
— Total time
— All hops secure

Redirect chain

Final destination

What this means

URL variations

All four versions of a domain should end up at the same final URL. If they don't, search engines may treat them as separate pages competing with each other.

Response headers on the final page

Migrating a site and want the redirects mapped properly? Get a technical SEO review

Each URL is requested once from this server, following up to ten hops, and results are cached for ten minutes. Redirects performed in JavaScript after the page loads cannot be detected by any server-side tool, including this one, though meta refresh tags are flagged where present.

Found a technical issue?

Our technical SEO team fixes crawl errors, redirects, schema and indexing so Google can rank every page.

01Overview

What does a redirect checker do?

A redirect sends visitors and search engines from one URL to another. Redirects are essential after site migrations, URL changes and HTTPS moves, but chains and loops quietly slow pages down and waste ranking value.

This free redirect checker traces any URL hop by hop. You see every status code, Location header and response time, the final destination, and the response headers on the final page. It flags loops, long chains and insecure HTTP hops, and can test all four versions of a domain: http, https, www and non-www.

Copy the chain or download it as CSV to share with your developer.

Quick answer

Enter any URL above to see every redirect between it and the final page. Ideally a URL reaches its destination in one hop with a 301 status, and all four versions of your domain (http, https, www, non-www) end at the same final URL.

  • Free, no sign-up
  • Up to 10 hops
  • Checks 4 URL variations
  • Export to CSV
02How to use

How to use the Redirect Checker

Use it on old URLs after a migration, on links from other sites, and on your own domain variations.

  1. Enter a URL

    Paste any public address, including the http:// or https:// prefix.

  2. Test variations

    Tick the option to check http, https, www and non-www versions together.

  3. Read the chain

    Each hop shows its status code, destination and time. Problems are highlighted.

  4. Fix and re-test

    Point old URLs straight to the final page, then run the check again.

03How it works

Redirect status codes explained

The status code tells browsers and search engines whether a move is permanent or temporary.

A three-hop chain, fixed to one hop
Before: 3 redirectshttp://oldsite.com301https://oldsite.com301https://newsite.com301https://www.newsite.com200
After: 1 redirecthttp://oldsite.com301https://www.newsite.com200
Common redirect codes301 Moved permanently (passes ranking signals) 302 Found, temporary 307 Temporary, keeps request method 308 Permanent, keeps request method 200 OK, final page loaded

JavaScript redirects that run after the page loads cannot be detected by any server-side checker. Meta refresh tags are flagged where present.

Worked example

A business moved to HTTPS and later changed its domain.

Hop 1
http://oldsite.com 301
Hop 2
https://oldsite.com 301
Hop 3
https://newsite.com 301
Final
https://www.newsite.com 200
Three hops add delay. Redirect http://oldsite.com directly to https://www.newsite.com to make it one hop.
04Diagnose

Common redirect problems and fixes

Most redirect issues come from layered changes made over several years.

ProblemWhy it mattersFix
Redirect chain (2+ hops)Slower loads, diluted signals, crawl wasteRedirect the first URL straight to the final one
Redirect loopPage never loads for users or GoogleFind the conflicting rules in server or plugin settings
302 used for a permanent moveSearch engines may keep the old URLChange to 301 or 308
HTTP hop in the chainInsecure, can trigger browser warningsRedirect to HTTPS at the first hop
Domain variations disagreeDuplicate versions compete in searchSend all four variations to one final URL
Redirect to homepageTreated like a soft 404Redirect to the closest matching page
05Tips

Redirect best practices

Clean redirects keep migrations from costing you traffic.

Do this

  • One hop wherever possibleEvery extra hop adds delay. Update old rules when you add new ones.
  • Map URLs one to oneDuring migrations, map each old page to its closest new equivalent.
  • Update internal linksChange links on your own site to point at final URLs so they skip the redirect.
  • Keep redirects long termLeave permanent redirects in place for at least a year, ideally indefinitely.

Redirect mistakes to avoid

  • Redirecting everything to the homepageGoogle treats irrelevant redirects like missing pages.
  • Stacking plugin and server rulesTwo systems issuing redirects is the most common cause of loops.
  • Forgetting www and http versionsAll four variations must resolve to the same URL.
  • Removing redirects too soonOld backlinks and bookmarks still point to old URLs years later.
06FAQ

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between a 301 and 302 redirect?

A 301 is permanent and tells search engines to transfer the old URL's signals to the new one. A 302 is temporary, so search engines may keep the original URL indexed.

How many redirects is too many?

Aim for one. Two is acceptable. Google follows up to about ten hops, but every hop slows users down and risks losing signals.

Do redirects hurt SEO?

A single 301 to a relevant page is fine. Long chains, loops and redirects to unrelated pages cause problems.

What is a redirect loop?

When URL A redirects to B and B redirects back to A, so the page never loads. Browsers show a "too many redirects" error.

Why test http, https, www and non-www?

Each is technically a different URL. If they do not all end up at the same place, search engines may treat them as separate competing pages.

Can this detect JavaScript redirects?

No server-side tool can, because JavaScript runs in the browser after the page loads. Meta refresh redirects are flagged.

The Big Growth team

Migrating a site or changing URLs?

We map every redirect, protect your rankings during the move and monitor Search Console afterwards. Explore our technical SEO services.