Frequently Asked Questions
Why are broken links bad for SEO?
Broken links create a poor user experience and waste crawl budget. Search engines see 404 errors as a sign of a poorly maintained site, which can hurt your rankings. They also break the flow of link equity (PageRank) through your site.
What is a 301 redirect and is it a problem?
A 301 redirect permanently sends visitors from one URL to another. A single redirect is fine, but redirect chains (multiple redirects in a row) slow down page loading and dilute link equity. Update your links to point directly to the final destination.
How often should I check for broken links?
Monthly is a good baseline for most sites. Check more frequently if you regularly update content, remove pages, or link to external sites. External links break more often than internal ones since you don't control those sites.
What causes broken links?
Common causes include: deleted or moved pages without redirects, typos in URLs, external sites going offline, changed URL structures after a site redesign, and expired content. Internal links are easier to fix since you control both ends.
Is this broken link checker free to use?
Yes, completely free with no limits. For automatic whole-site link monitoring that catches broken links as they happen, check out ModusOp's site auditing tools.