Free Redirect Checker - Trace Full Redirect Chains
Enter any URL and trace its complete redirect chain hop by hop. See the HTTP status code, destination URL and response time at every step. Detects redirect loops, temporary redirects that should be permanent, and chains that are too long. No signup required.
Why Check Your Redirects?
Redirects affect SEO in several important ways. Every redirect hop adds latency - typically 100 to 300 milliseconds - which affects page speed scores and user experience. Long redirect chains also dilute link equity, with each hop passing slightly less authority to the final destination than a direct 301 would.
The type of redirect matters too. A 301 permanent redirect consolidates link equity and tells Google to update its index to the new URL. A 302 temporary redirect does not consolidate equity and Google may continue to index the original URL rather than the destination. Many sites accidentally use 302 redirects for permanent URL changes, which is one of the most common and easily fixed technical SEO mistakes.
Redirect loops are particularly damaging - they prevent Google from indexing the page at all and return an error to users. This tool detects loops automatically and flags them clearly.
How to Use the Redirect Checker
Enter a URL
Paste any URL into the input field and click Check Redirects. The tool works on any publicly accessible URL.
Watch the Chain Build
The tool traces each hop in sequence, showing the status code at each step as it goes. Each hop is checked separately so the full chain is visible.
Review the Summary
The summary cards show the final status, number of redirects, total hops, and an overall chain health indicator at a glance.
Read the Analysis
The analysis section flags specific issues - loops, temporary redirects, chains that are too long - with plain English explanations of what to fix.
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Redirect Checker - FAQs
What is a redirect checker?
A redirect checker traces the full path a URL takes from the original address to its final destination, recording the HTTP status code and destination URL at each hop. This lets you see whether a redirect is correctly configured, how many hops it takes, and whether there are issues like redirect loops or temporary redirects that should be permanent.
What is the difference between a 301 and 302 redirect?
A 301 redirect is permanent. It tells Google the content has moved to a new URL permanently, passes close to 100 percent of the original URL's link equity to the destination, and causes Google to update its index. A 302 redirect is temporary. It does not consolidate link equity permanently and Google may continue to index the original URL. Use 301 for permanent URL changes and 302 only when a redirect is genuinely temporary.
How many redirects is too many?
Google recommends keeping redirect chains as short as possible. Up to 3 hops is generally acceptable, though a single hop is always better. Chains of 5 or more add latency, dilute link equity, and risk Google stopping before it reaches the final destination. If you have a long chain, update each intermediate URL to point directly to the final destination.
What is a redirect loop?
A redirect loop occurs when two or more URLs redirect to each other in a circle - page A redirects to page B which redirects back to page A. This creates an infinite loop that browsers and search engines cannot resolve. The page returns an error and cannot be indexed by Google.
Is this redirect checker free?
Yes, completely free with no signup required. Check as many URLs as you like.