A link that leads to a “dead” (or nonexistent) resource or file on a webpage is known as a broken link. Broken links occur when URLs alter or point to a 404 error page (no longer available pages). Broken links can be of two types: internal and external broken links. Links may also stop functioning due to typos, domain or hosting problems, or external site updates, which can negatively affect user experience. Fortunately, there are numerous methods for detecting broken links in WordPress.
To keep your website error-free, user-friendly, and online visible, we will examine the top 7 WordPress broken link checker plugins in this post.
Introduction to Broken Link Finder
A broken link finder, sometimes referred to as a broken link checker, is a program that looks for broken links on your WordPress website. To preserve the general functionality and user experience of your website, broken link finders are helpful. Broken links can annoy users, damage your site’s SEO, and damage the reputation of your company.
As a leading WordPress development agency, you should ensure that your website has less number of broken links by using a trustworthy broken link detector.
Why to Fix Broken Links?
The user experience (UX) of your website suffers when links are broken. The irritating error message (usually a 404 error) appears when users click on a broken link. The reputation of your website may suffer, and visitors may be less inclined to come back. Broken connections might affect your website in specific ways, such as:
- Bad user experience: When links go broken, users may become frustrated and leave your site since they are being sent to error pages or dead ends.
- Negative effect on SEO: Broken links are seen by search engines like Google as an indication of a badly maintained website. This lowers your website’s visibility and search engine ranks.
- Missed opportunities: Broken connections result in missed chances for lead generation, user interaction, and possible conversions.
- Brand’s Bad Reputation: Recurring broken links can give the impression that your website is unmaintained, which could harm your brand’s credibility and dependability.
Updating your website maintenance checklist on a regular basis guarantees that broken links are found and fixed quickly.
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7 Best Broken Link Finder Plugins for WordPress
Fixing broken links on your WordPress website is crucial, and there are a number of effective plugins available to assist you in finding and fixing these problems. Besides, there are external tools that can be integrated into your website through APIs to detect broken links. This list is a mix of WordPress plugins and third-party tools, so you can never go wrong:
1. Link Checker by Yoast SEO
Link Checker by Yoast SEO is a premium add-on for the popular Yoast SEO plugin for WordPress websites. It helps in managing both external and internal links, and proof-checking your website for zero broken links. With this plugin, you can set your preferences in order to ensure zero dead links, protecting the usability of your website.
This plugin automatically checks your website content for broken links and redirects. You can get detailed and thorough reports with clickable links, so you can easily navigate and edit your website. There are options to set up custom HTTP user agents for comprehensive link checking.
Here are the features of this plugin:
- A lightweight plugin that doesn’t affect the performance of your website.
- Customizable settings for configuring scan intervals and notification preferences.
- Real-time monitoring ensures instant detection of broken links.
- Suggests improvements to boost user navigation.
2. Broken Link Checker by ManageWP
A well-liked and effective plugin that checks your WordPress website for broken links is called Broken Link Checker. When it finds broken links or missing photos in your posts, pages, comments, and other content, it alerts you. For companies that support custom WordPress plugin development, Link Checker is also a useful tool for detecting link problems and improving site structure.
Broken Link Checker by ManageWP will have the following features:
- Detects broken links, both external and internal.
- Tracks connections in real-time.
- Connects to SEO tools.
- Allows for automated rerouting.
3. WP Broken Link Status Checker
A trustworthy plugin for tracking broken links on your WordPress website in real time is WP Broken Link Status Checker. Its ongoing monitoring and thorough reporting enable prompt detection and removal of any malicious dead ends and restoration of the website’s link structure.
WP Broken Link Status Checker offers features such as:
- Redirecting
- Monitors and resolves 404 issues.
- Both automated and manual redirection are supported.
- Records every link modification.
- Aids in preserving SEO ranks.
4. Semrush
Semrush is an effective digital marketing tool for obtaining marketing information and increasing internet presence. Site Audit, one of its primary functions, evaluates the health of your website according to a number of SEO factors, including backlink health.
Using this tool with a Semrush account is free. You are only able to request a certain number of reports each day, though. You can upgrade to one of its pricier plans, which start at $129.95/month, to boost your limit.
Semrush has additional features in addition to the broken link finder, such as:
- AI-driven writing helper
- Analysis of search intent and keyword research
- Analysis of backlinks
- Research on competitors
5. Ahrefs
Ahrefs is a well-known SEO tool for researching competitors and building links. Similar to Semrush, Ahrefs is able to examine your website for problems and possibilities that affect how well it performs in search engine rankings.
For individuals and small organizations, the tool’s free SEO audit tool has crawling restrictions and limited features. To get rid of these restrictions, you can upgrade to the premium version, which starts at $99 per month.
The tool is incredibly user-friendly. It will crawl your website and look for broken links if you enter your domain. After finishing, a report detailing all of the broken links on your website will be sent to you.
Ahrefs offers additional features such as:
- Analysis of backlinks
- Site Audit
- Rank Tracker and
- Site Explorer
6. Broken Link Checker by WebFactory Ltd
Broken Link Checker by WebFactory is an all-in-one tool that provides comprehensive scanning and management of broken links under one roof. It supports an intuitive dashboard with batch editing features, so you can use it simultaneously while working on your website. Just like other plugins, it also regularly scans your website content, including blog posts, web pages, comments, and other elements. Besides, it provides detailed reports about broken links, redirects, and missing images. With customizable settings, you can exclude specific URLs or domains from scanning.
Here are its features:
- Batch edit functionality helps in quickly fixing the links.
- An intuitive dashboard makes it easy to find broken links and gather all the information about the website’s linking status.
- It improves the ranking by eliminating all the dead links.
- It supports bulk actions for efficient management of broken links across your website.
7. Link Monitor
Link Monitor is an extensive link-checking plugin that helps website developers and owners to identify and fix broken links. It is a free plugin that helps in hiding the URLs from posts, web pages, and comments. This is a convenient scanning WordPress plugin that will let you know the issues with internal and external links.
Just like other plugins, it automatically detects broken links and provides actionable reports. However, the comprehensive scanning capabilities of this plugin result in a longer scan time. There are limited advanced customization options as compared to other plugins.
Here are its features:
- It can be integrated with email marketing platforms and streamline the communication and reporting process.
- Comprehensive checking means end-to-end and thorough detection of the website.
- Reports include valuable insights for optimizing link structure and reporting processes.
The Bottom Line
Keeping a website free of broken links is essential for SEO and user experience. A variety of capabilities are available in the plugins and tools mentioned above to assist you in finding and repairing broken links on your WordPress website. There is a choice to meet your needs, whether you favor a specialized WordPress plugin or an all-inclusive WordPress SEO solution. You can guarantee a more seamless user experience and higher search engine results by maintaining your website free of broken links.
