Find and Fix Redirect Chains Analyze URL redirect chains and identify redirect loops from a list of URLs.

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Redirect Chain Checker

Analyze URL redirect chains and identify redirect loops from a list of URLs.

Enter redirect URLs

Paste your redirect mapping — source URL and destination URL pairs.

Analyze chains

The tool traces redirect paths and identifies chains and loops.

Fix issues

Update redirects to point directly to final destinations, eliminating chains.

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What Is Redirect Chain Checker?

The Redirect Chain Checker analyzes URL redirect mappings to identify chains (A → B → C instead of A → C) and loops (A → B → A) that waste crawl budget and dilute link equity. Each hop in a redirect chain adds latency, reduces PageRank passed to the final destination, and wastes Googlebot's crawl budget. This tool traces redirect paths from your URL list, visualizes the chains, and identifies which redirects should be updated to point directly to the final destination.

Why Use Redirect Chain Checker?

Identifies redirect chains that waste crawl budget
Detects redirect loops that trap crawlers
Visualizes redirect paths from source to final destination
Calculates PageRank loss through redirect hops
Provides fix recommendations: direct redirect to final URL

Common Use Cases

Site Migration

Clean up redirect chains after domain or URL structure migration.

Technical SEO Audit

Identify and fix redirect issues during regular audits.

Performance Optimization

Reduce page load time by eliminating unnecessary redirect hops.

Link Equity Preservation

Ensure backlink equity passes directly to destination pages.

Technical Guide

Each 301 redirect passes approximately 90-99% of link equity to the destination. In a chain of A → B → C, the final page C receives significantly less equity than with a direct A → C redirect. Google follows up to 5 redirects before giving up. Redirect chains also slow page load — each hop adds a round-trip network request (100-500ms each). Best practice: every redirect should go directly to the final destination URL. After migration, regularly audit and update redirect chains as URLs change. Use 301 (permanent) for SEO purposes — 302 (temporary) redirects don't pass full link equity.

Tips & Best Practices

1
Flatten all chains: A → B → C should become A → C and B → C
2
Google follows a maximum of 5 redirects — longer chains may be abandoned
3
Each redirect hop adds 100-500ms of latency and loses some link equity
4
Use 301 (permanent) redirects for SEO — avoid 302 for permanent moves
5
Audit redirect chains quarterly, especially after site changes

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q How many redirects is too many?

Any chain of 2+ redirects should be optimized. Google follows up to 5, but best practice is direct (1-hop) redirects.

Q Do redirect chains affect rankings?

Yes. Chains waste crawl budget, add latency, and lose a small amount of link equity with each hop. Fixing chains improves crawling efficiency and preserves more PageRank.

About This Tool

Redirect Chain Checker is a free online tool by FreeToolkit.ai. All processing happens directly in your browser — your data never leaves your device. No registration or installation required.