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The best free Broken Link Checker tools in 2026

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Written by Group Buy Seo Tools

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Broken Links Tools

As of 2026, here are the best free Broken Link Checker tools.

#1 Group Buy Seo Tools Agency.

Please keep in mind that popularity and availability may change over time so it’s always advisable to conduct a search to stay up-to-date on broken link checker tools:

This Chrome extension scans webpages and detects broken links, providing a comprehensive report with status codes of every link it finds that have broken.

Allows users to quickly test websites for broken links by inputting its URL, quickly checking for broken links and providing a report with their status codes and reports of broken links that it found.

Provides a free version that enables users to scan up to 1,000 websites for broken links, providing an in-depth report including URLs, status codes and their source.

Created specifically for WordPress users, this plugin scans your website for broken links and missing images, providing notifications either through your dashboard or email when any are discovered.

Provided by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), this online tool checks for broken links on an individual webpage or entire website and produces a report detailing them.

Although not designed as a specific broken link checker tool, Xenu’s Link Sleuth has become one of the go-to solutions for finding broken links on websites. It crawls your entire website, detects broken links and offers a detailed report.

Make sure to get up-to-date information and reviews about any tool before selecting one, in order to ensure it suits your needs and is available. Furthermore, look into paying extra features offered by these tools if more comprehensive broken link checking capabilities are desired.

Why Broken Links Matter for Your Website

Broken links negatively impact user experience, SEO rankings, and business conversions. Whether you manage a blog, ecommerce store, or corporate website, identifying and fixing broken links is essential for maintaining optimal performance.

1. Google Search Console

  • Features:
    • Identifies crawl errors including 404 pages
    • Categorizes issues by type (server errors, soft 404s)
    • Provides direct data from Google’s index
  • Limitations:
    • Can be overwhelming for beginners
    • Limited external link detection

2. Screaming Frog SEO Spider (Free Version)

  • Features:
    • Scans up to 500 URLs for free
    • Clearly identifies 404 errors
    • Provides direct URLs for easy fixing
  • Limitations:
    • Requires software download
    • Free version has limited features

3. Dead Link Checker

  • Features:
    • Browser-based tool
    • Scans multiple pages simultaneously
    • Generates simple broken link reports
  • Limitations:
    • Slower for large websites
    • Basic reporting only

4. Ahrefs Broken Link Checker

  • Features:
    • Checks both internal and external links
    • Shows referring pages for dead links
    • Simple interface for quick checks
  • Limitations:
    • Requires account registration
    • Free version has usage limits

5. W3C Link Checker

  • Features:
    • Validates link integrity
    • Offers recursive scanning
    • No installation required
  • Limitations:
    • Outdated interface
    • Steeper learning curve

6. Online Broken Link Checker

  • Features:
    • Free scan for up to 3,000 pages
    • Shows anchor text and HTTP responses
    • Completely web-based
  • Limitations:
    • Performance issues with large sites
    • Limited features compared to paid tools

7. Integrity (Mac Only)

  • Features:
    • Free for personal/small business use
    • Fast scanning with clear results
    • Native macOS interface
  • Limitations:
    • Mac-exclusive (no Windows/Linux version)
    • Lacks pro version features

How to Choose the Right Broken Link Checker

Consider these factors when selecting a tool:

  1. Website Size: Larger sites need robust tools like Screaming Frog, while smaller sites can use web-based checkers
  2. Technical Skill: Beginners may prefer Google Search Console or Ahrefs
  3. Future Needs: Some free tools offer paid upgrades for growing websites

Best Practices for Broken Link Maintenance

  1. Schedule Monthly Checks: Use your chosen tool regularly
  2. Set Up Alerts: Enable Google Search Console notifications
  3. Implement Redirects: Use 301 redirects for removed pages
  4. Monitor User Feedback: Visitors often report broken links first

Conclusion

By using these free 2025 tools, you can maintain link integrity without additional costs. Regular monitoring helps preserve your site’s credibility and search rankings.

For more website optimization tips, explore our free resources or subscribe to our SEO newsletter.

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