Dead Link Checker

A tool that crawls web pages to find links returning error codes like 404 or 410.

Level: BeginnerRead: 2 minUpdated: 27 Jul 2026By Vera Lindqvist

Key facts

Dead link checkers crawl URLs and report broken links found on a page, site, or domain.
Many tools check both internal and external links, not just on-site navigation.
Common dead-link status codes include 404 (Not Found) and 410 (Gone).
Some tools also report redirects such as 301, 307, and 308 so you can separate broken links from redirecting links.
Free tools vary in crawl depth and limits, so larger sites may need paid crawlers or recurring monitoring.

Also called

broken link checker, link validator, link checker

Use it for

Finding broken links on a website to fix them.

Applies to

All search engines and web browsers.

What a Dead Link Checker Does

A dead link checker starts by crawling one or more URLs. It follows every link it finds and records the HTTP status code returned by the target server. If the code is 404 (Not Found) or 410 (Gone), the link is marked as broken.

Some tools also check for redirects like 301 or 302. These are not dead links, but they can indicate a missing page that should be fixed. A dead link checker is a standard part of any SEO Tools kit. Many seo checker suites include one.

Common status codes reported: 404, 410, 500, 503.
Redirects reported: 301, 302, 307, 308.
Some tools test anchor links and image sources as well.

Internal and External Links Both Get Checked

Dead link checkers find broken links inside your own site (internal) and links pointing to other domains (external). Both matter for user experience. A broken external link can frustrate visitors, and a broken internal link can waste Crawl Budget.

External links that point to your site are called Inbound Links. If those are broken, you lose referral traffic. The impact on Broken Links SEO is significant. Understanding how link works helps you see why each link matters.

Internal links: navigation, footer, content links.
External links: outbound references, partner links.
Asset links: images, scripts, stylesheets.
Anchor links: same-page jumps.

Limitations of Free Dead Link Checkers

Free tools often limit how many pages they can crawl. Some check only one URL, others limit depth. For large sites, you may need a paid tool like what ahrefs backlink checker means. Alternatively, you could use moz link explorer.

Another limitation is that free tools may not check all file types. They might miss JavaScript-generated links. A tool like Seobility offers both free and paid versions with different limits.

Crawl depth limits: often 100-500 pages.
No continuous monitoring; only one-time scans.
Results may not include all status codes.

Fixing Broken Links After Detection

Once you have a list of broken links, you need to fix them. The best fix depends on the link. For internal links, you can update the URL or remove the link. For external links, you may need to find a replacement or remove the reference.

If the target page is gone but you have a similar page, set up a 301 redirect. This preserves link equity and passes it to the new page. Good 404 SEO practice involves redirecting or providing a custom 404 page. Dead link checkers are used across all types of sites, including Instagram SEO profiles. They are also used for seo for nonprofits.

Remove the link if no suitable replacement exists.
Update the URL to a working page.
Set up a 301 redirect from the broken URL to a relevant page.

Common mistakes

Treating every redirect as a problem instead of separating normal redirects from true dead links. You waste time fixing harmless redirects and miss real broken links.
Only checking the homepage instead of crawling the full site or important templates. Broken links deep in the site remain undetected, hurting user experience and SEO.
Assuming one free tool gives complete coverage on large sites without crawl limits. You miss many broken links due to tool limits, leading to false sense of security.

Questions

What is the best broken link checker?

There is no single best tool; it depends on your needs. For small sites, free tools like W3C Link Checker work. For large sites, consider paid tools like Ahrefs or Screaming Frog.

What is the best free broken link checker?

W3C Link Checker and Dead Link Checker are popular free options. They have limits on pages crawled, so check the tool's documentation for details.

How do I check for broken links on my website?

Use a dead link checker tool. Enter your site's URL and let it crawl. The tool will list all broken links, their status codes, and the pages they appear on.

Sources

W3C Link Checker validator.w3.org
Google Search Central developers.google.com
Dead Link Checker deadlinkchecker.com
BrokenLinkCheck.com brokenlinkcheck.com
Ahrefs Broken Link Checker ahrefs.com

Outbound links are unpaid and nofollow. If one has gone stale, tell me.

Vera Lindqvist

Vera Lindqvist has worked in SEO since 2014 — first in-house at an ecommerce retailer, then freelance for small teams that could not afford an agency. She writes GrowthPedia in her own time and pays for the hosting herself.

Written and maintained by one person. No ads, no affiliates, nothing for sale. Found an error? Tell me and I will log the correction publicly.