Redirect Checker
Trace the full redirect chain of any URL. See every hop, HTTP status code (301, 302, 307, 308), and the final destination — checked live from our server.
Why check URL redirects?
Redirect issues silently damage SEO rankings, slow down page speed, and confuse users. Here are the most common situations where this tool helps.
SEO Audits
Identify chains longer than one hop, loop errors, and missing HTTPS redirects that waste crawl budget and lose link equity.
Site Migrations
Verify every old URL correctly redirects to its new destination with a 301 before you decommission the old server.
HTTPS Implementation
Confirm your HTTP → HTTPS redirect is a single clean hop, not a double-redirect (HTTP→HTTP/www→HTTPS) that adds latency.
www vs non-www
Check that your canonical domain preference is enforced with a single 301 and the other variant does not get indexed.
Link Building
Check whether a backlink points to a live page or passes through a redirect chain before reaching its target.
Affiliate & Short URLs
Trace bit.ly, t.co, and affiliate tracking links to see exactly where they end up before you click.
HTTP Redirect Status Codes Explained
Every redirect hop has an HTTP status code. Knowing which code is used tells you whether link equity is passed and how search engines interpret the redirect.
| Code | Name | SEO Impact | When to Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| 301 | Moved Permanently | Passes link equity | Permanent page/domain moves |
| 302 | Found (Temporary) | No equity passed | A/B tests, temp maintenance |
| 303 | See Other | No equity passed | After form POST submission |
| 307 | Temporary Redirect | No equity passed | Same as 302, preserves method |
| 308 | Permanent Redirect | Passes link equity | Same as 301, preserves method |
| 200 | OK (Final) | Destination URL | No redirect — page loaded |
How the Redirect Checker Works
Unlike browser-based tools that only show what your browser sees, ToolsBear checks redirects from our server — giving you a clean, unbiased view with no cookies, cached responses, or browser extensions interfering.
Enter a URL
Paste any URL — HTTP or HTTPS, with or without www. The tool auto-prepends https:// if no scheme is entered.
Server fetches the chain
Our server sends a HEAD (or GET) request and follows every redirect hop, collecting the status code and response headers at each step.
Full chain displayed
Every hop is listed with its URL, status code, Location header, and server — from the starting URL to the final 200 OK destination.
Expert Tips for Healthy Redirects
- →Keep chains to one hop. Every extra redirect adds ~50–200ms of latency and dilutes link equity. If A → B → C, change A to redirect directly to C.
- →Always use 301 for permanent moves. A 302 tells Google the original URL is still the canonical — your rankings stay on the old URL, not the new one.
- →Set up a canonical domain. Pick www or non-www and redirect the other with a 301. Having both accessible is a duplicate content issue.
- →HTTP → HTTPS in one redirect. Avoid HTTP → HTTPS/www → HTTPS (two hops). Configure your server to redirect straight from HTTP to the canonical HTTPS version.
- →Check after every migration. Run the redirect checker on a sample of URLs after any site migration to catch broken or missing redirects before Google recrawls.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a URL redirect?
A URL redirect is an instruction that automatically sends users and search engines from one URL to another. They are used when pages move, domains change, or you want to consolidate multiple URLs into one.
What is the difference between 301 and 302 redirects?
A 301 redirect is permanent — it tells search engines to transfer all ranking signals (link equity) to the new URL and update their index. A 302 redirect is temporary — search engines keep the original URL in their index and do not pass link equity.
Why do redirect chains hurt SEO?
Each additional hop in a redirect chain wastes crawl budget, adds latency for users, and dilutes link equity. Google recommends keeping chains to a single redirect whenever possible.
What is a redirect loop?
A redirect loop occurs when URL A redirects to URL B, which redirects back to URL A (or any chain that circles back). Browsers abort after a few hops and show an error. Our tool detects loops and flags them immediately.
Does this tool check HTTPS redirects?
Yes. The most common redirect is HTTP → HTTPS (port 80 to 443). Our checker traces this correctly and shows you whether you have a single clean redirect or multiple unnecessary hops.
Why should I use HEAD instead of GET?
HEAD requests fetch only the response headers, not the body, making them much faster. Use GET only when a server blocks HEAD requests and returns an incorrect status code.
Can I check www to non-www redirects?
Yes — enter http://www.yourdomain.com and the tool will show whether it correctly redirects to https://yourdomain.com (or vice versa) in a single hop.
Is this redirect checker free?
Completely free. No sign-up, no rate limits, no API key required. Enter any URL and get results instantly.
What users say about Redirect Checker
Real feedback from ToolsBear users — reviewed and approved by our team.