Free Broken Link Checker 2025 | Reviewed & Recommended

I've had the pleasure of owning several websites for many years, and I have learned my fair share of problems. Here is a problem that has existed and been tough to manage: broken links. I recall too well building a resource page, which was time-consuming, to discover several months later that numerous outbound links ended in 404 errors. This not only harmed the user experience but also the credibility and SEO standing of the site, frustrating me to no end.

This experience was eye-opening for me. I started realising that keeping link integrity for my site was not only a design or user factor; it was essential to keep traffic, SEO health and audience confidence intact. I made up my mind to begin searching for reliable, free broken link checker tools to assist me in taking better care of this site maintenance task.

In this article, I'll be telling you about my experimentation with a variety of different free broken link checker tools that I employed. They are categorised for your understanding convenience. I hope what I've discovered will assist you in maintaining your website as healthy and user-friendly as possible, whether you're an experienced webmaster or a beginner who is just starting out blogging.

The Importance of Regular Broken Link Checks

Prior to exploring the tools, it's important to know why frequent broken link checks are crucial:

1. User Experience: Broken links can annoy visitors, resulting in higher bounce rates and less trust.
2. SEO Impact: Search engines such as Google view broken links as a signal that your website is abandoned, which damages your rankings.
3. Professionalism: A website filled with broken links is perceived as unprofessional and can scare off potential clients or collaborators.
   
   

Periodically scanning your website for dead links keeps your content accessible, credible, and search engine friendly.

Online Website Scanners: Convenient and Fast Tools

Web-based online website scanners are online tools that enable you to scan for dead links without having to install software. Below are five tools I have used myself:

1. Dead Link Checker

Dead Link Checker is a simple tool that checks your website for dead links and gives a comprehensive report. It has the facility for single-page checks, multi-page checks, and auto-checks with scheduled reports.

2. BrokenLinkCheck.com

BrokenLinkCheck.com plug-and-play software that can check for as many as 3,000 pages for broken links. It gives the precise position of faulty links in your HTML code, which makes them easier to repair.

3. Ahrefs Broken Link Checker

Ahrefs’ broken link checker is a go-to tool for SEOs who want to find broken links in Ahrefs, recover lost links, or explore opportunities for broken link building. It helps spot broken backlinks, track broken internal links, and even filter results by pages with broken links or by link anchor.

Compared to tools like the SEMrush broken link checker, Ahrefs is fast, accurate, and excellent for competitive analysis. While the Free Ahref Broken Link Checker gives basic insights, many advanced options, like detailed broken backlink checker reports that require a subscription, so keep the Ahrefs broken link checker costs in mind. Still, even a quick test of Ahrefs' broken link checker shows why it’s a favorite among professionals.

4. SEOToolsPark Broken Link Finder

SEOToolsPark offers a simple and free broken link checker that doesn't need any account setup. It's a secure and privacy-aware tool that adheres to robots.txt rules.

5. TechGeekBuzz Broken Link Checker

TechGeekBuzz provides a crawler that can extract up to 3,000 links, which will detect internal and external broken links. It returns HTTP status codes for each broken link to assist in diagnosis.

💡Here are some of the popular Frequently Asked Questions for Ahrefs Broken Link Checker:

1. What does the Ahrefs broken link checker actually do?

Ahrefs scans your site for both internal and external broken links. For instance, if you have a WordPress blog in India where you promote affiliate links and some of your links don't work, Ahrefs can help you find these broken links so you can go and update or replace those links before they impact your SEO.

2. How can I find broken links in Ahrefs step by step?

Simply log in → go to Site Explorer → enter your domain → use the “Broken Links” or “Broken Backlinks” report. Many Indian eCommerce stores use this method to quickly fix broken product links that may cost them sales.

3. Can Ahrefs check broken links by link anchor (anchor text)?

Yes, it is possible. If you had previous guest posts linking to your site with “best web hosting India” as the anchor, Ahrefs can show you whether any of those links have subsequently broken. This is especially useful for bloggers that are targeting specific keyword phrases.

4. Does Ahrefs only check external backlinks, or can it detect internal broken links too?

It does both. Say you’re running a Shopify or WooCommerce store and recently removed an old category page. Ahrefs will highlight all the internal broken links pointing to that deleted page so you can fix or redirect them.

5. How reliable is Ahrefs compared to the Semrush broken link checker?

Both tools are solid, but many digital marketers in India prefer Ahrefs because of its larger backlink database. For example, if you’re tracking backlinks from Indian directories or regional news sites, Ahrefs tends to show them faster.

6. What are the costs involved with Ahrefs' broken link checking?

Ahrefs offers some free access, but full reports require a subscription. Many small businesses in India start with the free plan to get a quick health check, and then upgrade when they need deeper backlink audits.

7. How can broken link building work using Ahrefs?

If Ahrefs shows that a popular blog in your niche links to a dead page, you can reach out to that site owner and suggest your content as a replacement. For example, a Chennai-based startup used this method to get backlinks from local tech blogs.

8. Why are broken internal links a problem for Indian websites?

They make visitors bounce off quickly and reduce search engine crawl efficiency. For example, an online saree store with broken product links will frustrate buyers. Ahrefs helps spot these issues so you don’t lose traffic or sales.

9. How often should I run a broken link check with Ahrefs?

Once a month, ideally. Websites that often add or delete content, like news sites, education blogs, or startups in India that are just getting off the ground, need to check for broken links more often, otherwise they might experience dips in their SEO rating.

10. Will fixing broken links really improve my SEO and conversions?

Yes. By repairing broken backlinks and internal links, you not only reclaim lost link juice but also give visitors a smooth experience. 

11. How to check for broken links in Ahrefs?

On your browser, search for broken links checker. Scroll down and get into Ahrefs. Paste your website link and continue with the process. Instantly, you can find broken links.

Browser Extensions: On-the-Fly Link Checking

Browser extensions are handy when checking links from right within your browser. The following are five Chrome extensions that I have found useful:

1. Check My Links

Check My Links extension scans web pages fast for broken links, which it highlights in red. It is very useful for developers and content editors.

2. Link Checker

Link Checker checks all the links on a webpage and gives an overview of valid and broken links. It is simple to use and straightforward.

3. Broken Link Checker

Broken Link Checker extension detects broken links and gives HTTP status codes. It's useful for debugging particular problems.

4. Link Grabber

Link Grabber pulls out all links from a page so you can examine them in isolation. Not a free broken link checker in itself, but it's useful for link audits.

5. Domain Hunter Plus

Domain Hunter Plus plugin detects broken links and verifies whether the related domains can be bought, a special feature for SEO experts.

WordPress Plugins: Smooth Integration for WordPress Users

For WordPress users, plugins provide inbuilt options for checking broken links. Some of the five plugins I have utilized are as follows:

1. Broken Link Checker

Broken Link Checker well-liked plugin tracks your site for missing images and broken links and alerts you through the dashboard or email.

2. Broken Link Checker | Finder

Broken Link Checker | Finder plugin checks your WordPress site for dead links, including comments and post links. It offers a detailed report and supports CSV exports.

3. Broken Link Notifier

Unlike regular scanners, Broken Link Notifier plugin audits broken links when users browse the pages, easing server load. It alerts you by email or dashboard notifications.

4. Free Broken Link Checker by AIOSEO

As a SaaS, it's provided on Free Broken Link Checker by AIOSEO plugin with a free ability to scan 200 internal links every month. It's loaded on AIOSEO servers for a minimal contribution to your website's performance.

5. Link Whisper Free

A link building tool mainly designed for internal linking, Link Whisper also detects broken internal links and makes it easier to have a healthy link structure.

SEO Suites with Free Tiers: Complete Tools with Bonus Benefits

Some SEO suites include broken link checking as part of their free tiers. Here are five I've investigated:

1. Ahrefs

Ahrefs' free broken link checker provides an in-depth insight into your backlink profile with broken inbound and outbound links. It is best used by SEO-oriented users who wish to recoup lost link juice or discover link-building opportunities.

2. Semrush

Semrush provides limited free access to its Site Audit tool, including broken link detection. It crawls your site and prioritizes issues, which is excellent for SEO upkeep.

3. Ubersuggest

Made by Neil Patel, Ubersuggest features a free site audit feature that points out SEO problems, such as broken links. It's a suitable option for marketers and small enterprises who desire a free, simple-to-grasp SEO suite.

4. SEOptimer

SEOptimer's free web audit tool incorporates broken link detection into its full scan. Performance and usability insights will be included as well.

5. Sitechecker

Sitechecker's free audit tool lets you run a simple broken link test along with a complete website health scan. It is particularly useful for webmasters dealing with multiple sites.

My Personal Experience: What Served Me Best

After evaluating all these tools across various sites, blogs, online stores, and portfolios, I discovered that utilizing a blend of tools served me best:

1. For speedy tests: I use Dead Link Checker and Check My Links when reviewing single pages.
2. For WordPress websites: Broken Link Checker is a godsend, particularly when dealing with content-rich blogs.
3. For more advanced SEO audits: Ahrefs and Semrush give me the data I need to repair broken backlinks and improve performance.

This multi-step approach helps me detect all broken links, from small typos in blog entries to large 404s in product catalogs.

Best Practices for Using Free Broken Link Checkers

To maximize the use of these tools, here are some best practices I observe:

1. Check quarterly (at least) if your site is small; monthly or weekly if you frequently update content.
2. Automate with plugins or schedule calendar reminders for audits.
3. Use several tools to cross-check results some might miss what others detect.
4. Prioritize high-traffic pages and important conversion paths first.
5. Always fix important broken links or replace them with updated alternatives.

Conclusion

A broken link might seem like a small issue, but in the fast-moving digital world, it can silently sabotage your website’s performance. Every broken link is a potential lost visitor, a damaged SEO score, and a missed opportunity to build trust. Whether you're running a personal blog, a small business site, or an enterprise portal site, health matters. A polished, fully functional site is your silent salesperson, working 24/7 to build credibility and convert visitors.

Fortunately, as this blog demonstrated, there are plenty of free broken link checker tools available ranging from browser add-ons to full-fledged SEO optimization suites. Scanning your site regularly, repairing dead ends, and streamlining the user experience are easy but effective habits that distinguish great websites from the rest.

But if all of this seems daunting or time-consuming, you're not alone. That's where we come in.

Let Rasonix Keep Your Website Error-Free

At Rasonix, we handle building, maintaining, and fine-tuning fast-performing websites, so you don't have to worry about broken links, slow pages, or bad SEO. Our digital strategists and expert developers are armed with the best tools, know-how, and experience to ensure your site performs like a well-greased machine.

1. We repair broken links before your visitors even know what's happening.
2. We perform proactive site health monitoring.
3. We boost your SEO and UX, so your site works harder for you.

Whether you're launching a new site or need help maintaining an existing one, Rasonix is your go-to partner for dependable web performance and professional support. Let’s fix your site before your visitors bounce. Contact us today for a free site audit or explore our website maintenance services.