Redirect Chain Checker
Enter any URL and trace the full redirect chain instantly, see every hop, HTTP status code, and get alerted to issues that could be hurting your SEO.
How to Check a Redirect Chain
Paste the URL
Enter any URL you want to test, including old links, shortened URLs, or pages you moved during a migration.
Check redirects
Click Check and the tool follows the redirect path one hop at a time until it reaches the final page.
Review the chain
See every 301, 302, 307, or 308 hop, each HTTP status code, and any loop, mixed HTTPS, or long-chain warning.
Fix and re-check
Point the first URL straight to the final destination, then run the check again to confirm it is a single clean redirect.
See Every Hop in a Redirect Chain
A redirect chain checker traces the full path a URL takes before it lands on its final page. Instead of one clean hop, a link can bounce through two, three, or more redirects, and every extra step slows the page down and leaks a little more ranking signal on the way.
Why redirect chains hurt SEO
Search engines follow redirects to find the real page, but each hop adds delay and passes less link equity to the destination. Google recommends keeping chains short, and after about five hops Googlebot may stop following altogether, which can leave your final page unindexed. Long chains also add real load time for visitors, so they drag on Core Web Vitals too.
When redirect chains pile up
Chains usually appear after a site migration, an HTTP to HTTPS upgrade, a domain change, or a URL restructure. A new rule stacks on top of an older one months later, and nobody notices until a checker lays the whole path out. This redirect chain checker shows every 301, 302, 303, 307, and 308 hop in order, with the HTTP status at each step, so you can see exactly which redirect to remove.
How to fix a redirect chain
Point the first URL straight at the final destination in a single hop. Update the redirect rule in your server config, CMS, or redirect plugin so URL A goes directly to the final page instead of A to B to C. Then run the check again to confirm the chain collapses to one clean 301.
What This Tool Checks
Full Redirect Chain
Traces the complete redirect path hop by hop, up to 10 hops, showing every intermediate URL and its HTTP status code (301, 302, 303, 307, 308).
Final Destination & Status
Shows the final URL the chain resolves to and its status code, so you can confirm it ends on a live 200 page and not a 404 or another redirect.
Loop Detection
Detects redirect loops, where a URL points back to one already in the chain, which would cause an infinite redirect error in the browser.
Mixed HTTP/HTTPS Detection
Flags chains that pass through both http:// and https:// URLs, which can trigger security warnings and waste link equity.
Long Chain Warning
Warns when a chain has 4 or more hops. Each extra redirect adds latency and reduces the ranking signal passed to the final page.
Free and Private
Check any public URL for free with no sign up and no limits. The tool runs the request for you and shows the result in seconds.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about redirect chains and SEO.
What is a redirect chain?
A redirect chain happens when a URL redirects to another URL, which redirects to another, creating a series of hops before the final page loads, for example URL A to URL B to URL C to the final page. Each extra hop adds latency and dilutes the link equity passed to the destination.
Do redirect chains hurt SEO?
Yes. Every hop passes less ranking signal to the final page and slows load time, which affects Core Web Vitals. If a chain runs past about five hops, Googlebot may stop following it, leaving the final page unindexed. Shortening chains to one hop protects both rankings and speed.
How do I fix a redirect chain?
Point the first URL directly at the final destination in a single hop. Edit the redirect rule in your server config, CMS, or redirect plugin so URL A goes straight to the final page instead of through B and C, then re-run this checker to confirm it is one clean 301.
What is the difference between a 301 and 302 redirect?
A 301 is a permanent redirect that tells search engines the move is final and transfers most of the original page ranking value. A 302 is a temporary redirect, so search engines may keep indexing the original URL. Use 301 for permanent moves and 302 only when the change is genuinely temporary.
How many redirects are too many?
Keep chains to a maximum of 3 to 5 hops. This tool flags chains with 4 or more redirects. Beyond 5 hops Googlebot may stop following the chain, and browsers like Chrome error out at around 20 hops. One direct redirect is always best.
What causes a redirect loop?
A redirect loop happens when a URL points back to a URL already in the chain, creating an infinite cycle. Common causes are misconfigured .htaccess rules, incorrect HTTPS redirect settings, or CDN and reverse proxy misconfigurations. This tool detects loops and stops tracing to avoid an endless request cycle.
How do I check a URL redirect for free?
Paste the URL into this redirect chain checker and click Check. It follows every hop and shows each status code and the final destination in seconds, with no account, no install, and no limit on how many URLs you test.
Which HTTP status codes does the checker detect?
It reports every redirect status in the path, including 301, 302, 303, 307, and 308, along with the final status such as 200 for a live page or 404 for a missing one. Seeing the exact codes helps you confirm each hop is the right type.