> redirects --trace

Free Redirect Checker for Chains and Loops

See every hop from the first URL to the final page, with status codes and timing. Check up to 50 URLs or all 4 versions of your domain, and copy the rule that cuts a chain to one hop.

Not rated yet · Built and tested by the SpellMistake team · Your data stays private
AT A GLANCE
  • What it doesTraces every redirect hop
  • AccuracyExact, live redirect path
  • Works withUp to 50 URLs, or 4 domain versions
  • PriceFree, no sign-up, no limit
  • Last reviewed
> define

What Is a Redirect Checker?

Short answer
A redirect checker is a tool that follows a URL through every redirect until it reaches the final page. It shows each hop, its status code (like 301 or 302) and how long it took, so you can find redirect chains, loops and broken redirects that slow pages down and waste link value.

A redirect chain is when one URL redirects to another, which redirects again, and so on. Each extra hop makes the page slower and makes it harder for Google to follow. Chains often build up over years of site changes, like moving to HTTPS, then to www, then to new URLs. This tool shows the full path and gives you the rule to send visitors straight to the final page in one hop.

Quick facts
> how --to

How to Use the Redirect Chain Checker

Trace any redirect in seconds.
01

Pick a mode

Check one or many URLs, or check the 4 versions of a domain.
02

Enter your URLs

Paste up to 50 URLs, or type a domain like example.com.
03

Run the check

Every redirect is followed to the final page.
04

Read each chain

See each hop with its status code and time.
05

Copy the fix

Copy the rule that sends the first URL straight to the final one.

Redirect best practices

  • Use one hop wherever you can.
  • Use 301 or 308 for permanent moves.
  • Make http, https, www and non-www all land on one version in one hop.
  • Update internal links to point to the final URL, not a redirect.
  • Never redirect from HTTPS back to HTTP.
Ready to try it? It is free and takes less than a minute.
> ls ./guide

Redirect Problems the Checker Finds

What each problem means and how to fix it.
ProblemWhy it mattersFix
Chain (2+ hops)Slower pages, harder for Google to followRedirect the first URL straight to the final one
LoopThe page never loadsFix the rules that point back to each other
Temporary redirect (302, 307)Google may keep the old URLUse 301 or 308 for permanent moves
HTTPS to HTTPVisitors lose a secure connectionKeep every hop on HTTPS
Ends in an errorThe redirect leads to a 404 or 5xxPoint it to a working page
Domain versions splitDuplicate versions of your siteSend all 4 versions to one in one hop
Google follows up to 10 redirect hops, but fewer is always better.
> cat methodology.md

How the Redirect Chain Checker Works

Here is how the checker traces each redirect.
  1. 01

    URLs are prepared

    Up to 50 URLs are cleaned, or the 4 versions of your domain are built.

    In your browser
  2. 02

    The first URL is requested

    Our server requests it without following redirects automatically.

    Our server
  3. 03

    Each hop is followed

    The Location header is followed hop by hop, recording status code and time.

    Our server
  4. 04

    Problems are found

    Chains, loops, temporary redirects, HTTPS downgrades and errors are flagged.

    In your browser
  5. 05

    A fix is written

    A rule is built that sends the first URL straight to the final URL in one hop.

    In your browser

How the One-Hop Fix Works

The checker writes a rule that skips every middle hop.

If http://example.com/old goes to https://example.com/old, then to https://www.example.com/old, then to https://www.example.com/new/, that is 3 hops. The fix is one rule: send /old straight to https://www.example.com/new/ with a 301.

The tool writes the rule for Apache .htaccess, Nginx and the WordPress Redirection plugin.

> test --report

Is the Redirect Chain Checker Accurate?

Yes. Every hop is requested live and the tool records the exact status code and Location the server returned. Timings show how long each hop took from our server.
Exact
accuracy level
every hop recorded
Live check
what results are based on
status and timing
Monthly
full re-test
against known answers
24/7
bug reports open
fixed as high priority
What we test every month

Accuracy in plain words

The tool follows server redirects (3xx). Redirects made by JavaScript or meta refresh in the page are not followed. Timings depend on the distance between our server and yours.

Keep in mind
Always test redirect rules after you add them, and back up your .htaccess first.
> features

Features of the Redirect Chain Checker

Everything you need to clean up redirects.

Full hop path

Every step with status and time.

50 URLs at once

Bulk check after a site move.

Domain versions

http, https, www and non-www in one check.

Loop finder

Catches endless redirect loops.

HTTPS check

Flags any hop that drops to HTTP.

One-hop fix

Copy rules for Apache, Nginx and WordPress.

> limits --honest

Limitations of This Tool

No tool does everything. Here is what this one does not do, and what you should do yourself.
What the tool cannot do
What you should do
> whoami

Who Can Use This Redirect Chain Checker?

Anyone who changes URLs or moves websites.

SEO specialists

Clean up chains after migrations.

Developers

Test redirect rules before and after deploys.

WordPress owners

Fix chains left by plugins and old moves.

Link builders

Check where backlinks really point.

> git log

Updates, Bug Fixes and Reviews

We test this tool every month and fix reported bugs as a high priority. Every change is listed here.
Oct 2026

Redirect Chain Checker launched

First release with full hop paths, bulk mode for 50 URLs, domain version check and one-hop fix rules.

Launch
Every month

Full re-test and rules review

We run the tool against our test cases again and check Google's redirect guidance and HTTP standards for changes.

Monthly

Tool page last reviewed on .

Found a bug or a wrong result?

Tell us what you entered, what happened and what you expected. Our developer checks every report, fixes confirmed bugs as a high priority and tests the fix before it goes live.

> git blame

Who Built and Reviewed This Tool

The SpellMistake team built this tool from our own daily SEO work and official rules.
H
Built and tested by

Hassan

Senior Web Developer, 4+ years
Built the hop tracer, the problem checks and the fix rules.
MA
Reviewed by

Muhammad Ahtesham

SEO Strategist and Founder, 4+ years
Checked advice against Google’s redirect and site move guidance.
A
Guide and help text

Afza

Marketing Expert and Co-founder, 4+ years
Made the labels, tips and this guide simple and easy to follow.

Our standards

This page follows our Editorial Policy and Methodology. If something here is wrong, our Corrections Policy explains how we fix it. Learn more about the SpellMistake team.

> rate --tool

Ratings From Real Users

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How useful was the Redirect Chain Checker for you?

Ratings come from real visitors. One rating per person. We never add, edit or remove ratings.

> faq

Redirect Chain Checker FAQ

Quick answers to the questions people ask most about this tool.

What is a redirect chain?

A redirect chain is when a URL redirects to another URL that also redirects, so visitors and Google pass through 2 or more hops before the final page.

Is this redirect checker free?

Yes. It is 100% free, with no sign-up.

Are redirect chains bad for SEO?

They slow pages down and make crawling harder. Google follows up to 10 hops, but one hop is best for speed and clean signals.

What is the difference between 301 and 302?

301 is a permanent move and passes value to the new URL. 302 is temporary, so Google may keep the old URL in search.

How do I fix a redirect loop?

Find the rules that point back to each other, often an HTTPS rule and a www rule, and merge them into one rule.

Why check all 4 domain versions?

http, https, www and non-www should all end on one version in one hop. Otherwise you can have duplicate versions of your site.

How many URLs can I check?

Up to 50 URLs per check.

Want a full check of your website?
Our SEO audit finds every technical, on-page and content problem and gives you a clear, ranked list of fixes.