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Free Hreflang Checker for Multilingual Sites

Test the hreflang tags on any page. Check language and region codes, x-default, self links and return links, and see if every alternate page is live and canonical.

Check hreflang now ↓
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AT A GLANCE
  • What it doesValidates hreflang tags and return links
  • AccuracyExact, reads live tags and pages
  • Works withAny public multilingual page
  • PriceFree, no sign-up, no limit
  • Last reviewed
Page with hreflang tags
> define

What Is a Hreflang Checker?

Short answer
A hreflang checker is a tool that tests the hreflang tags on a page. Hreflang tags tell Google which language and country each version of a page is for. The checker makes sure the codes are valid, the page links to itself, and every other version links back, so Google shows the right page to each visitor.

Hreflang is one of the easiest SEO tags to get wrong. One wrong code, like “en-UK” instead of “en-GB”, or a missing return link, and Google ignores the tags. Then a visitor in Germany may see your English page. This tool reads every hreflang tag on the page, then visits each alternate URL to check that it is live, canonical and points back.

Quick facts
  • Checks ISO 639-1 language and ISO 3166-1 region codes
  • Checks x-default and self-referencing tags
  • Visits each alternate to check it links back
  • Flags noindex, redirects and canonical problems
  • Free, no sign-up
> how --to

How to Use the Hreflang Checker

Check a page’s hreflang setup in under a minute.
01

Enter a page URL

Use the full URL of one language version of your page.
02

Run the check

The tool reads the hreflang tags in the HTML.
03

Review the codes

Each tag shows if its language and region code is valid.
04

Check the alternates

The tool visits each alternate page and checks status, canonical and return link.
05

Fix and re-check

Fix codes and missing links, then run the check again.

Hreflang golden rules

  • Every page lists all versions, including itself.
  • Every version links back to every other version.
  • Use the language code first, then an optional region: en, en-GB, es-MX.
  • Point hreflang at canonical URLs that return 200.
  • Add x-default for visitors whose language you do not cover.
Ready to try it? It is free and takes less than a minute.
Check hreflang now
> ls ./guide

Common Hreflang Errors

The mistakes that make Google ignore hreflang tags.
ErrorExampleFix
Wrong region codeen-UKUse en-GB. The UK code is GB.
Region without languagehreflang="us"Add the language: en-US
No self linkThe page does not list itselfAdd a tag for the page’s own language
No return linkPage A points to B, but B does not point to AAdd the tag on both pages
Alternate not canonicalThe alternate’s canonical points elsewhereUse the canonical URL in hreflang
Alternate is noindex or broken404, redirect or noindexPoint to a live, indexable page
> cat methodology.md

How the Hreflang Checker Works

Here is how the checker tests every hreflang tag.
  1. 01

    The page is loaded

    Our server fetches your page and reads every link rel="alternate" hreflang tag.

    Our server
  2. 02

    Codes are checked

    Each code is checked against ISO 639-1 language codes and ISO 3166-1 region codes.

    In your browser
  3. 03

    Self and x-default checks run

    The tool checks that the page lists itself and looks for an x-default tag.

    In your browser
  4. 04

    Alternates are visited

    Each alternate URL is fetched to check status, canonical, noindex and return link.

    Our server
  5. 05

    Results are graded

    You get a clear list of errors and warnings with fixes.

    In your browser

Rules From Google's Hreflang Guide

Checks follow Google’s documentation on localized versions.
  • The value is a language code (ISO 639-1), optionally followed by a region code (ISO 3166-1 Alpha 2).
  • A region code on its own is not valid.
  • Each language version must list itself and all other versions.
  • If two pages do not point to each other, Google may ignore the tags.
  • x-default is the fallback for unmatched languages.
> test --report

Is the Hreflang Checker Accurate?

Yes. The tool reads the real hreflang tags on your page, checks codes against the ISO lists, and visits every alternate page live to check return links and canonicals.
Exact
accuracy level
live tags and pages
ISO codes
what results are based on
and Google's rules
Monthly
full re-test
against known answers
24/7
bug reports open
fixed as high priority
What we test every month
  • Valid and invalid codes are told apart
  • Missing self links are found
  • Missing return links are found
  • Noindex, redirect and canonical problems are flagged
  • x-default is detected

Accuracy in plain words

The tool checks hreflang tags in the HTML head. Hreflang set in HTTP headers or in an XML sitemap is not checked here.

Keep in mind
Correct hreflang helps Google show the right version, but Google may still choose a different page if it thinks it is a better match.
> features

Features of the Hreflang Checker

Everything you need to debug hreflang on a multilingual site.

Code checks

Language and region codes checked against ISO lists.

Return links

Checks that each alternate links back.

Self links

Makes sure the page lists itself.

x-default

Finds your fallback tag or tells you to add one.

Live alternates

Checks status, canonical and noindex on each alternate.

Plain word fixes

Every problem explains what to change.

> 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
  • It does not check hreflang in XML sitemaps or HTTP headers
  • It checks one page and its alternates at a time
  • It cannot see pages behind a login or geo-block
  • It cannot force Google to use your tags
What you should do
  • Fix every invalid code first
  • Make sure all versions link to each other
  • Use canonical, indexable URLs only
  • Test key pages with URL Inspection in Search Console
> whoami

Who Can Use This Hreflang Checker?

Anyone who runs a site in more than one language or country.

International sites

Make sure each country sees the right page.

Multi-region stores

Show the right prices and currency version.

SEO specialists

Audit hreflang setups quickly for clients.

Developers

Test hreflang output after a release.

> 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

Hreflang Checker launched

First release with code checks, self and x-default checks, return link checks and live alternate checks.

Launch
Every month

Full re-test and rules review

We run the tool against our test cases again and check Google's localized versions guide and the ISO code lists 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.

Report a bug
> 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 tag reader, the code checks and the alternate crawler.
MA
Reviewed by

Muhammad Ahtesham

SEO Strategist and Founder, 4+ years
Checked every rule against Google’s guide to localized versions.
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.

Sources we 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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> faq

Hreflang Checker FAQ

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

What is a hreflang tag?

A hreflang tag tells Google which language, and optionally which country, a page is for. It helps Google show the right version of a page to each searcher.

Is this hreflang checker free?

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

What does x-default mean?

x-default marks the page to show when no other language version matches the visitor, such as a language picker or your main English page.

Is it en-UK or en-GB?

It is en-GB. The ISO code for the United Kingdom is GB, so en-UK is not valid and Google ignores it.

Why does Google ignore my hreflang tags?

The most common reasons are invalid codes, missing return links, or alternates that redirect, are noindex or have a different canonical.

Does a page need a hreflang tag for itself?

Yes. Each page should list its own language version as well as every other version.

Does hreflang help rankings?

It does not boost rankings. It helps Google show the right language version, which improves clicks and user experience.

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