> links --check-broken

Free Broken Link Checker for Any Page

Scan any page for broken links and images. Every link is checked for 404s, server errors and redirects, with the link text so you can find and fix it fast.

5.0 (1 rating) · Built and tested by the SpellMistake team · Your data stays private
AT A GLANCE
  • What it doesFinds broken links and images on a page
  • AccuracyExact status at the time of the check
  • Works withAny public page, up to 300 links
  • PriceFree, no sign-up, no limit
  • Last reviewed
> define

What Is a Broken Link Checker?

Short answer
A broken link checker is a tool that tests every link on a web page to see if it still works. It finds links that lead to a 404 “not found” page, a server error or a redirect, so you can fix or remove them before they annoy visitors and waste search engine crawl time.

Links break all the time. Pages get deleted, URLs change and other websites go offline. Broken links frustrate visitors, make your site look neglected and send link value to dead ends. This checker reads the page, tests each link and image, and shows the status code with the link text, so you know exactly which link to fix.

Quick facts
> how --to

How to Use the Broken Links Checker

Find broken links on a page in under a minute.
01

Enter a page URL

Paste the full URL of the page you want to scan.
02

Run the scan

The tool reads the page and lists every link and image.
03

Wait for the checks

Each link is tested and given a status code.
04

Review broken links

See each broken link with its text and status.
05

Fix and re-scan

Update or remove broken links in your CMS, then scan again.

How to fix broken links

  • Internal 404: update the link to the right page, or add a 301 redirect from the old URL.
  • External 404: find a new source or remove the link.
  • Redirects: update the link to the final URL to save a hop.
  • Server errors (5xx): check again later. If it stays, the site may be down.
Ready to try it? It is free and takes less than a minute.
> ls ./guide

Link Status Codes Explained

What each result means.
StatusMeaningAction
200 OKThe link worksNone
301 or 308Moved for goodUpdate the link to the new URL
302 or 307Moved for nowUsually fine, check it is on purpose
404 or 410Page not found or goneFix or remove the link
403Access blockedOften a site blocking bots. Check in a browser.
5xxServer errorCheck again later
> cat methodology.md

How the Broken Links Checker Works

Here is how the checker tests every link.
  1. 01

    The page is loaded

    Our server fetches the page HTML.

    Our server
  2. 02

    Links are collected

    Every a href and img src is collected, made absolute and de-duplicated, up to 300.

    In your browser
  3. 03

    Each link is requested

    Our server requests each URL and records the status code and any redirect.

    Our server
  4. 04

    Results are sorted

    Broken links come first, then redirects, then working links.

    In your browser
  5. 05

    Link text is shown

    Each result shows the anchor text or image alt so you can find it on the page.

    In your browser

What Counts as Broken

The rules behind each label.
  • Broken: 4xx and 5xx status codes, or no response at all (timeout, DNS error).
  • Redirect: 3xx codes. Not broken, but worth updating.
  • OK: 2xx codes.
  • Some sites block automated checks with 403 or 429. These are marked so you can check them by hand.
> test --report

Is the Broken Links Checker Accurate?

Yes. Every link is requested live and you see the real status code the server returned at that moment.
Exact
accuracy level
real status codes
Live check
what results are based on
every link requested
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

A few sites block bots or answer differently to automated checks, so a link marked 403 may work in your browser. Servers can also be down for a moment. Always re-check before you remove a link.

Keep in mind
This tool checks one page at a time. For a whole site, use our SEO Audit Tool in site mode.
> features

Features of the Broken Links Checker

Everything you need to find and fix dead links.

Broken link finder

404s, server errors and dead domains.

Image checks

Broken images are found too.

Redirect finder

Spot links that redirect and update them.

Link text

Find each broken link on the page fast.

Internal and external

Checks links to your site and others.

Up to 300 links

Covers large pages in one scan.

> 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 Broken Links Checker?

Anyone who wants a healthy, user-friendly website.

Bloggers

Fix dead links in old posts.

SEO specialists

Find broken links in audits and outreach.

Store owners

Make sure every product link works.

Developers

Test pages after a site move.

> 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

Broken Links Checker launched

First release with link and image checks, status codes, redirect detection and link text, up to 300 links.

Launch
Every month

Full re-test and rules review

We run the tool against our test cases again and check HTTP status code standards and Google's guidance on 404s 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 link collector and the status checker.
MA
Reviewed by

Muhammad Ahtesham

SEO Strategist and Founder, 4+ years
Checked labels and advice against HTTP standards and Google 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

Did this tool help you? Your rating helps other people find a tool they can trust.
5.0out of 5

Based on 1 real user rating

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Rate this tool

How useful was the Broken Links Checker for you?

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

> faq

Broken Links Checker FAQ

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

What is a broken link?

A broken link is a link that no longer works, usually because the page was deleted or moved. It often shows a 404 "not found" error.

Is this broken link checker free?

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

Do broken links hurt SEO?

A few broken links will not hurt rankings much, but many can waste crawl time, lose link value and hurt user experience. Fixing them is good practice.

How many links can it check?

Up to 300 links and images on one page per scan.

Can I check my whole website?

This tool checks one page. To scan up to 100 pages, use our SEO Audit Tool in whole-site mode.

Why is a working link shown as 403?

Some sites block automated checks. Open the link in your browser to confirm it works.

How do I fix a broken internal link?

Change the link to the correct page, or add a 301 redirect from the old URL to the new one.

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.