In the context of WordPress, a broken link checker plugin specifically targets your website’s content, including posts, pages, comments, and custom fields, to identify any broken internal or external links.

Why Broken Links Matter

Broken links, or dead links, are hyperlinks that no longer lead to the intended destination.

They can occur for several reasons, such as:

The target page has been moved or deleted.
The URL has changed.
External websites have gone offline.

Broken links affect your website by:

Decreasing SEO rankings: Search engines like Google consider broken links as a sign of poor site maintenance, which can negatively affect your rankings.
Reducing user experience: Users encountering 404 errors may leave your site, increasing your bounce rate.
Diminishing credibility: Too many broken links can make your site appear outdated or poorly managed.

Best WordPress Plugins for Checking Broken Links

1. Broken Link Checker

Broken Link Checker is one of the most popular WordPress plugins for finding and fixing broken links.

It continuously monitors your site for broken links, missing images, and redirects, and alerts you through the dashboard or via email.

Features

Monitors links in posts, pages, comments, and custom fields.
Alerts you via the WordPress dashboard or email.
Allows you to edit links directly from the plugin’s interface.
Prevents search engines from following broken links.

Pros & Cons

Pros:
- Highly customizable with advanced settings.
- Free to use.
- Automatically checks for broken links.
Cons:
- Can be resource-intensive on large sites, potentially slowing down the server.

2. WP Link Status Pro

WP Link Status Pro is another excellent plugin that provides a detailed analysis of your site’s links, including broken links, redirects, and other link-related issues.

It offers both a free and a premium version with additional features.

Features

Scans for broken links, redirects, and nofollow links.
Generates detailed reports.
Supports bulk editing of links.
Provides CSV export for reporting

Pros & Cons

Pros:
- User-friendly interface with easy-to-read reports.
- Premium version offers advanced features like automated scans.
- Lightweight and doesn’t slow down the site.
Cons:
- The free version has limited features compared to the premium version.

3. All in One SEO (AIOSEO)

All in One SEO (AIOSEO) is a comprehensive SEO plugin that also includes a broken link checker feature.

It’s a great option if you’re looking for an all-in-one solution to manage your site’s SEO and link issues.

Features

Built-in link checker to find broken links.
Full SEO suite including on-page optimization and XML sitemaps.
Social media integration for better sharing

Pros & Cons

Pros:
- Combines multiple SEO tools in one plugin.
- Regular updates and excellent support.
- Easy to set up and use.
Cons:
- The broken link checker feature is only available in the premium version.
- More expensive than standalone broken link checkers.

Best Online Tools for Checking Broken Links

1. Dead Link Checker

Dead Link Checker is a free online tool that allows you to quickly scan your website for broken links.

It’s easy to use and provides a simple report of any broken links found on your site.

Features

Scans entire websites or specific pages for broken links.
Provides a downloadable report of broken links.
Offers multiple scan options: Single URL, Multiple URLs, and Auto-Checker.

Pros & Cons

Pros:
- No installation required.
- Free to use.
- Simple and straightforward interface.
Cons:
- Limited to basic link checking.
- Lacks advanced features found in dedicated plugins.

2. W3C Link Checker

W3C Link Checker is an online tool provided by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C).

It’s designed to validate the HTML and XHTML of your web pages and check for broken links.

Features

Scans for broken links and validates HTML/XHTML.
Provides detailed reports with specific error codes.
Allows customizable options for depth, link types, and more.

Pros & Cons

Pros:
- Highly customizable.
- Reliable and trusted tool from W3C.
- Free to use.
Cons:
- The interface can be complex for beginners.
- Not specifically designed for WordPress, so it may not be as user-friendly as plugins.

3. Online Broken Link Checker

Online Broken Link Checker is a free tool that allows you to scan your entire website for broken links. It provides a detailed report with the exact location of each broken link on your site.

Features

Scans websites for broken links.
Provides a report with clickable URLs to review broken links.
Supports scanning of large websites.

Pros & Cons

Pros:
- No need to install anything.
- Free and easy to use.
- Can handle large sites with many pages.
Cons:
- Limited to a certain number of pages in the free version.
- Does not provide as detailed reports as some premium tools.

4. Screaming Frog SEO Spider

Screaming Frog SEO Spider is a desktop-based tool that allows you to crawl websites and find broken links. It’s a powerful tool for SEO professionals and web developers.

Features

Crawls websites to find broken links, redirects, duplicate content, and more.
Exports reports in various formats.
Offers detailed insights into website health.

Pros & Cons

Pros:
- Extremely thorough and detailed.
- Free version available with limitations.
- Regularly updated with new features.
Cons:
- Desktop-based, so it requires installation.
- The free version is limited to 500 URLs.

5. SEMRush

SEMRush is a powerful all-in-one marketing toolkit that includes a broken link checker as part of its site audit feature.

While not a WordPress plugin, it integrates well with WordPress sites and provides a comprehensive view of your site’s health.

Features

Identifies broken links as part of a site audit.
Provides detailed reports on other SEO issues.
Monitors backlinks and keyword rankings.

Pros & Cons

Pros:
- Comprehensive SEO and marketing tools in one platform.
- Detailed reports and analytics.
- Suitable for professional marketers and large sites.
Cons:
- Requires a paid subscription.
- More features than some users may need if only looking for a broken link checker.

Finding and fixing broken links is crucial for maintaining a healthy WordPress website.

Whether you prefer using a plugin or an online tool, there are plenty of options to suit your needs.

Broken Link Checker, WP Link Status Pro, and All in One SEO (AIOSEO) are some of the best WordPress plugins available, each offering unique features to help you keep your site free of broken links.

For those who prefer online tools, Dead Link Checker, W3C Link Checker, and Screaming Frog SEO Spider provide reliable alternatives that can quickly scan your site for issues.

Regularly using these tools will ensure your website remains user-friendly and optimized for search engines.

How to Find Broken Links in WordPress

Step 1

One of the best ways to find broken links on your WordPress site is by using a WordPress link checker plugin.

These plugins automatically scan your site for broken links and provide a report, making it easy to address the issue.

1. Install a Broken Link Checker Plugin

To start, you’ll need a plugin designed to check for broken links in WordPress. One of the most popular options is the Broken Link Checker plugin.

Install the Plugin: Go to your WordPress dashboard, navigate to “Plugins” > “Add New,” and search for “Broken Link Checker.” Install and activate the plugin.
Configure the Plugin: After activation, the plugin will start scanning your site for broken links. You can configure the settings by going to “Settings” > “Link Checker.”

Step 2

2. Review the Broken Links Report

Once the scan is complete, you’ll find a detailed report of all the broken links on your site.

Access the Report: Navigate to “Tools” > “Broken Links” in your WordPress dashboard.
View Link Details: The report will list all broken links, including the URL, the anchor text, and where it’s located on your site.

Step 3

3. Fix the Broken Links

After identifying broken links, you have several options for fixing them:

Edit the URL: You can update the URL to point to the correct destination.
Unlink the Broken Link: If the link is no longer relevant, you can simply remove it.
Dismiss False Positives: Sometimes, the plugin may flag a link as broken even when it’s not. You can dismiss these false positives from the report.