Broken links are like potholes on your website’s highway, annoying for visitors and harmful to your SEO. Over the years, I’ve tested different ways to monitor and fix them on client sites and my own projects, and one thing became clear: using the right plugin makes all the difference.
In this guide, I’ll walk you through the best broken link checker plugins for WordPress, showing how they help you find 404 errors, keep your site lightweight, and protect your rankings. You’ll also see a comparison table and practical tips to help you choose the perfect fit. Let’s fix those links before they cost you traffic.
What Is a Broken Link Checker Plugin?
A broken link checker plugin scans WordPress site to find links that lead to 404 errors or external sites that no longer exist.
These dead links can hurt your SEO and frustrate visitors. The plugin helps you detect and fix them quickly, often with in-dashboard tools or email alerts.
Here’s where these plugins typically work:
- Full-site scans – Check all posts, pages, and media for broken links.
- In-dashboard fixes – Let you edit or remove links without leaving WordPress.
- Real-time alerts – Notify you via email when a new broken link is found.
- SEO protection – Prevents ranking drops caused by link errors.
In short, a broken link checker plugin is like a site health monitor that keeps your links fresh and your SEO intact.
Why Trust This List?
When it comes to plugin reviews, I don’t just rely on descriptions from developers or the WordPress plugin directory.
At wpworth.com, every tool I recommend has been installed, tested, and compared in real WordPress environments, from small blogs to medium-sized business sites.
This hands-on approach lets me evaluate not only the features promised but also how each plugin performs in day-to-day use.
For this list of the best broken link checker plugins for WordPress, I ranked tools based on several key factors:
- Ease of Use: How simple it is to set up and start scanning.
- Accuracy: Does it reliably detect broken links, redirects, and 404 errors?
- SEO Value: How well it helps prevent rankings from dropping due to link issues.
- Performance: Does it slow down your site or run smoothly in the background?
- Notifications: How quickly it alerts you when broken links appear.
- Pricing: Whether it’s free, freemium, or premium-only.
Unlike other “top plugin” lists you might see, this one isn’t sponsored or biased. I’m not paid to promote these tools, my goal is to share real results and honest insights so you can make the right choice for your site.
Best Broken Link Checker Plugins Comparison
Before we dive into the full reviews, let’s take a quick look at how the top broken link checker plugins for WordPress compare side by side.
This comparison table highlights their overall ranking and ease of use so you can quickly spot which plugin might be the right fit for your site.
| Plugin | Best For | Key Features | Ease of Use | Ranking |
| Broken Link Checker | Comprehensive site-wide scans | Auto-detect broken links, in-dashboard fixes | Beginner-friendly | ★★★★☆ |
| Broken Link Checker by AIOSEO | SEO-focused link monitoring | Lightweight, SEO-friendly, integrates with AIOSEO | Very easy, modern UI | ★★★★★ |
| Broken Link Notifier | Real-time email alerts | Sends instant notifications when broken links appear | Easy, automated alerts | ★★★★ |
| Check for Broken Links | Simple lightweight plugin | Basic scan & fix | Extremely simple | ★★★☆ |
The table gives you a clear overview of where each plugin stands, but the real value comes from understanding how they work in practice.
Let’s go deeper into each option to see their features, strengths, and how they perform in real-world WordPress setups.
Top 4 Best Broken Link Checker Plugins for WordPress
Building on what we’ve covered about why fixing broken links is so important for SEO and user trust, these four free broken link checker plugins for WordPress stand out for their balance of accuracy, ease of use, and reliability.
Each offers a straightforward free version for quick scans and fixes, with some providing premium upgrades for advanced monitoring and automation.
They cover different needs, from full-site scans to lightweight checks or real-time email alerts, so you can keep your site clean without extra hassle.
Whether you’re running a small personal blog, a growing WooCommerce store, or a content-heavy business site, these plugins make it simple to detect broken links, repair them quickly, and protect both your rankings and your visitors’ experience.
1. Broken Link Checker
Building on our earlier comparison of the top broken link checker plugins, Broken Link Checker remains one of the most popular and dependable choices for WordPress users who want a free, all-in-one solution to monitor and repair broken links.
This plugin focuses on scanning your entire website, from posts and pages to comments and custom fields, automatically detecting both internal and external broken links that could harm your SEO or frustrate visitors.
It’s ideal for bloggers, content-heavy sites, and small to medium businesses that need a reliable tool to maintain site health without spending extra on premium solutions. If you’re looking for a comprehensive, beginner-friendly plugin that helps you fix broken links directly inside the dashboard, Broken Link Checker is worth considering.
Key Features of Broken Link Checker
- Site-Wide Scanning: Monitors posts, pages, comments, and custom fields for broken internal and external links.
- In-Dashboard Fixes: Edit or unlink broken URLs directly without updating each post manually.
- Automatic Detection: Runs periodic scans to flag 404 errors, redirects, and missing images.
- Custom Scan Settings: Pause or adjust scanning frequency to reduce server load.
- Notifications: Receive alerts when new broken links are found.
- Free to Use: Widely supported, with no premium upgrade required.
Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
| Free and widely used in the WordPress community. | Can be resource-heavy on very large websites. |
| Comprehensive scanning of all content types. | Interface looks dated compared to newer plugins. |
| Allows quick link edits inside the dashboard. | May require tuning for performance optimization. |
| Saves time for content-heavy sites. | No premium add-ons for advanced automation. |
Broken Link Checker is a dependable plugin if you want an all-around solution for finding and fixing broken links without extra cost.
Its thorough scans and in-dashboard editing make it especially useful for content-rich sites, ensuring your visitors have a smooth browsing experience while protecting your SEO from hidden 404 errors.
2. Broken Link Checker by AIOSEO
If you’ve ever wished the original Broken Link Checker felt a bit lighter and more modern, the Broken Link Checker by AIOSEO is exactly that.
It’s developed by the same team behind All in One SEO (AIOSEO), one of the most trusted SEO plugins for WordPress. The idea was simple: create a broken link checker that helps you keep your site clean without slowing it down.
In my experience, this version feels smoother than the classic one. It runs checks in the background, connects directly with your SEO setup, and gives you simple options to fix or dismiss broken links right from your dashboard.
For me, it was a big time-saver on client sites that had thousands of pages because it didn’t drag the server down. If you want a lightweight, SEO-focused broken link checker that won’t slow down your WordPress site, the AIOSEO version is your best bet.
Key Features
- SEO-Focused Monitoring: Built to integrate with AIOSEO, making link health part of your overall SEO strategy.
- Lightweight Scanning: Cloud-based checks that reduce server strain and keep your site fast.
- Quick Fix Options: Edit, unlink, or ignore broken links from inside the dashboard.
- Modern User Interface: Clean, beginner-friendly design that’s easy to navigate.
- Seamless Integration: Works hand-in-hand with other AIOSEO features for better site optimization.
Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
| Lightweight and fast compared to the classic Broken Link Checker. | Requires AIOSEO for full integration benefits. |
| Modern, user-friendly interface. | Advanced features need AIOSEO Pro. |
| Built with SEO in mind, keeps site speed and rankings safe. | Not ideal for those who want a fully standalone tool. |
| Cloud-based scanning reduces server load. | Fewer advanced bulk management tools than some alternatives. |
The Broken Link Checker by AIOSEO is perfect if you want something simple, modern, and SEO-friendly. Unlike the original plugin, it’s not going to bog down your database or make your hosting provider complain about heavy scans.
For me, it’s the kind of tool I recommend to small business owners and bloggers who care about SEO performance and ease of use more than having hundreds of advanced settings.
The Broken Link Checker by AIOSEO is the best free option for users who want a lightweight, SEO-optimized plugin that scans broken links without slowing down their WordPress site.
3. Broken Link Notifier
If the first two plugins are like doing regular health check-ups for your site, Broken Link Notifier is more like having a smoke alarm in your house.
It alerts you the moment something goes wrong. Instead of waiting for a full site scan, this plugin sends you an email as soon as a broken link pops up.
That real-time notification system makes it a lifesaver if you hate surprises (like visitors hitting 404 pages). I remember using it on a client’s WooCommerce store. A supplier changed their product URLs overnight, and within minutes I had an email in my inbox. Without that alert, we could’ve lost sales for days before anyone noticed.
Broken Link Notifier is best if you want to know instantly when a broken link appears, without running manual scans.
Key Features of Broken Link Notifier
- Instant Email Alerts: Get notified right away when a broken link is detected.
- Works in the Background: Runs quietly without heavy server load or long scans.
- Customizable Notifications: Choose who gets alerts—site admins, editors, or both.
- Supports Internal & External Links: Monitors both outgoing and internal links.
- Set It and Forget It: Once set up, it works automatically without extra steps.
Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
| Sends instant alerts, no need to schedule or run scans. | Doesn’t offer in-dashboard fixes, need to edit broken links manually. |
| Lightweight and won’t slow down your site. | Lacks advanced features like bulk editing or cloud-based scanning. |
| Great for busy site owners who just want quick email updates. | Not ideal if you prefer detailed reports inside WordPress. |
| Works well for eCommerce sites, blogs, and portfolios. |
Broken Link Notifier is perfect for site owners who prefer proactive monitoring instead of reactive scanning. If you’re the type who wants a quick “heads-up” email whenever something breaks, this plugin gives you peace of mind without weighing down your website.
4. Check for Broken Links
If you’re looking for something light and easy, Check for Broken Links is a no hurry option. Think of it like a pocket-sized toolkit; you don’t get all the bells and whistles, but it does the job without slowing your site down.
I’ve used it on smaller blogs where running a heavy scanner just wasn’t worth it, and honestly, it felt refreshing to keep things simple.
Check for Broken Links is best for small websites that need a quick, lightweight way to find and fix broken links without adding extra load.
Unlike the more advanced plugins we just covered, this one keeps its focus narrow: scan, detect, and let you fix broken links. That’s it.
No fancy cloud integration, no email alerts, no deep SEO dashboards. But here’s the upside: it barely touches your server resources. For a small site with under 200 posts, that trade-off makes perfect sense.
It’s a practical choice if your priority is simplicity and keeping your site fast, especially for beginners or hobby bloggers.
Key Features
- Lightweight Scans: Unlike resource-heavy plugins that can run deep crawls and strain your server, this plugin runs simple, targeted scans. That makes it perfect for shared hosting or smaller websites where performance is a big concern.
- Simple Interface: The dashboard is minimal and straightforward. You don’t need to be an SEO expert to understand the results; broken links are flagged clearly, and fixes are just a click away.
- Basic Fix Options: It doesn’t overwhelm you with advanced settings. You can quickly repair links, update URLs, or remove them entirely. For most smaller sites, that’s all you really need.
- No Premium Upsells: One of the most refreshing things about this plugin is that it’s truly free. There’s no constant push to upgrade or buy add-ons. What you see is what you get: basic link checking without the clutter.
Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
| Extremely lightweight and easy to use | Limited features compared to others. |
| Ideal for small websites or blogs. | No real-time alerts or SEO-focused tools. |
| No extra features,just scans and fixes. | Not suited for large content-heavy websites. |
| Free and regularly updated. |
Choose this plugin if you value speed and simplicity over advanced SEO monitoring. From my experience, Check for Broken Links feels like a reliable “starter plugin.”
If you’re running a personal blog, portfolio, or a small niche site, it’s more than enough to keep things tidy. But if you’re managing a bigger site where SEO and automation are critical, one of the other plugins we discussed will serve you better.
FAQs: Broken Link Checker Plugins for WordPress
1. Do broken links hurt SEO?
Yes, broken links can lead to crawl errors, reduced link equity, and poor user experience, all of which indirectly affect SEO.
2. What is the most lightweight broken link checker plugin?
“Check for Broken Links” is the simplest and lightest option, while “Broken Link Checker by AIOSEO” offers lightweight cloud-based scanning.
3. How do I monitor broken links automatically?
Plugins like “Broken Link Notifier” send you email alerts without manual scans.
4. Which is the best free broken link checker plugin?
The original Broken Link Checker plugin remains the most feature-rich free solution.
5. Can I prevent broken links before they appear?
Yes, with SEO tools like AIOSEO and proactive redirects, you can reduce broken links by setting up proper link monitoring.
Choose the Best Broken Link Checker Plugin for WordPress
Broken links hurt SEO. They also frustrate visitors. A good plugin can fix both. If you run a large site or an online store, use Broken Link Checker by AIOSEO.
It is light, fast, and safe for SEO. For a small blog, try Check for Broken Links. It is simple and quick. Want alerts by email? Go with Broken Link Notifier.
Need a free, all-around tool? The classic Broken Link Checker still works well. AIOSEO for big sites. Check for broken links for small ones. Broken Link Notifier for alerts. Classic for a free option.
There is no single “best” plugin. The right one depends on your site and your style. All four work well. Each has its place.
Don’t wait for broken links to hurt your site. Pick a plugin today. Set it up. Keep your visitors happy. Protect your search traffic. Install a broken link checker now. Fix bad links fast. Stay ahead of SEO issues.