Free Redirect Chain Checker
See every hop a URL takes before it reaches its final destination. Long redirect chains slow down your site and waste crawl budget — this shows you exactly where it happens.
Free · No signup required · Results in seconds
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What Is a Redirect Chain Checker?
A redirect chain happens when a URL redirects to another URL, which redirects to another, and so on, before finally reaching its destination — URL A → B → C. A single redirect (A → B, done) is normal and usually harmless. Multiple redirects stacked together are the "chain" worth paying attention to, since each hop adds a round trip before the page actually loads. A redirect loop is the more serious version of the same problem — the chain eventually points back to a URL it already visited, so it never reaches a real destination at all.
How to Check a Redirect Chain
Enter the URL.
Run the checker.
Review each redirect hop, in order.
Identify the final destination and its HTTP status.
What Does a Redirect Chain Checker Check?
Every extra hop adds load time and can complicate crawling — here's exactly what we look for.
HTTP Status Codes
The real status code returned at every hop in the chain, not just the final one.
301 / 302 Redirects
Identifies whether each hop is a permanent (301/308) or temporary (302/303/307) redirect.
Multiple Redirect Hops
Counts every hop in the chain, so you can see at a glance whether a URL redirects once or several times.
Redirect Loops
Detects when a chain eventually points back to a URL it already visited, and flags it clearly.
Final Destination URL
Shows exactly where the chain ends up, and its final HTTP status.
Redirected URL Path
The full path each hop takes, in order, so you can see exactly where the extra hops are coming from.
Why Redirect Chains Matter for SEO
Added Complexity
Unnecessary redirects add complexity to a site's URL structure over time, making it harder to reason about.
Slower Response Time
Each hop is a separate round trip, which can increase request and response time before the page actually loads.
Less Efficient Crawling
Long chains make crawling less efficient — search engines have a limited crawl budget to spend on your site.
Migration Complications
Redirect chains can complicate migrations and future URL changes, since each new redirect stacks on top of the old ones.
Redirect Loops
A true loop can prevent users and crawlers from ever reaching the destination at all — the most serious version of this problem.
How to Fix Redirect Chains
Point the original URL directly to the final URL, skipping the intermediate hops.
Remove unnecessary intermediate redirects once you've confirmed the final destination.
Replace outdated redirect rules left over from previous site changes.
Check migration redirects specifically — chains often accumulate during platform moves.
Test the final URL after making changes, to confirm it resolves cleanly.
Redirect Chain vs. Redirect Loop
A → B → C
Multiple redirects eventually reach a destination
Can add unnecessary hops
A → B → A
Redirects never reach a final destination
Can prevent the page from loading
Need Help Cleaning Up Redirects?
If your website has redirect chains or loops that require development work, Zelthra can audit and implement technical SEO improvements.
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Try It FreeFrequently Asked Questions
Yes. There's no signup, no email required, and no limit on how many URLs you can check.
A redirect chain happens when URL A redirects to URL B, which redirects to URL C, and so on, before reaching a final page. Each hop adds delay and can weaken SEO value passed along the chain.
Google generally recommends keeping chains to 1-2 hops. Three or more hops start to noticeably slow page load and can cause search engines to stop following the chain entirely.
A 301 is a permanent redirect and passes SEO value to the destination. A 302 is meant to be temporary and doesn't reliably transfer the same SEO value — using 302 for a permanent page move is a common mistake.
A redirect loop happens when a chain of redirects eventually points back to a URL that was already part of the chain, so the browser or crawler never reaches a final destination.
No. We trace the redirect chain live and don't save the URL or results anywhere.
Want Your Redirects Cleaned Up?
Long redirect chains and loops quietly slow down your site and weaken SEO. Our team can audit and fix redirects across your entire website.