Discover how Broken Link Checker helps you find and fix broken links in WordPress. Improve SEO, boost user experience, and keep your website healthy in 2025.
Introduction: Why Broken Links Are Bad for SEO and User Experience 😖
Imagine clicking a link on a website, only to land on a 404 error page. Frustrating, right?
Broken links not only annoy users but also hurt your SEO rankings. Search engines like Google consider broken links a sign of poor maintenance. That’s where the Broken Link Checker plugin for WordPress comes in handy.
Broken Link Checker automatically scans your website for broken internal and external links and helps you fix them from one dashboard. In 2025, it remains one of the most essential SEO tools for WordPress websites.
What is Broken Link Checker? 🛠️
Broken Link Checker is a free WordPress plugin that monitors and tests all the links on your website. It detects:
Broken internal links 🔗
Broken external links 🌐
Missing images 🖼️
Redirects 🔁
Malformed URLs ❌
The plugin notifies you via the dashboard or email when a broken link is found. You can then edit, remove, or fix the link — all without opening each page manually.
Key Features of Broken Link Checker 🚀
✅ Automatic Scanning
Scans all your posts, pages, comments, and custom fields for broken links on a schedule.
✅ Link Status Reporting
Clearly shows which links are working, redirected, or broken in a clean interface.
✅ Inline Editing
Edit broken links directly from the plugin dashboard — no need to edit individual pages.
✅ Email Notifications
Get email alerts when new broken links are found, so you can fix them immediately.
✅ Custom Filtering
Filter links by URL, anchor text, status, and more. Great for large sites.
✅ Exclude Specific Links
Exclude certain domains or post types from being scanned (e.g., affiliate links or comments).
How Broken Link Checker Improves Your SEO 🧠
Fixes 404 errors to reduce bounce rate
Restores link equity from broken internal links
Prevents search engine penalties for poor user experience
Enhances crawlability by ensuring Googlebot navigates your site smoothly
Improves user satisfaction and keeps visitors engaged
In short, Broken Link Checker helps ensure that your website’s SEO health remains top-notch.
How to Install and Use Broken Link Checker on WordPress 🖥️
Step 1: Install the Plugin
Go to Plugins > Add New
Search for Broken Link Checker
Click Install Now → Activate
Step 2: Configure Settings
Navigate to Tools > Broken Links
Adjust scan frequency, link types to monitor, and notification settings.
Step 3: Review Broken Links
After the scan completes, go to the Broken Links tab.
View link details, including status, source URL, and suggestions.
Step 4: Fix the Links
Hover over a broken link.
Choose to Edit URL, Unlink, or Mark as Not Broken.
Done!
Performance Note for Large Sites ⚠️
If you manage a large website, the classic Broken Link Checker plugin may slow down your server. Consider alternatives like:
Cloud-based Broken Link Checker (e.g., Ahrefs, Screaming Frog)
Link Checker by WPMU DEV (SaaS-based, doesn’t overload your server)
Alternatives to Broken Link Checker 🔄
| Plugin/Tool | Type | Strengths |
|---|---|---|
| Ahrefs Site Audit | SaaS | Advanced link analysis |
| Screaming Frog SEO Spider | Desktop Tool | Bulk crawl and export capabilities |
| WP Link Status Pro | Premium Plugin | Real-time monitoring |
| Dr. Link Check | Online Tool | Simple UI, email reports |
| Link Checker by WPMU DEV | SaaS Plugin | Cloud-based, zero performance hit |
Pros and Cons of Broken Link Checker ⚖️
✅ Pros
100% Free
Easy to use
Edit links inline
Real-time email alerts
Great for small to medium sites
❌ Cons
Can slow down performance on large sites
Some false positives
Interface is slightly dated
Best Practices for Using Broken Link Checker 🔍
Run scans during off-peak hours to minimize server load.
Whitelist your own domains to avoid unnecessary checks.
Check for broken links weekly or monthly.
Fix redirect chains (multiple hops) to maintain link equity.
Set up email notifications for real-time awareness.
Avoid scanning comment links if they’re not important.
Who Should Use Broken Link Checker? 🧑💻
Bloggers with regular content updates
Small business websites
SEO professionals
Agencies managing client sites
10 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Broken Link Checker ❓
1. Is Broken Link Checker free to use?
Yes, the plugin is 100% free and available on WordPress.org.
2. Will Broken Link Checker slow down my site?
It may affect performance on very large websites. For high-traffic sites, use cloud-based alternatives.
3. Does it detect image errors too?
Yes, it scans for missing or broken images as well.
4. Can it check links in widgets or menus?
No, it primarily scans content areas like posts, pages, and comments.
5. How often does it scan my site?
You can customize scan frequency (e.g., every 24 or 72 hours).
6. Will it automatically fix links?
No, but it allows manual editing from the dashboard.
7. Is Broken Link Checker safe to use?
Yes, but be cautious with performance on large-scale sites.
8. Can I exclude certain URLs from being scanned?
Yes, you can whitelist or blacklist specific domains or post types.
9. Are there premium versions?
No official premium version, but similar SaaS tools exist.
10. Does it work with multilingual sites?
Yes, it works with most multilingual plugins like WPML or Polylang.
Final Thoughts: Is Broken Link Checker Worth Using in 2025? ✅
If you’re serious about SEO and user experience, Broken Link Checker is a no-brainer. It’s free, powerful, and easy to use — perfect for bloggers, businesses, and agencies who want to keep their WordPress websites clean and functional.
Even with its performance limitations on large sites, it’s still one of the most downloaded and trusted SEO tools in the WordPress ecosystem.
🔗 Don’t let broken links break your SEO. Let Broken Link Checker do the dirty work!
