Introduction
A single broken link can ruin user experience, damage SEO rankings, and even cost you leads. Studies show that 88% of online shoppers won’t return to a site after encountering errors—making broken links a silent killer for WordPress websites.
With over a decade of experience in WordPress SEO, I’ve seen how broken links negatively impact crawlability, bounce rates, and conversions. The good news? Fixing them is easy with the right tools. In this guide, I’ll break down the best broken link checker plugins for WordPress, their key features, and real-world examples of how they’ve saved businesses from SEO disasters.
What Are Broken Links & Why Do They Hurt SEO?
Broken links (404 errors) occur when a webpage or resource no longer exists, but other sites or pages still link to it. This can happen due to:
Deleted pages (e.g., outdated blog posts)
Changed URLs (e.g., after a site migration)
External sites going down (e.g., linked sources disappearing)
SEO Impact:
Crawl Budget Waste: Search engines like Google allocate limited “crawl budget” to your site. Broken links force bots to waste time on dead ends instead of indexing valuable content.
Poor User Experience: Visitors hitting 404 pages are more likely to leave, increasing bounce rates.
Lost Rankings: Google’s Search Console flags broken links as errors, which can hurt your site’s authority.
Case Study: A travel blog lost 15% of organic traffic after a redesign accidentally broke internal links. Using a broken link checker, they recovered rankings in 4 weeks.
- Best WordPress Broken Link Checker Plugins
- Broken Link Checker (Free)
Best for: Small to medium sites needing real-time monitoring.
Key Features:
Scans posts, pages, and custom content for broken links.
Alerts you via dashboard or email.
Lets you edit or unlink broken URLs directly.
Drawback: Can slow down large sites if left running continuously.
WP Broken Link Status Checker (Premium)
Best for: Agencies managing multiple client sites.
Why It Stands Out:
Scheduled scans (reduces server load).
Redirect suggestions for fixing broken links.
CSV export for bulk fixes.
Real-World Use: An e-commerce site fixed 500+ broken product links in bulk after a category restructuring.
SEO Scout Broken Link Manager (Freemium)
Best for: SEO-focused sites needing advanced reporting.
Unique Perks:
Tracks link health history over time.
Integrates with Google Search Console for error cross-checking.
API support for automated workflows.
Pro Tip: Pair this with Yoast SEO to prioritize fixing links harming rankings.
How to Fix Broken Links (Beyond Plugins)
Plugins detect issues, but fixing them correctly matters more:
Step 1: Redirect vs. Delete
301 Redirect: Use for important pages (preserves SEO value).
Remove Link: If the content is irrelevant.
Step 2: Monitor External Links
Tools like Ahrefs or Screaming Frog help track outbound links pointing to dead domains.
Step 3: Prevent Future Breaks
Use permalinks (avoid changing URLs).
Audit links quarterly (plugins make this easy).
Expert Mistake I’ve Seen: A client redirected all 404s to the homepage, diluting SEO value. Always redirect to relevant pages!
Conclusion
Broken links are inevitable but manageable. The right plugin (Broken Link Checker for simplicity, WP Broken Link Status Checker for scalability, or SEO Scout for data-driven SEOs) can save hours of manual audits and protect your rankings.
Key Takeaways:
✅ Fix broken links ASAP—they hurt UX and SEO.
✅ Combine plugins with manual checks for thorough coverage.
✅ Prevent future breaks with smart redirects and audits.
