How to check a redirect chain with this URL redirect checker

Use this free redirect checker when you need to see where a URL actually lands — after a site migration, a move to HTTPS, a short link, an old address that should point to a new URL, or an expired domain that still forwards visitors somewhere else. It works like a redirect tracer or redirect tracker: you get the full redirect chain, not just the last page.

Paste a public address above (include https:// when you can). One per run. Optionally pick a User-Agent preset.

Click Check redirects. We request the URL from our servers and follow every 3xx Location header and every HTML-level step in order.

Read the hop table: HTTP status code, type, URL, and expandable response headers at each step.

Confirm where the path ended, how many redirects ran, and whether a loop stopped the run.

What you get from every redirect check

Full hop list — every redirect we followed, with codes and headers.
Final destination — the last address before the path ends (or before a loop or max-step stop), so you can audit where the final URL really lands.
Loop awareness — we stop if an address repeats, which helps you spot a redirect loop quickly.
Response headers — see the Location header and other headers exactly as the server returned them, plus basic response time context when you compare runs.

HTTP redirects, redirect codes, and SEO audit basics

A redirect tells browsers and crawlers that a page has moved. For SEO and for expired-domain buyers, the important part is the path: how many redirects, which codes, and where link equity (often discussed as PageRank), ranking signals, and traffic finally land. A path that looks fine in the browser can hide extra steps, so a redirected URL is worth checking before you rely on it.

Common redirect codes

301 redirect (Moved Permanently) — the resource has a lasting new location. Search engines treat this as a permanent move and typically consolidate signals toward the destination. It is the usual choice for a migration or a merge of two pages.

302 Found — a temporary move. Useful for short-lived tests; not the usual choice when you want a permanent consolidation. 303 See Other usually tells the client to fetch the result at another address with a GET. 307 Temporary Redirect is temporary but keeps the original request method. 308 Permanent Redirect is permanent and keeps the original method. Together these 3xx status codes are what this tool follows, and each one shows its redirect code in the table.

Why long chains matter

A long chain (A → B → C → D) adds latency and an extra round-trip for every step, which can slow the page and hurt page speed and Core Web Vitals; a PageSpeed test will not show you the path, but this tool will. Many redirects in a row can also waste crawl budget, because crawlers must request each address before they reach the page. Prefer a single hop from the old address to the final page when you control the redirects, and keep your sitemap and internal links pointed at the final page instead of redirected URLs. Also confirm robots.txt does not block the final page.

If there is no redirect, you should see a single row with the final status (often 200), Type = Final, and no further path.

Expired and purchased domains

Before you build on a name you bought — or before you trust backlinks into an old URL — check whether that host still 301/302s to another site, strips www, forces HTTPS, or ends in a loop. Unexpected forwarding can leak visitors and dilute the path you thought you were buying. Troubleshooting redirection problems on a new domain usually starts with this one check.

Common uses: redirect audit, sitemap, and migration checks

Migrations: confirm every old address maps to a new location with a single 301.

Canonical checks: make sure the end page matches your canonical version.

Affiliate links and shortened links: see which hops sit between a click and the landing page.

Broken chains: find the step where the path stops or loops.

What this tool follows — and what it does not

We follow HTTP status redirects (301, 302, 303, 307, 308 Location headers) and HTML meta http-equiv=refresh when present. Response headers for each step are shown as returned by the server.

We do not execute JavaScript redirects (location.href and similar). If a page only moves via client-side script, the path may stop on a 200 HTML page. The free tool checks one URL per run; it is not a bulk checker and does not export files.

FAQs about redirects

What does this Redirect Checker show?

The ordered redirect path for one public address: each step’s code, type, address, and response headers, plus where the path ends. The FAQs below cover limits and what is supported.

Which redirect types do you follow?

Responses 301, 302, 303, 307, and 308 (Location header), plus HTML meta refresh when the response body is HTML. We stop on the first response with neither, on a detected loop, or at the limit. JavaScript redirects are not executed.

What if there is no redirect?

You will see a single row with the final status (often 200), Type = Final, and a note that there is no further redirect step.

Is there a daily limit? Do I need an account?

No signup is required for the free tier. Limits match other Karma landing-tools: 1 URL per run and the shared free daily domain limit of 10 domains per day across these tools, with one active job at a time.

Can I check many URLs in bulk?

Not in this free landing tool. Check one URL per run. For higher volume, use Pro or the live-checks options on RapidAPI / Apify.

How can I run more checks after the free daily limit?

Upgrade to the Pro plan for higher limits inside Karma.Domains, or pay as you go on RapidAPI / Apify.

Is there a Chrome extension for these checks?

Yes — the free Karma Domains Chrome extension shows domain age and Karma Metric on Google, Bing, and DuckDuckGo results, and runs the same checks from the popup. Install once, then check domains while you search.

Where can I browse expired domains to buy?

Alongside this free check, the full list of expired domains from 40+ sources (auctions, drops and buy-now listings) is on the Karma.Domains homepage, updated hourly.

Free URL Redirect Checker