Compare the best broken link checker tools side by side. Free vs paid, cloud vs desktop — find the perfect tool for your website monitoring needs.
Try #1 Rated 404Links Free| Tool | Type | Free Plan | Auto Scans | Max Pages | Reports | Price From |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 404Links | Cloud | Yes | Yes | 100 (free) | CSV+PDF | $0 |
| Screaming Frog | Desktop | Yes | No | 500 (free) | CSV | Free |
| Dead Link Checker | Web | Yes | No | 2,000 (free) | Web | $0 |
| Dr Link Check | Web | Yes | Yes | 100 (free) | Web | $0 |
| W3C Link Checker | Web | Yes | No | 1,000 | Web | Free |
| Ahrefs | Cloud | No | No | Unlimited | CSV | $99/mo |
| Semrush | Cloud | Limited | No | 100 | CSV | $129/mo |
| Xenu Link Sleuth | Desktop | Yes | No | Unlimited | Text | Free |
404Links is the best all-around broken link checker for most users. It offers a generous free plan, automatic weekly scans, PDF reports, and email alerts. Unlike desktop tools, it works in your browser with no installation. The cloud storage means reports are always accessible.
Screaming Frog is the gold standard for desktop SEO crawling. It's fast, feature-rich, and handles JavaScript. However, it requires Java installation, manual operation, and doesn't offer automatic monitoring or email alerts.
A simple web-based tool for checking broken links. The free plan covers up to 2,000 URLs, but scans are manual and there are no automatic monitoring features.
Ahrefs offers a powerful site audit feature alongside backlink analysis and keyword research. It's expensive ($99/mo minimum) and doesn't offer automatic scanning — audits must be triggered manually.
With dozens of broken link checker tools available in 2026, choosing the right one for your website can be overwhelming. The best broken link checker depends on several factors including your website size, technical expertise, budget, and specific needs.
See why 404Links is the best choice for automatic broken link monitoring.
Start Free Scan