Free Redirect Checker
Enter any URL to trace the full redirect chain. See every hop with HTTP status codes, response times, and the final destination URL.
What Are HTTP Redirects?
An HTTP redirect is a server response that instructs the browser to navigate to a different URL than the one originally requested. When a server returns a 3xx status code, the browser reads the Location header and automatically follows the new URL. Redirects are used for domain migrations, enforcing HTTPS, URL canonicalization, link shortening, and routing traffic through CDNs or load balancers.
While a single redirect is often necessary and harmless, redirect chains (multiple redirects in sequence) add latency and can cause issues with search engine indexing. This tool lets you inspect every hop so you can identify and eliminate unnecessary redirects.
Redirect Types Explained
301 Moved Permanently -- The resource has permanently moved to a new URL. This is the most common redirect for domain migrations and URL changes. Search engines transfer link equity (ranking signals) to the new URL, making this the preferred choice for permanent moves. You can also use the HTTP Header Checker to inspect the full response headers returned with any redirect.
302 Found -- The resource is temporarily available at a different URL. The original URL should still be indexed by search engines. Use this for A/B testing, geolocation routing, or maintenance pages where the original URL will be restored.
307 Temporary Redirect -- Similar to 302, but the browser must use the same HTTP method (GET, POST, etc.) for the redirected request. This is important for form submissions and API endpoints where changing from POST to GET would break functionality.
308 Permanent Redirect -- Similar to 301, but like 307, it preserves the original HTTP method. This is the modern replacement for 301 when you need to guarantee the method is not changed during the redirect.
Redirects and Custom Domains
When SaaS platforms support custom domains, redirects are a critical part of the infrastructure. A common pattern is redirecting from the bare domain (example.com) to the www subdomain (or vice versa), or from HTTP to HTTPS. Misconfigured redirects can create chains or loops that hurt user experience and SEO.
SaaSKevin handles HTTPS enablement and request routing for your customers' custom domains. When a user adds their domain, we verify DNS routing, provision the SSL certificate, and route traffic once the domain is active. While a domain is still pending activation, SaaSKevin can return a fallback redirect.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is an HTTP redirect?
- An HTTP redirect is a server response that tells the browser to go to a different URL instead of the one originally requested. The server sends a 3xx status code along with a Location header pointing to the new URL. Common reasons include domain migrations, enforcing HTTPS, URL canonicalization, and shortening links.
- What is the difference between a 301 and 302 redirect?
- A 301 redirect means the resource has permanently moved to a new URL. Search engines transfer ranking signals (link equity) to the new URL. A 302 redirect means the move is temporary -- the original URL should still be indexed. Using the wrong type can hurt your SEO.
- How many redirects are too many?
- Ideally, you should have zero or one redirect (e.g., HTTP to HTTPS). Two hops are acceptable in some cases (e.g., http://example.com -> https://example.com -> https://www.example.com). Chains of three or more redirects add latency and can confuse search engine crawlers. Most browsers will stop following redirects after about 20 hops.
- Do redirects affect page speed and SEO?
- Yes. Each redirect adds a network round trip, increasing page load time by 100-500ms per hop depending on the server. Excessive redirects also dilute link equity and can cause crawl budget waste. Google recommends keeping redirect chains as short as possible.
- What is a redirect loop and how do I fix it?
- A redirect loop occurs when URL A redirects to URL B, which redirects back to URL A (or through a longer chain that eventually circles back). Browsers detect this and display an ERR_TOO_MANY_REDIRECTS error. Common causes include misconfigured server rules, conflicting CDN and origin settings, or SSL/HTTPS rules that conflict with each other.
Need setup examples for real SaaS products? Browse our industry guides and explore all free domain tools.