5 Best Broken Link Checkers in 2026 (Honest Comparison)

Finding broken links sounds simple. Click links, see what breaks. Done.

In reality, modern websites have hundreds or thousands of links—internal pages, external resources, embedded videos, file downloads. Manual checking is impossible at scale.

Broken link checkers automate this process, but they vary wildly in what they actually detect. Some catch basic 404 errors. Others find soft 404s, redirect chains, deleted videos, and expired file hosts that basic tools miss entirely.

This guide compares the best broken link checkers available in 2026, with honest assessments of what each tool does well and where it falls short.

What to Look for in a Broken Link Checker

Before comparing tools, understand what separates good checkers from great ones:

Detection Depth

Basic detection: HTTP status codes only. A 404 is broken, everything else is "fine."

Smart detection: Analyzes page content to find soft 404s (pages that return 200 OK but say "Not Found"), redirect chains, deleted YouTube videos, expired file hosts, and login walls masquerading as content.

Most free tools only do basic detection. This misses a huge percentage of actually broken links.

Monitoring vs. One-Time Scans

One-time scanners: Check your links once when you run the tool. Useful for audits, useless for ongoing maintenance.

Continuous monitoring: Check links on a schedule (daily, hourly) and alert you when something breaks. Essential for sites that need to stay healthy over time.

Alert Channels

When a link breaks, how do you find out?

• Email only: Works, but easy to miss
• Slack/Discord: Team visibility, faster response
• Webhooks: Automation, integration with existing workflows
• Push notifications: Immediate awareness

Platform Support

What types of content can the checker analyze?

• Standard web pages (HTTP/HTTPS)
• Embedded videos (YouTube, Vimeo)
• File hosting services (Google Drive, Dropbox, etc.)
• API endpoints and documentation links

The 5 Best Broken Link Checkers for 2026

1. DeadLinkRadar

Best for: Bloggers, documentation teams, and anyone who needs smart detection.

Pricing: Free (50 links), $9/mo Starter (1,000 links), $19/mo Pro (5,000 links), $49/mo Business (25,000 links)

DeadLinkRadar focuses on catching broken links that other tools miss. Its smart detection engine finds soft 404s, redirect chains, deleted YouTube videos, and expired file hosts—problems that basic HTTP checkers don't see.

Strengths:

• Smart detection: Catches soft 404s, deleted videos, expired file hosts
• 40+ file host adapters: Monitors MEGA, Google Drive, Dropbox, and niche file hosting services
• Modern alerts: Email, Slack, Discord, Telegram, webhooks, ntfy.sh
• Clean dashboard: Real-time updates, group by domain, search and filter
• REST API: Full API access for developers

Limitations:

• Lower link limits than volume-focused competitors
• Best value is detection quality, not raw quantity

Best use case: Sites where link quality matters more than checking 50,000 URLs with basic detection.

Verdict: The smart choice for content creators who want to catch what others miss. Free tier lets you try before committing.

2. Screaming Frog SEO Spider

Best for: SEO professionals who need comprehensive site audits.

Pricing: Free (500 URLs), $259/year (unlimited)

Screaming Frog is a desktop application that crawls websites and identifies SEO issues—including broken links. It's powerful but designed for technical SEO audits, not ongoing monitoring.

Strengths:

• Comprehensive crawl data (not just links)
• Exports detailed reports
• JavaScript rendering support
• Integrates with Google Analytics and Search Console

Limitations:

• Desktop app requires manual runs
• No continuous monitoring or alerts
• Overkill if you only need link checking
• Learning curve for non-technical users

Best use case: Quarterly SEO audits where you need full site analysis.

Verdict: Excellent for one-time audits. Poor for ongoing monitoring.

3. Ahrefs Site Audit

Best for: Teams already using Ahrefs for SEO.

Pricing: $99/mo Lite, $199/mo Standard (includes other Ahrefs tools)

Ahrefs Site Audit is part of the broader Ahrefs SEO suite. It crawls your site and identifies broken links among many other SEO issues.

Strengths:

• Comprehensive SEO audit beyond just links
• Scheduled crawls
• Integration with Ahrefs backlink data
• Team collaboration features

Limitations:

• Expensive if you only need link checking
• Crawl credits may limit frequency
• Part of larger suite—can't buy link checking alone
• Basic HTTP detection (misses soft 404s)

Best use case: Teams already paying for Ahrefs who want integrated link checking.

Verdict: Great if you already use Ahrefs. Expensive standalone.

4. Dead Link Checker (deadlinkchecker.com)

Best for: Budget-conscious users who need high volume.

Pricing: Free (basic), $9.95/mo (50,000 links)

Dead Link Checker offers high link volumes at low prices. It's designed for checking large sites quickly.

Strengths:

• High link limits at low price
• Simple interface
• Scheduled checks available

Limitations:

• Basic HTTP detection only
• Dated interface
• Email-only alerts
• Misses soft 404s, deleted videos, file host issues

Best use case: Large sites where basic 404 detection is sufficient.

Verdict: Good for volume. Poor for detection depth.

5. W3C Link Checker (validator.w3.org)

Best for: Developers who need free, one-time validation.

Pricing: Free

The W3C Link Checker is a free web-based tool that checks links on a single page or follows a page's links recursively.

Strengths:

• Completely free
• Checks HTTP and HTTPS
• Shows redirect chains
• No account required

Limitations:

• One-time scans only
• No monitoring or alerts
• Can be slow on large sites
• Basic detection only
• No scheduling or automation

Best use case: Quick spot-checks during development.

Verdict: Useful for free spot-checks. Not suitable for ongoing monitoring.

Feature Comparison Table

Pricing Comparison

How to Choose

Choose DeadLinkRadar if:

• You need to catch soft 404s and deleted videos
• Your site links to file hosting services
• You want modern alert channels (Slack, Discord)
• Quality of detection matters more than raw volume
• You prefer a clean, modern interface

Choose Screaming Frog if:

• You do quarterly SEO audits
• You need comprehensive site crawl data
• Manual scans fit your workflow
• Budget allows $259/year

Choose Ahrefs if:

• You already pay for Ahrefs
• You want integrated SEO data
• Team collaboration is important
• Budget allows $99+/month

Choose Dead Link Checker if:

• You need to check 50,000+ links cheaply
• Basic 404 detection is sufficient
• You don't need smart detection

Choose W3C if:

• You just need occasional spot-checks
• Budget is zero
• You're fine with manual, one-time scans

The Detection Gap Problem

Here's the uncomfortable truth: most broken link checkers only detect obvious problems.

A page returns 404? They catch it. A page returns 200 OK but displays "This content has been removed"? They report it as healthy.

This detection gap means sites using basic checkers often have broken user experiences despite "clean" reports.

Examples of what basic checkers miss:

1. Soft 404s: A company redesigns their docs. Old URLs return 200 but show "Page moved." Basic checkers see 200 = healthy.

2. Deleted YouTube videos: Video removed for copyright. Embed shows error, but HTTP is technically valid.

3. Expired file hosts: A MEGA link expires after 180 days of inactivity. The URL returns a valid page—just one that says "File not available."

4. Login walls: External site moved content behind registration. Link "works" but shows a signup form instead of content.

Smart detection tools analyze the content of responses, not just HTTP codes. They recognize patterns that indicate broken experiences even when the HTTP layer looks fine.

Making Your Decision

The best broken link checker depends on what you actually need:

For ongoing monitoring with smart detection: DeadLinkRadar catches problems that others miss, with modern alert channels and a clean interface.

For comprehensive SEO audits: Screaming Frog provides deep crawl analysis beyond just links.

For existing Ahrefs users: Use their built-in Site Audit.

For high-volume basic checking: Dead Link Checker offers the most links per dollar.

For free spot-checks: W3C Link Checker handles occasional validation.

Try Before You Commit

Most paid tools offer free tiers or trials. Test them on your actual site before deciding.

Start with DeadLinkRadar free — Monitor 50 links with full smart detection. See what other tools miss. Upgrade when you need more capacity.

Have questions about choosing a broken link checker? Contact us or get started free to see DeadLinkRadar in action.