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Essential WordPress Redirect Plugins To Manage Broken Links

June 24, 2020

Redirect WordPress Plugins

June 24th, 2020 | Updated on March 29th, 2024

Sometimes you find a broken link on your website and that would certainly upset you.

These broken links damage the ranking of your website and you should try and avoid them as much as you can.

The best thing you can do is to move to a better platform like WordPress.

It is difficult to locate and fix the broken links and redirect plugins may be used to simplify the process behind it.

Redirect plugins link any broken links to a relevant page from your website itself.

So, if the visitor comes to that broken link he would be moved to a normal page that loads.

This makes your site look credible and the rankings are maintained too.

Have a look at how you can redirect your URL in WordPress and then read the best redirect WP plugins.

How To Redirect A URL In WordPress

Firstly you would need to add a code to the hypertext access file. It is important to make a backup as even a single mistake can wreak havoc on your website.

Then go to File Manager and select the .htaccess to rename it as .htaccess_old. This would be the backup file. Next, go again to the file manager and look for public_HTML and open a new text file. You may name it .htaccess. This is your new file now.

Add your code to the new post and from now on the broken link would redirect to it.

Best Redirect WordPress Plugins

1. Redirection

Redirection simplifies WordPress redirects, tracks errors, and boosts SEO. It’s trusted for over a decade. No need for Apache or Nginx skills. Easy redirects with permalinks. Advanced features like regex, conditional redirects, and detailed logging. Compatible with PHP 5.6 to 8.3. More at redirection.me.

2. 301 Redirects

301 Redirects simplifies managing redirects for your WordPress site, boosting SEO and visitor experience. Easy to install and configure with a friendly interface. Ideal for new sites or fixing links after content reorganization. Retain query strings, import/export redirects, and track redirection usage effortlessly.

3. Redirection for Contact Form 7

Redirection for Contact Form 7 enhances the popular WordPress plugin. Easily redirect users after form submission. Simply set up redirection in form settings. Features include redirecting to any URL, opening in a new tab, running JavaScript, and passing form fields as URL parameters.

4. Safe Redirect Manager

Manage your site’s redirects easily and securely with Safe Redirect Manager, following the WordPress way. Unlike other plugins, it stores redirects as Custom Post Types, ensuring portability and scalability. Built for enterprise-level traffic, it focuses on essentials without unnecessary options, ensuring efficiency. Set HTTP status codes for SEO and set up in-post redirections effortlessly.

5. SEO Redirection Plugin

SEO Redirection is a handy tool for managing 301 redirects effortlessly on your site. Perfect for migrating pages or changing your WordPress site’s directory. Features include manual redirections, wildcard support, fixing crawl errors, WPML integration, import/export, and advanced control panel.

6. All 404 Redirect to Homepage

The “All 404 Redirect to Homepage” plugin swiftly resolves random 404 links on your site by rerouting them to the homepage or any designated page via a 301 SEO redirect. Addressing 404 errors is vital for maintaining your site’s search engine ranking, and this plugin offers a straightforward solution to tackle them.

To use the plugin, install it and access the control panel through the settings menu. Specify the destination link for redirecting all 404 errors in the provided textbox, then activate the plugin status. Save your settings by clicking “Update Options.” You can monitor and manage discovered 404 links under the “404 URLs” tab.

7. Redirect URL to Post

The “Redirect URL to Post” plugin generates links that direct users to specific posts on your WordPress site. Using the ?redirect_to= query parameter, you can determine the target post, including options like “last,” “first,” “random,” “prev,” “next,” or “custom.” Additional parameters can filter or adjust post selection. Simply add ?redirect_to=… to your site’s URL to use it.

8. IP2Location Redirection

IP2Location Redirection is a top plugin for redirecting visitors based on their country and region. It’s easy to use and supports both 301 & 302 redirection. Manage multiple redirection rules effortlessly. Works with IPv4 and IPv6. Compatible with IP2Location database or web service for accurate geolocation lookup. Update BIN data monthly for precise results.

9. Simple Website Redirect

The Simple Website Redirect plugin allows you to redirect an entire website (excluding the WordPress admin) to another website while preserving the URL path and query string. It’s ideal for situations where one-off redirects are necessary, with the new site handling redirects for old pages.

For more advanced redirection needs, the Redirection plugin is recommended. To use the Simple Website Redirect plugin, simply install and activate it, then navigate to ‘Settings’ in the WordPress admin menu and click on ‘Website Redirect’.

From there, enter the desired redirect URL, select the redirection type, set the status to ‘Enabled’, and save your changes.

10. WP 404 Auto Redirect

WP 404 Auto Redirect guides visitors from broken pages (404 errors) to relevant content on your site using titles, categories, or tags. If no match is found, it redirects to your homepage or a custom URL.

Version 1.0 introduces engines and groups for customizable searching and matching. The plugin includes 5 engines and 1 default group.

11. SeedProd

SeedProd offers redirection capabilities alongside its other features, despite not being exclusively a redirection plugin. Here’s what it can do:

Coming Soon/Maintenance Mode: Redirects your entire site to a custom landing page while it’s being built or under maintenance.
Automatic 301 Redirects: Automatically sets up a 301 redirect (permanent) when you change a page or post URL.
Advanced Redirection Controls: Provides a control panel to manage folder redirects, create custom redirects, and select redirection types.

12. Simple 301 Redirects

Simple 301 Redirects is your solution for fixing “404 not found” errors or updating URLs for marketing campaigns or website relaunches. Easily create 301 redirects from old URLs to new ones, whether they’re on your site or elsewhere on the web. It’s perfect for maintaining URL structure when migrating to WordPress.

13. 404 to 301

404 errors hurt your SEO, but this plugin automatically handles them for you. It redirects all 404 errors to a page of your choice using 301 status, ensuring a seamless user experience and improved search engine ranking.

14. Attachment Pages Redirect

Attachment Pages Redirect is a WordPress plugin that tackles orphaned attachments and broken links. It redirects visitors who land on dedicated attachment pages (e.g., for a single image) to a more relevant location. Here’s what it offers:

Redirect Options: It can redirect users to the original post/page where the attachment was used, the image itself, or even a custom URL you define.
Broken Link Fix: By redirecting to the correct location, it prevents “404 Not Found” errors for attachment pages.
Improved User Experience: It ensures visitors see the intended content instead of a useless attachment page.

15. Quick Page/Post Redirect Plugin

The Quick Page/Post Redirect Plugin allows for quick and easy redirects. You can redirect without needing an existing page or post. Simply input the Request URL and Destination URL, and the plugin handles the redirection. This is useful for fixing typos, redirecting old URLs, or redirecting links from an old site to WordPress.

For existing pages/posts, the plugin adds an option to the edit screen for individual redirects. This is helpful for menu items, duplicate posts, or redirecting pages to different URLs.

It’s recommended to use a WordPress Permalink structure for best results and avoid conflicts with other redirect plugins.

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