Link Redirect Trace Review 2026: Browser Extension Guide
Traces every redirect hop for any URL. 301, 302, meta refresh, JavaScript redirects. Essential for technical SEO audits and redirect debugging.
Editor's Verdict
Link Redirect Trace is a free Chrome extension that reveals the full redirect chain for any URL, including 301, 302, meta refresh, and JavaScript redirects. Shows each hop with status codes and final destination. Indispensable for technical SEO and redirect debugging.
Overall
4.1 / 5
Pricing
Free
Install Link Redirect Trace
Official extension, always install from the verified source
Link Redirect Trace is a single-purpose SEO extension that traces the full redirect chain of any URL. Click the icon on any page, or paste a URL into the extension popup, and it shows every hop in the redirect chain with HTTP status codes, response headers, and nofollow/sponsored/UGC attributes. Useful for migrations, link audits, and spotting cloaking.
Free tier vs paid features
The browser extension is free with ad-supported usage. Bulk URL analysis and historical data require a LinkResearchTools account, which starts at $299/month. For occasional manual redirect tracing the free extension is enough; for agency-scale audits the paid tier pays for itself. Most users will only need the free extension.
Free
Free, ad-supported
Paid
Paid via LinkResearchTools account ($299/month+), unlocks bulk analysis
Who actually uses Link Redirect Trace
For SEOs migrating a site, Link Redirect Trace verifies that old URLs redirect correctly through to the new location, with 301 (not 302) at each hop. For affiliate marketers, it shows whether outbound links pick up nofollow attributes mid-chain. For competitive research, it reveals what tracking domains an outbound link passes through before reaching the destination. The Ahrefs SEO Toolbar has a built-in redirect tracer too, but Link Redirect Trace is older, more focused, and exports better detail.
Pros and cons
Pros
Most thorough redirect tracer available
Shows full response headers at each hop
Identifies nofollow/sponsored/UGC mid-chain
Older and more battle-tested than newer competitors
Cons
Less polished UI than newer alternatives
Ad-supported on the free tier
Bulk analysis requires expensive LRT subscription
No Safari version
Should you install Link Redirect Trace?
For technical SEO work where the redirect chain itself matters, Link Redirect Trace is more thorough than the Ahrefs Toolbar's built-in tracer. For everyone else, the Ahrefs Toolbar covers redirect tracing well enough and bundles 10 other features.
Frequently Asked Questions
The browser extension is free with ad-supported usage. Bulk URL analysis and historical data require a paid LinkResearchTools subscription. For occasional manual redirect tracing, the free extension is enough.
Link Redirect Trace shows more detail (full response headers, nofollow attributes at each hop) and was the first browser-based redirect tracer. The Ahrefs Toolbar has a faster UI and bundles a redirect tracer with 10 other features. For deep technical audits, Link Redirect Trace wins; for general SEO work, the Ahrefs Toolbar covers it.
Yes. Link Redirect Trace is commonly used by affiliate marketers and competitive analysts to see what tracking domains and parameters a click passes through. It shows every redirect hop, including JavaScript-based redirects and meta-refresh redirects.
The most common cause is JavaScript-only redirects that fire after page load. Link Redirect Trace catches HTTP redirects (301, 302, 307) and meta-refresh redirects but cannot follow client-side router redirects in JavaScript single-page apps. For those, use the browser's built-in Network tab in DevTools.
No. There is no Safari version. Safari users can use the Ahrefs SEO Toolbar (which has a Safari build) for redirect tracing, or run a redirect-tracing service like httpstatus.io in any browser including Safari.
Not with the free browser extension. Bulk URL analysis requires a LinkResearchTools account, starting at $299/month. For free bulk redirect checking, run curl or use Screaming Frog SEO Spider in list mode.