Hreflang checker
Enter a page address to list its hreflang tags, check each language code, and load every alternate version to confirm it links back.
- No cost
- No sign-up
- No email
- No Google sign-in
- No subscription
- No limits for normal use
What the hreflang checker tests
Valid codes
Every hreflang value must be a real language code, with an optional country: en, en-GB, fr-BE. A common slip is en-UK, which Google ignores.
Return links
If page A points to page B, B must point back to A. We open every alternate page and check, because one-way tags are ignored.
Self-reference and x-default
Each page should list itself, and an x-default tells Google which version to show everyone else.
Who needs hreflang?
Only sites with the same content in more than one language or for more than one country, such as a UK and an Irish version of a shop, or English and Welsh pages. A single-language UK site doesn't need it at all. Hreflang doesn't raise rankings; it makes sure each searcher gets the right version, with the right currency and spelling.
The mistakes we see most
- en-UK instead of en-GB. The country code for the United Kingdom is GB. "uk" on its own means Ukrainian.
- Missing return links. The US page points to the UK page, but the UK page doesn't point back.
- Alternates that redirect or 404. Every hreflang address must load directly with a 200.
- Pointing every language at the home page instead of at the matching page.
What it can't check
We read tags in the page's <head> and in HTTP Link headers. Hreflang listed only in an XML sitemap isn't checked here; use the sitemap checker for the sitemap itself. We open up to 20 alternate pages per check.
Frequently asked questions
Is the hreflang checker free?
Yes. No sign-up, no email and no subscription, with only a fair-use limit to stop bots.
Should I use en or en-GB?
Use en-GB if you also have versions for other English-speaking countries. Use en alone if one English version serves everyone.
Do I need x-default?
It's recommended. It names the page to show people whose language or country doesn't match any version, often a language picker or your main site.
Does hreflang need to be on every page?
On every page that has translated or regional versions, and each of those versions must list all the others, including itself.
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