Broken Link Checker for WordPress

Scan any WordPress page for broken links — without installing a plugin. PerfBee runs the check from our servers, so it never slows down your WordPress admin or eats up shared hosting resources the way the classic Broken Link Checker plugin used to.

Why broken links are different on WordPress

WordPress sites accumulate broken links faster than most platforms because of how often posts, categories, and media URLs change. Permalink changes, deleted attachments, third-party plugin updates that rewrite URLs, and external sites going down all create dead links — usually without warning.

Where WordPress broken links hide

The most common broken links on WordPress sites are: outdated external links inside old blog posts, internal links pointing to deleted media files, links to deleted categories or tags, links inside menu items pointing to renamed pages, links from sidebar widgets to old archive URLs, and links in comments. The classic plugin scans the database but can't see issues introduced by themes or third-party page builders.

Why not just use the Broken Link Checker plugin?

The original Broken Link Checker plugin runs link checks inside your WordPress installation — which means it consumes server resources, slows down admin pages, and frequently gets killed by managed WordPress hosts (Kinsta, WP Engine, Pressable all restrict it). PerfBee runs checks externally, so there is zero impact on your site or hosting plan. Same audit power, no overhead.

WordPress-specific link issues PerfBee detects

Beyond standard 404s, PerfBee surfaces issues common to WordPress: redirect chains created by permalink changes (often 3-4 hops), links to wp-content/uploads paths that no longer exist, mixed HTTP/HTTPS links after SSL migration, links to old www vs non-www variants of your domain, and links that go through cached redirect plugins like Redirection or Yoast.

Common causes on WordPress

warningPermalink structure changes that didn't get full 301 redirect coverage
warningDeleted attachments still linked from inside posts
warningThird-party blog references that went offline
warningTheme switches that broke menu item URLs
warningPlugin updates that changed internal endpoint paths
warningMigrations from HTTP to HTTPS without internal link updates

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this better than the WordPress Broken Link Checker plugin?expand_more

PerfBee runs externally from our servers, so it doesn't consume your WordPress host's resources or slow down admin pages. Managed WordPress hosts (Kinsta, WP Engine, Flywheel) actively block resource-intensive plugins like Broken Link Checker. PerfBee bypasses that limitation entirely.

Will this check links inside my Elementor / Divi / WPBakery page builder content?expand_more

Yes. PerfBee fetches the rendered HTML of your page, so it sees every link your visitors see — including links inside page builder widgets, custom blocks, popups, and dynamically loaded sections.

How do I check all pages on my WordPress site, not just one?expand_more

For a full WordPress site crawl, sign up for a free PerfBee account and use the Site Crawler. It crawls every page on your site (any number, including posts, pages, products, archives, and tags), runs daily scans on a schedule, and emails you whenever new broken links appear.

Does it check links inside WordPress comments?expand_more

Yes — any link inside the rendered HTML of the page is checked, including links in approved comments. If your comment section becomes a vector for broken external links (it usually does over time), you'll see them in the report.

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Crawl your entire site for broken links

PerfBee scans every page across your site, runs daily checks, and alerts you the moment a new broken link appears. No manual checking needed. Get daily crawl reports, broken link alerts, Core Web Vitals tracking, and AI fix suggestions — across your entire site.