Broken Link Scan vs Dead Link Checker — Feature Comparison

Two free tools, different capabilities

Dead Link Checker is one of the oldest free broken link checkers on the web. It does the basics well: enter a URL, get a list of broken links. For a quick one-off check, it gets the job done. But if you need anything beyond a single scan, the differences become clear.

Broken Link Scan also offers free on-demand scanning, but it goes significantly further. You get a clean, modern dashboard, detailed reporting with source page identification, automated monitoring on a schedule, email alerts when new broken links appear, and API access for integrating link checks into your workflow.

Reporting and usability

Dead Link Checker presents results in a basic list format. It works, but the interface has not been updated in years and can feel dated. Filtering, sorting, and understanding results at a glance takes effort.

Broken Link Scan groups results by status code, clearly labels broken vs. redirected vs. working links, and shows exactly which pages contain each broken link. The interface is designed for actionability — you can go from scan results to fixing links immediately.

Monitoring: the key differentiator

Dead Link Checker is a manual tool. Every time you want to check your site, you visit the page and run a new scan. There is no way to schedule recurring checks or receive notifications when new broken links appear.

Broken Link Scan offers scheduled monitoring that runs automatically. Configure it once, and your site is checked on a regular cadence. When new broken links are detected, you receive an email alert. This is essential for any website that publishes content regularly or has dynamic pages.

API and integration

Broken Link Scan provides API access on the Agency plan, allowing you to integrate broken link checking into CI/CD pipelines, content management workflows, or custom dashboards. Dead Link Checker does not offer an API.

When Dead Link Checker is enough

If you need a quick, one-time scan of a small website and have no need for monitoring, alerts, or reporting history, Dead Link Checker will do the job. It is simple and free.

When Broken Link Scan is the better choice

Choose Broken Link Scan if you manage a website that changes over time, need to track link health across multiple scans, want email alerts for new broken links, or need API access. The free tier already covers on-demand scanning, and paid plans unlock the full monitoring and automation capabilities. Visit the comparison page for a broader look at how Broken Link Scan stacks up against all major competitors.