Xenu’s Link Sleuth
Crawl websites, find broken links, and create sitemaps with this powerful, no-frills tool.
Xenu’s Link Sleuth is a free SEO tool for Windows that finds broken links on websites. It checks up to one million URLs, identifying issues like ‘../’ in links, spaces in URLs, and ‘file:’ URLs for images. The software uses multithreading to retrieve multiple web pages simultaneously, with adjustable thread counts for optimal performance.
Xenu detects HTTP and WinInet error codes, helping users pinpoint specific link problems. It supports SSL websites and allows partial testing of FTP and Gopher sites. The tool generates reports on broken links, making it easier for website owners to maintain their site’s integrity.
While Xenu offers powerful link-checking capabilities, it has some limitations. It requires Internet Explorer to function properly and may need adjustments to firewall settings. The software can’t input passwords into forms directly, which may affect authentication processes for some websites.
Xenu stands out from competitors with its simplicity and comprehensive error reports. It’s a valuable tool for website maintenance, helping users identify and fix broken links to improve their site’s user experience and search engine optimization.
