FixLinks AI vs Broken Link Checker
Two of the most popular WordPress broken link tools, compared side by side. If you want to know which one to install for your site, this is the definitive breakdown.
Bottom line: Broken Link Checker finds broken links. FixLinks AI finds them and fixes them — its AI suggests the right 301 redirect for each dead URL so you can apply them all in one click. If detection alone is enough, Broken Link Checker is a free solid choice. If you want to actually fix the problem, FixLinks AI is the better tool.
Feature comparison
| Feature | FixLinks AI | Broken Link Checker |
|---|---|---|
| Detects broken internal links | Yes | Yes |
| Detects broken external links | Yes | Yes |
| AI redirect suggestions | Yes — per broken URL | No |
| One-click bulk fix | Yes | No |
| Manual redirect editing | Yes | Editable URL only |
| Scheduled auto-crawls | Yes (Pro) | Yes, continuous |
| Email reports | Yes (Pro) | Yes (admin notice) |
| Server load | Low (on-demand scan) | Higher (continuous scan) |
| WooCommerce support | Yes (Pro) | Yes |
| Free plan | Yes (50 AI suggestions/mo) | Yes (fully free) |
Detection: how they find broken links
Both plugins crawl your WordPress site’s post content, pages, and custom post types to find dead links. Broken Link Checker also checks links in comments and widget areas. FixLinks AI focuses on the pages and posts that matter for SEO — the content search engines index.
Broken Link Checker runs a continuous background scan, which means it catches new broken links automatically. FixLinks AI scans on demand or on a schedule (Pro), which is gentler on your server.
The key difference: fixing vs. just finding
This is where the two tools diverge completely. Broken Link Checker identifies broken links and lets you edit the source link in the post editor. That means:
- You know the old link is broken.
- You have to figure out what the new URL should be.
- You edit each broken link manually, one at a time.
- If the dead URL has external backlinks pointing to it, they still point to a 404 — you can’t create a redirect from inside Broken Link Checker.
FixLinks AI takes a different approach: for every broken URL it finds, its AI reads your site’s content and proposes the most relevant working page as a 301 redirect destination. You review the suggestions and approve them all in one click. The old URLs now redirect properly, preserving any external link equity they carried.
Server performance
Broken Link Checker’s continuous scanning has a reputation for adding load to shared hosting. It checks all your links in the background constantly, which can slow your site during scans. It has options to throttle this, but it requires manual configuration.
FixLinks AI runs scans on demand or on a preset schedule (weekly/monthly). It does not run background processes continuously, making it a better fit for sites on shared hosting or with strict resource limits.
Which one should you install?
- You want the full fix — detection + redirects — with minimum effort: FixLinks AI.
- You only need to know which links are broken and you’ll fix them manually: Broken Link Checker (free and works well).
- You manage many sites and want scheduled monitoring + email alerts: FixLinks AI Pro.
Fix every broken link automatically
FixLinks AI finds your 404s and suggests the right 301 redirect with AI — install the free plugin and fix them in one click.
Download the free pluginFrequently asked questions
Which is better: FixLinks AI or Broken Link Checker?
For finding and fixing broken links, FixLinks AI is better because it combines detection with AI-powered redirect suggestions and one-click bulk fixing. Broken Link Checker is a solid free option if you only need detection and are comfortable managing redirects separately.
Does Broken Link Checker slow down WordPress?
Older versions of Broken Link Checker can add significant server load by scanning continuously in the background. FixLinks AI scans on demand or on a schedule and offloads AI processing externally, reducing server impact.
Is there a free version of FixLinks AI?
Yes. FixLinks AI has a free plan with unlimited broken link scans and up to 50 AI redirect suggestions per month, covering most small to medium WordPress sites.