Are you in search of a free 404 redirect plugin for your WordPress website?
The 404 error is a frequent issue that arises when a user enters an incorrect URL or accesses a page that no longer exists. This can negatively affect user experience and potentially harm your website’s SEO rankings.
To address this problem, we have compiled a list of the top free 404 redirect plugins for WordPress that you can utilize to resolve 404 errors.
What Causes a 404 Error on Your WordPress Site?
Before attempting to resolve a 404 error on your WordPress website, it is crucial to comprehend why this error message is being displayed.
Newcomers often inquire why their existing posts are displaying a 404 error on their WordPress website. This is a prevalent issue that beginners encounter.
Here are a few of the many potential causes that may result in existing content displaying 404 errors:
1. Changes in the URL Structure
WordPress includes support for an SEO-friendly URL structure. If you modify the URL structure, it will alter the entire link structure of your website. This is sometimes why your website displays a 404 error, even for existing posts.
2. Missing or Corrupt .htaccess
Another reason for unexplained 404 errors for existing content is a missing or corrupt .htaccess file. If you have installed a new plugin, created a new custom post type, or registered a custom taxonomy, accessing the new URL may result in a 404 error because your .htaccess file is not up-to-date.
3. Moving Your Website to a New Domain
Apart from the reasons mentioned above, if you have recently migrated from WordPress.com to WordPress.org or moved WordPress to a new domain, it may cause the site to display 404 errors.
4. A Post or Page was Deleted or Moved
On the other hand, if you delete a post or page, then it will output a 404 not found error page. Similarly, changing the URL of a blog post and not updating the internal links to the new location could lead to a 404 error.
Fixing 404 Errors with a WordPress Redirect Plugin
Redirecting users to a new location is the optimal solution for resolving 404 errors. Additionally, it is important to notify search engines of the new location by implementing a 301 redirect header message. By doing so, you can ensure a positive user experience and maintain your search engine rankings.
To assist with managing these issues, we will now explore some of the most widely used 404 redirect plugins for WordPress.
1. SeedProd
SeedProd is an exceptional WordPress website and theme builder that offers a user-friendly drag and drop landing page builder, enabling you to create various types of landing pages with ease.
One of the standout features of SeedProd is its ability to build custom 404 pages. With its stunning 404 error page templates, you can effortlessly create a unique and visually appealing 404 page for your website.
SeedProd is an exceptional WordPress website and theme builder that offers a drag and drop landing page builder, enabling users to create various landing pages with ease. One of its remarkable features is the ability to connect with all popular email marketing services, allowing users to convert lost traffic into email subscribers.
Moreover, the plugin allows users to activate 301 redirects for their 404 pages. By simply enabling the redirect mode from the settings and entering the desired URL, users can redirect their audience to a specific page. The 404 page template is customizable, and users can add various elements such as images, videos, buttons, headlines, countdown timers, opt-in forms, and more.
Another significant advantage of using SeedProd is that it is not dependent on the WordPress theme. This means that users can utilize any design they prefer to create an impressive 404 page.
2. All in One SEO Redirection Manager
All in One SEO is the leading WordPress SEO plugin available, renowned for its exceptional performance. It includes a redirection manager addon that enables you to manage 301 redirects, track 404 errors, and resolve dead-ends.
With this plugin, users are automatically redirected from old URLs to new ones, ensuring that website traffic is never lost. You can also add source and target URLs manually or use the automatic redirect feature to guarantee that search engines and users can locate your new content when you delete a post or change its URL.
Additionally, AIOSEO enables you to redirect multiple URLs to a single page, which is particularly useful when transitioning to a new website or domain. The plugin also monitors redirects and generates a comprehensive log that includes visitor, browser, and referrer data, all accessible through your WordPress dashboard. Furthermore, it tracks 404 redirects and provides a means to address any issues that arise.
Overall, AIOSEO is a comprehensive solution that not only facilitates redirects but also enhances your search engine rankings, thereby increasing your website traffic.
3. Redirection
Redirection is a robust WordPress plugin that simplifies the process of setting up redirects for your 404 pages. It includes a built-in feature that enables you to monitor 404 errors that have occurred on your website since you installed the plugin.
With Redirection, you can utilize powerful regex to match URL patterns and redirect them to the appropriate pages. This is particularly useful if you have migrated a site with a different URL structure to WordPress.
We have created a comprehensive guide on how to track 404 pages and redirect them in WordPress using the Redirection plugin.
However, it is important to exercise caution when using the 404 logging setting as it can potentially make your database heavy. Apart from that, this plugin is excellent and is completely free.
4. 404page
The 404page plugin is a unique addition to our list of WordPress plugins as it focuses on creating custom 404 pages rather than offering redirection capabilities.
Typically, the 404 error pages in WordPress themes are unappealing and uninformative. While there are ways to enhance these templates by editing the template file, it requires coding knowledge.
With the 404page plugin, you can easily select an existing page from your WordPress site and use it as your custom 404 page. This plugin is ideal for those who want to create personalized and engaging 404 pages without the need for coding.
5. Custom 404 Pro
Custom 404 Pro is a user-friendly WordPress plugin that is completely free and has a minimalist design. It enables you to set up 404 redirects with ease and in just a few clicks.
With this plugin, you can redirect your pages to an existing page or a specific URL. It also supports various types of redirects such as 301, 302, 307, and 308.
Moreover, Custom 404 Pro logs all your 404 errors and sends an email notification to the site’s admin whenever it detects an error. This feature is particularly useful in identifying and fixing broken links on your website.
6. 301 Redirects
301 Redirects is a well-known WordPress redirect plugin that is widely used. Its user-friendly interface makes it easy to set up and manage 301, 302, and 307 redirects in WordPress.
The plugin ensures that your website remains SEO-friendly and provides a great user experience by redirecting them from a 404 error page to any page of your choice.
301 Redirects offers multiple options to select a redirect location. You can redirect your visitors to a post, page, media, or a custom URL.
Moreover, 301 Redirects allows you to import and export redirect rules, making it easy to migrate from another plugin to 301 Redirects.
Although the plugin is easy to use, it does not log 404 errors yet. You will see a tab for 404 error log in the plugin, but it will display a message saying ‘coming soon’.
7. Safe Redirect Manager
Safe Redirect Manager is a WordPress plugin that enables you to manage 404 redirects on your website for free. It is designed to prioritize speed and performance, and can only accommodate up to 250 redirects.
While the plugin does not offer many customization options by default, it does provide actions and filters that developers can use to customize it as needed.
Setting up and managing redirects with Safe Redirect Manager is straightforward and user-friendly. All settings can be accessed from the Tools section of your WordPress admin area.
What is the Top Plugin for Managing 404 Redirects?
When it comes to WordPress websites, 404 errors are a common issue that many website owners face. If you’re looking for the best 404 redirect plugin, we recommend All in One SEO. This plugin makes it easy to find and manage 404 errors, no matter how many you need to set up. What sets All in One SEO apart from other 404 redirect plugins is its extensive customization features.
Another great option for building a custom 404 page is SeedProd. Their drag-and-drop landing page builder allows you to create stunning 404 pages for your website and easily redirect visitors to a new location. Additionally, SeedProd integrates with email marketing services, enabling you to grow your email list instead of losing website traffic.