Technical SEO
Free Canonical Checker
Use our free canonical checker to test whether http, https, www and non-www all lead to one address. Enter any web address below and get your result in seconds, with plain-English fixes.
Free. You see the verdict at once; add your name and email to read the full result. We only read what is public on the page.
What this canonical checker checks
Requests all four versions of your address and checks that they end on the same page using permanent redirects.
The canonical checker requests the www, non-www, http and https forms of your address, follows the redirects and checks that every version ends at one preferred URL, then compares that with the page's rel=canonical tag.
Why use a canonical checker
If http, https, www and non-www each show your site, search engines see four copies. Choosing one splits nothing and concentrates your links and ranking on a single address.
Every site owner, especially after an SSL install or a rebuild. Run the canonical checker whenever you change domains or hosting.
How to use the canonical checker
- Paste the full address of the page you want to test into the box at the top of this page. Use the exact page you care about, such as your home page or a service page, because each page can give a different canonical checker result.
- Press the button and wait a few seconds. The tool fetches the page the way a visitor and a search engine would, then runs its checks. Nothing is installed, and you only need to enter your name and email to read the full result.
- Read the verdict and the plain-English notes, make the changes listed under the fixes, then run the test again to confirm the problem is gone. Keep a note of the date and the result so you can show progress.
How to read your canonical checker results
- Pass means all versions redirect with a 301 to one address.
- Warning means a 302 or a canonical that disagrees.
- Fail means two or more versions load separately.
How to fix problems the canonical checker finds
- Choose one version and 301 redirect the other three to it.
- Use the same version in your canonical tags and sitemap.
- Use permanent redirects, not temporary ones.
Common mistakes
- Redirecting with 302 rather than 301.
- A canonical tag that points to the http version.
- Different canonical and sitemap URLs.
Want everything fixed in one go? Our free website grader checks 40+ things at once, and you can ask for a free quote if you would rather have a person do it.
Canonical checker for Cayman Islands websites
Splitting links between www and non-www versions of your .ky domain dilutes the local authority you work hard to earn. Pick one, redirect the rest and verify with the canonical checker.
Ranking in the Cayman Islands is a local contest: Google treats a .ky domain as aimed at the territory, and it rewards pages that name the places people search for, such as George Town, Grand Cayman, West Bay and Seven Mile Beach. After you act on your canonical checker result, work through our SEO guides for Cayman businesses, read how the WebGuru features fit together, or see the pricing for the full report.
Cayman Islands local SEO checklist
- Name the place in your headings and first paragraph: George Town, Grand Cayman, West Bay, Cayman Brac or Little Cayman, whichever you serve.
- Keep your business name, address and phone number identical on your website, Google Business Profile, Facebook page and local directories.
- Use a .ky domain where you can. Google treats country-code domains as a signal that your audience is in that country.
- Add a Google Business Profile, ask happy customers for reviews and answer every review.
- Write for local questions, such as hurricane preparation, work permits or ferry times, in the words your customers would use.
Further reading
Frequently asked questions
Should I use www or non-www?
Either works. What matters is choosing one and redirecting the other.
Which redirect type should I use?
A permanent redirect: 301 or 308.
Should I use www or not?
Either works. Pick one and redirect the other.
What does a canonical tag do?
It tells Google which URL is the preferred version of a page.
Related free SEO tools
- Ip canonicalization test
Test whether your server's IP address shows a duplicate copy of your site.
- Https test
Check your website's HTTPS and SSL certificate.
- Indexed pages checker
Check whether anything is stopping your pages from being indexed.
More technical seo tools: doctype checker, html language checker, html code checker.