Free Canonical Tag Checker

Verify canonical tags to fix duplicate content.

You'll see where your URL ends up and which page Google is told to index:

About this canonical tag checker

Our free canonical checker fetches any URL as Googlebot and extracts the canonical link tag in real time.

The canonical checker flags whether your canonical is self-referencing, pointing to a different URL, or missing entirely, the three states that determine whether Google consolidates ranking signals correctly.

If your canonical is misconfigured, the canonical checker recommends the exact fix so you don't lose link equity to duplicates.

How to use Canonical Tag Checker

  1. 1

    Enter URL

    Paste the URL of the page you want to check for canonical tag configuration.

  2. 2

    Fetch & Analyze

    Our server fetches the page as Googlebot and extracts the canonical tag.

  3. 3

    Review Status

    See if your canonical is self-referencing, pointing elsewhere, or missing entirely.

  4. 4

    Fix Issues

    Follow our recommendations to resolve any canonical tag problems found.

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Frequently asked questions

What is a canonical tag?

A canonical tag (rel=canonical) tells search engines which version of a page is the 'original'. It prevents duplicate content penalties when similar pages exist.

Should every page have a canonical tag?

Yes. Every indexable page should have a self-referencing canonical tag. This is considered an SEO best practice even if no duplicates exist.

What happens if canonical is missing?

Without a canonical tag, search engines must guess which version of a page to index. This can lead to diluted ranking signals and duplicate content issues.

Can canonical tags hurt SEO?

Yes, if misconfigured. Pointing a canonical to the wrong URL can cause Google to ignore your preferred page entirely.

What is the difference between canonical and redirect?

A canonical is a suggestion to search engines, while a 301 redirect physically moves users and bots. Use redirects for permanent URL changes and canonicals for duplicate content.

What does the URL chain show?

The URL you entered, any redirect it went through, and the page its canonical tag points to. Green means the canonical points to the page itself.

Is a relative canonical URL a problem?

Google can resolve it, but absolute URLs (with https:// and the domain) are safer and recommended. The checker flags relative canonicals so you can fix them.

Should the canonical match og:url?

Yes. If they differ, social platforms and search engines get mixed signals about the main URL. The checker warns you when they do not match.

Can I use canonical tags across different domains?

Yes. Cross-domain canonicals are useful when you republish an article on another site and want the original to rank.

Does Google always follow my canonical?

Not always. It is a strong hint, not a rule. Google may choose another URL if redirects, internal links or sitemaps point somewhere else.