Redirect Tracer vs WhereGoes

WhereGoes is a free online redirect tracer that shows the full redirect path for any URL. Redirect Tracer is also a web-based redirect chain analysis tool. Both solve the same fundamental problem — you paste a URL, you see where it goes. This is a direct competitor comparison.

The differences come down to depth, presentation, and what you can do beyond the basic trace.

The Quick Version

WhereGoes provides a clean, simple redirect trace showing each hop and status code. Redirect Tracer provides the same core trace plus full response headers, hop-by-hop timing, and more detailed chain visualization. WhereGoes is simpler. Redirect Tracer is deeper.

Both tools do the job

For a basic "where does this URL go?" check, either tool works. The difference shows up when you need to understand why a redirect chain behaves the way it does — that is where detailed headers and timing matter.

Feature Comparison

Feature	WhereGoes	Redirect Tracer
Basic redirect tracing	Yes	Yes
Status code display	Yes	Yes
Chain visualization	Linear list with arrows	Detailed visual chain
Full response headers	No	Yes — per hop
Timing per hop	No	Yes
Redirect loop detection	Basic	Yes — with analysis
Bulk URL checking	No	Yes
Meta refresh detection	Yes	Yes
JavaScript redirect detection	Limited	Limited
Price	Free	Free tier available

How WhereGoes Works

WhereGoes has a simple interface: paste a URL, click trace, see results. The trace shows each redirect hop as a row with the URL and HTTP status code. It also detects meta refresh redirects, which some tools miss.

WhereGoes presents results in a straightforward top-to-bottom list. For affiliate marketers checking link chains or anyone who needs a quick "where does this link actually go?" answer, it gets the job done.

The tool has been around for years and has built a loyal following for its simplicity. It does not try to do too much.

How Redirect Tracer Works

Redirect Tracer takes the same core concept and adds technical depth. Enter a URL and see the complete redirect chain with each hop showing its HTTP status code, full response headers, timing data, and the relationship between hops.

The additional detail matters for debugging. When a redirect chain is slow, you can see which hop is the bottleneck. When caching is interfering with redirects, you can see the cache-control headers. When you need to report on redirect issues, you have all the technical evidence in one place.

Redirect Tracer also supports bulk URL checking for verifying large numbers of redirects after a migration.

Pricing Comparison

WhereGoes is free with no paid tier. It is ad-supported.

Redirect Tracer offers free instant tracing with no signup required for your first check. Extended features like bulk checking and monitoring are available on paid plans.

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When to Choose WhereGoes

Best for quick link destination checks

When you just need to know where a URL ends up — no technical detail needed, just the final destination.

Best for checking affiliate links

When you want to see the full hop-by-hop path of an affiliate or tracking link to verify it reaches the right page.

Best for completely free, no-account usage

When you want a totally free tool with no signup, no accounts, and no paid tiers to worry about.

When to Choose Redirect Tracer

Best for technical redirect debugging

When you need full response headers, timing data, and detailed chain analysis to understand and fix redirect issues.

Best for bulk redirect verification

When you have a list of URLs to check after a site migration or configuration change and need to verify them all.

Best for professional SEO workflows

When redirect analysis is a regular part of your job and you need depth, monitoring, and reporting capabilities beyond a basic trace.

Our Honest Take

WhereGoes does exactly what its name suggests — it tells you where a URL goes. For that specific use case, it is fast, free, and effective. If you occasionally need to check where a link ends up, WhereGoes is a fine choice.

Redirect Tracer is built for people who need to go further. When you need to know not just where a URL ends up but how it gets there, how long each hop takes, and what headers are being sent along the way, that extra depth is the difference between checking a redirect and understanding it.

For casual link checking, WhereGoes works well. For technical redirect analysis, debugging, and ongoing monitoring, Redirect Tracer provides the detail you need.

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