Broken Link Checker by AIOSEO

Broken Link Checker by AIOSEO is a cloud-based WordPress link scanner that checks internal links, external links, images, and video URLs without running the checking process on your own server. It is aimed at site owners who want broken-link monitoring inside WordPress but prefer a usage-based cloud model over local crawling.

How the cloud scanning model works

The plugin indexes links from the WordPress site, then sends the checking workload to AIOSEO’s service. That means HTTP requests used to test destination URLs do not consume the same server resources as a fully local crawler.

An AIOSEO account is required because the scan is performed as a cloud service. The free account renews its link allowance monthly. This operating model is important for privacy, vendor dependency, and cost planning because larger sites may exceed the included quota quickly.

What the scanner checks

The current plugin checks internal and external URLs, broken images, media links, and video links. You can choose which post types and statuses are indexed and exclude URLs or domains that should not be tested, such as affiliate destinations or tracking URLs.

Results can be filtered by good, broken, redirected, or not-yet-checked status. The plugin also rechecks suspected broken links client-side to reduce false positives before you act on them.

Fixing links without opening every post

A broken-link report is only useful if the cleanup process is efficient. AIOSEO lets you update a destination or unlink a dead URL directly from the link report instead of opening every post in the editor.

The frontend highlighter can mark broken links visually, and the dashboard can show link-distribution information. Sites using AIOSEO’s redirect features can also connect link cleanup with redirect management when a moved internal URL should point somewhere new.

Free quota and paid plans

Pricing checked: September 26, 2026. The free plan scans up to 250 internal links each month. The current Starter plan is listed at $4.99 per month for one site and 1,000 links per month. Plus is $9.99 per month for up to three sites and 10,000 links per month, Premium is $29.99 per month for up to ten sites and 50,000 links per month, and Elite is $49.99 per month for up to 100 sites and 500,000 links per month.

Paid plans add external-link scanning and higher usage limits. This makes site size central to the buying decision. A small blog may remain inside the free allowance, while a large archive with thousands of internal and outbound links can require a paid quota.

Who it fits

I would consider Broken Link Checker by AIOSEO for sites where local crawl load is a concern and the team prefers a hosted checking service. It also suits users who want to fix links from a central report and already use other AIOSEO tools.

It is less attractive if you want unlimited scanning with no account dependency, or if sending link data to an external scanning service conflicts with your operational policy. Usage-based limits also need more attention on large sites than a purely local or unlimited checker.

Trade-offs to check before adopting it

Cloud scanning reduces pressure on the origin server, but it introduces an external service and a monthly quota. Check how many links your site actually contains before assuming the free allowance will cover a meaningful crawl.

Also separate broken-link crawling from 404 request monitoring. This plugin checks links found in your content. It is not the same as a log that records visitors or bots requesting missing URLs that are no longer linked anywhere on the site.

Account and data-flow considerations

Because the checker depends on an AIOSEO account and remote scanning, document that dependency before using it on client sites. A disconnected account or exhausted quota can interrupt scheduled monitoring even though the WordPress plugin remains installed.

For agencies, the plan site limit and monthly link allowance should be considered together. A plan may cover several sites while one large site consumes a disproportionate share of the available checks. Review the indexed link count after setup and exclude URLs that do not need recurring verification so the quota is spent on links that matter.

How to estimate whether the monthly link quota is enough

The monthly limit counts links checked, not only broken links found. A site with 200 posts can still exceed 250 checks quickly when each article contains several internal links, images, and navigation references. Before choosing a plan, let the plugin index the site, note the total link count, then exclude domains or URL patterns that do not need recurring verification.

For an agency, calculate quota by portfolio rather than by number of licenses alone. A three-site plan can be adequate when the sites are small, while one documentation or ecommerce site can consume most of the monthly allowance. This makes AIOSEO’s cloud model predictable only after you know the approximate link volume you intend to monitor.

Frequently Asked Questions