No one likes an error message, and a 404 error message (Page Not Found) is so ubiquitous it’s a virtual meme. Usually, this message means that the target server is communicating, but the page the user is trying to reach does not exist. As many WordPress users know, this issue can occur even if the page or post they are trying to reach exists. Fortunately, this is easily resolved with a 404 redirect WordPress plugin. But before we dive into our list of plugins, let’s discuss 404 errors and some possible solutions.
What is 404 Error?
If you get a 404 error, this means: your browser can communicate with a server, but cannot find the requested content. This often happens with broken (dead) links: the content was once there, but has either been completely removed or relocated. This error can also be caused by a typo or similar human error, a corrupted theme file, or a faulty plugin. This is so common that we even have a full tutorial on how to fix 404 errors in WordPress.
On the UX side, a broken link leading to a generic error page can turn a visitor away from the content they want – your content – and that could be there for them. well designed 404 error page can be used to your advantage, as long as they are visually engaging and provide a path towards the main body of your website and possibly the content your stray visitor is really after. We’ve compiled a list of great 404 page design websites to give you an idea of what you can do with a design-specific 404 error page.
The point is, instead of driving visitors away, Use 404 errors to your advantage. We’ll show you how to use a WordPress plugin to redirect errant visitors to content that might interest them. Without further ado, we bring you our selection of the best 404 redirect plugins for WordPress.
404 pages
404 pages It is a free plugin that you can use. redirect to a special page Any traffic that will result in a 404 error. Simply install it and choose a page you created as your default 404 error page. What makes this plugin both SEO and user friendly is that it doesn’t actually redirect anyone, just redirects users to a special page, avoiding multiple server requests. This plugin also automatically notifies search engines that a link is broken, which results in the link being indexed and ultimately better SEO scores for your website.
WP 404 Automatic Redirect to Similar Post
A free and smart plugin, WP 404 Automatic Redirect to Similar Post allows you to automatically redirect your visitors Content similar to what they are trying to access based on various factors: title, post type, and classification. If you don’t have similar content, the plugin gives you a fallback setting: redirect your visitors to your homepage, another page or a 404 page greatly improves user experience by creating redirects while excluding post types, posts, terms and taxonomies at the same time. On the admin side, this plugin also supports debug consoles instead of redirection for admins, while saving all redirects in a special file.
redirection
Easily the most popular plugin with over a million active installs, Orientation It is a free plugin designed to allow Manage 301 and 404 redirects easily. 301 redirects are useful for redirecting when content is permanently moved to another location. If you want to learn more, we have a full article on 301 redirects and how to create them.
The functionality we are interested in here is the ability to translate URL patterns to different locations – very useful if you have migrated your entire website. It also supports conditional redirects that only work if the user is logged in, using a specific browser, accessing the website from a specific IP address, and more.
Redirect All 404 Home Page
A free and simple plugin, Redirect All 404 Home Page available for automatically redirect all 404 visitors not just your home page, but any page you want. Install the plugin, give it a referral link (make sure it’s valid to avoid a redirect loop), activate the plugin and rank up. Your visitors will be redirected to your homepage or another page of your choice. And not only that, this plugin log all 404 connections (from each visit) this allows you to see which of your broken links are causing the most problems for your visitors.
404 to 301 – Redirect, Log, and Report 404 Errors
404 to 301 It easily handles your 404 errors. It allows you to effectively change the user experience of people who would otherwise get 404 errors. You can do redirect them to an existing pagefor example a custom 404 page, a custom URL that is not otherwise used, or disable redirect completely. It also receives email reports of 404 errors, allowing you to easily fix them.
SEO Redirect Plugin 301 Redirect Manager
As the name suggests, SEO Redirect Plugin 301 Redirect Manager it’s not primarily made for 404 redirects, but it has the necessary functionality. 301 redirects are used permanently fix a broken link by redirecting users to new location However, you can use this simple and free plugin for the content you are looking for, which is useful on its own. Track 404 errors and manage redirection where these errors appear. You can also log these errors, which are kept in a special table for you to manually review and correct as needed. In other words, it works for all redirects, not just URLs that don’t exist.
Redirect URL to Broadcast
Although it is a very useful free plugin, Redirect URL to Broadcast 404 won’t solve your problems. However, it will supply you attachment to a custom 404 page which your visitors may appreciate. You can use it to generate random referral links to first, last, or random posts or within a range. It also comes with a shortcode for a button (or several buttons) that you can fit into your custom 404 page and let your visitors choose where they want to be redirected.
As a result
Here you go: Our hand-picked WordPress plugins you can use to direct your website visitors to the content they really want to see and avoid 404 errors. The choice of plugins is of course up to you, and with this list at least, budget does not matter. What you might want to keep in mind though, are the additional features of each of these plugins. If your main concern is SEO, 404page is probably a good choice for you. If you run a simple website with not a lot of content and don’t want to deal with a lot of configuration options, then All 404 Redirect to Home Page may be exactly the ticket. If you’re looking for a smart solution, trying to give your users what you think they want, WP 404 Automatic Redirect to Similar Post or 404 to 301 are probably good options. If you think your 404 errors are mostly due to migration to another server, Redirect is probably what you want. Finally, if you want to give your stray visitors a better look at your content – and possibly a nice surprise – you can use the Redirect URL for the Post and customize it to your needs. In any case, our first recommendation would always be to take a good look at the list of features for each plugin before committing.
