A WordPress redirect plugin lets you send visitors and search engines from an old URL to a new one without editing server files, and most also log 404 errors. The thing to get right is the redirect type. Ten free plugins follow, in no particular order, with their WordPress.org directory numbers as of Oct 2026.
Redirects pile up on any site that's been around a while. A post gets a new URL, a page is merged into another, a product is retired, and every old link needs somewhere sensible to land. Do it by hand and you're editing server files. Do it with a plugin and it's a form in the dashboard.
The ten plugins below are listed alphabetically and in no particular order, and each description is the plugin's own from the WordPress.org plugin directory. If people are landing on missing pages while you sort the redirects out, my guide to writing a 404 page helps keep them on your site.
Redirect plugins compared side by side
Each of these is a free plugin in the WordPress.org plugin directory, as of Oct 2026, which is why the free plan column says Yes. Some makers also sell add-ons on their own sites, so check the plugin's page for which features come as add-ons.
| Tool | Type | Good for | Free plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 301 Redirects - Redirect Manager | WordPress plugin | 301 and 302 redirects, validated | Yes |
| 301 Redirects and 404 Error Log | WordPress plugin | Redirects with a test option and 404 log | Yes |
| 404 to 301 | WordPress plugin | 301, 302, 307 redirects and 404 logs | Yes |
| Quick 301 Redirects | WordPress plugin | Fast per-URL 301 redirects | Yes |
| Redirection | WordPress plugin | Redirects plus 404 tracking | Yes |
| Safe Redirect Manager | WordPress plugin | HTTP redirects managed safely | Yes |
| SEO Redirection Plugin | WordPress plugin | 301, 302, 307 redirects with no .htaccess edits | Yes |
| Simple 301 Redirects | WordPress plugin | A basic list of 301 redirects | Yes |
| Simple Page Redirect | WordPress plugin | Redirect single pages and posts | Yes |
| WP Post Redirect | WordPress plugin | Send posts to an external URL | Yes |
Ten redirect plugins in brief
301 Redirects - Redirect Manager
Best for: Managing 301 and 302 redirects with built-in validation, redirect stats and a 404 error log.
301 Redirects and 404 Error Log
Best for: Creating 301 redirects and testing them before you trust them, with a 404 error log alongside.
404 to 301
Best for: Site moves where you need 301, 302 and 307 redirects plus a log of every broken link.
Quick 301 Redirects
Best for: Setting redirects one at a time, or bulk uploading an unlimited number of 301 redirects from a CSV file.
Redirection
Best for: Managing 301 redirects and tracking 404 errors without needing any knowledge of Apache or Nginx.
Safe Redirect Manager
Best for: Anyone who wants a simple, safe way to manage a website's HTTP redirects from inside WordPress.
SEO Redirection Plugin
Best for: Handling 301, 302 and 307 redirects from inside WordPress, no .htaccess needed, while tracking 404 errors and broken links.
Simple 301 Redirects
Best for: An easy method of redirecting requests to another page on your site or elsewhere on the web.
Simple Page Redirect
Best for: Pointing any single post, page or custom post type at an internal or external URL.
WP Post Redirect
Best for: Sending individual WordPress posts to any external URL with a simple metabox, kept lightweight on purpose.
Permanent or temporary: the choice that matters
Google Search Central's page on redirects and Google Search explains the difference plainly. A permanent redirect shows the new redirect target in search results. A temporary redirect shows the source page. HTTP 301 and 308 are listed first among the ways to set up a permanent redirect.
So the type you pick tells Google which URL to show. Moved a page for good? That's permanent, usually a 301. Sending people elsewhere for a week while a page is rebuilt? That's temporary, such as a 302 or 307, and the original URL keeps its place. The plugin only does what you tell it, so choose the type on purpose every time.
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Installs and ratings tell different stories
The directory numbers, as of Oct 2026, don't line up. Redirection has 2,000,000+ active installs and a rating of 88/100 from 703 ratings, while Simple 301 Redirects has 100,000+ installs and the lowest rating in the list, 76/100 from 162 ratings.
Safe Redirect Manager (40,000+ installs) and 404 to 301 (100,000+) both sit at 94/100. The second of those handles 301, 302 and 307 redirects, where the simple 301 plugin is, by its name and description, built around 301s. If you'll ever need a temporary redirect, that difference matters more than the install count.
Questions to ask before you install
- Can I choose the redirect type for each rule, permanent or temporary?
- Does it log 404 errors, so I can see which old URLs still get visits?
- Can I bulk upload redirects from a CSV file after a site move?
- Can I test a redirect before I rely on it?
- Do I need redirects for whole sections, or only for the odd post or page?
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When a single-page redirect is enough
Not every site needs a full redirect manager. Two of the plugins here work at the level of one post: one redirects any post, page or custom post type to an internal or external URL, and the other uses a simple metabox to send posts to an external URL. If you only ever point the odd post somewhere else, that's less to manage and less to go wrong.
Do you make a WordPress redirect plugin? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.
My plain advice on redirect plugins
Choose a plugin that lets you pick permanent or temporary for each redirect and logs the 404s you haven't caught yet. Use permanent for moves you won't undo, temporary for short detours, and check each rule works before you walk away. A wrong redirect type is easy to set and slow to notice.
For the plugins most sites install alongside this one, see my list of WordPress plugins worth installing.
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Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between a 301 and a 302 redirect?
A 301 is permanent and a 302 is temporary. Google says permanent redirects show the new URL in search results, while temporary ones keep showing the original page.
Do I need a plugin to set up redirects in WordPress?
No, but without one you're editing server files. Several plugins here say you don't need .htaccess edits or any knowledge of Apache or Nginx.
Can a redirect plugin find broken links?
Several here log 404 errors, which shows you the URLs people still visit that no longer exist, so you can redirect them somewhere useful.
How many redirect plugins should I run?
One. Two plugins managing redirects means two lists to check when something sends visitors to the wrong place.
Are these redirect plugins free?
Yes, all ten are free plugins in the WordPress.org plugin directory, as of Oct 2026.
