Redirection is a URL redirect manager and 404 error tracker that helps you manage URL changes, fix broken links, and monitor traffic to non-existent pages. When you change a page slug, delete a post, or migrate your site structure, Redirection creates 301 redirects that automatically send visitors and search engines to the correct new URL. It also monitors every 404 error on your site, logging the visitor’s IP, referrer, and user agent, so you can spot broken links and create redirects directly from the error log. The plugin supports regex-based redirect patterns, query string matching, conditional redirects by user agent or login status, and import/export with .htaccess files. For SEO-focused site owners who need to maintain link equity after URL changes, Redirection is the most popular free tool, competing with Pretty Links Premium and Rank Math SEO‘s built-in redirect manager.
The plugin stores redirects in custom database tables with indexed lookups for fast matching. It uses output buffering to detect 404 errors and logging is configurable to prevent database bloat on high-traffic sites.
Competitive Features
- URL redirects — 301, 302, and 307 redirects with regex support and URL matching options
- 404 tracking — log every 404 error with visitor IP, referrer, user agent, and timestamp
- Redirect groups — organize redirects into groups by purpose or site section
- 404 fixing — create redirects directly from the 404 log with one click
- Import/export — CSV import/export and Apache .htaccess redirection import
- Pass-through — preserve URL query strings during redirects
- Conditional redirects — redirect based on user agent, login status, or referrer
Key Features
- Regex matching — use regular expressions for complex redirect patterns
- URL monitoring — track changes to URLs and suggest redirects
- Error log — searchable 404 log with date range filters and grouping
- Redirect order — drag-and-drop redirect ordering for priority control
- HTTP header support — add custom HTTP headers to redirect responses
- REST API — full CRUD for redirects, groups, and 404 logs
- WP-CLI — manage redirects from the command line
Comparison with Competitors
Redirection vs Pretty Links
| Aspect | Redirection | Pretty Links |
|---|---|---|
| Primary focus | 404 tracking + redirects | Affiliate link management |
| 404 monitoring | Yes | No |
| Regex redirects | Yes | No |
| Conditional redirects | Yes | Pro |
| Click tracking | Basic | Advanced |
Bottom line: Redirection is purpose-built for redirect management and 404 tracking. Pretty Links is designed for affiliate link cloaking and tracking. For SEO redirects, Redirection is the better tool.
Recommended Stack — pair Redirection with performance optimization via WP Rocket to ensure redirects are served quickly alongside page caching for fast user experience.
Official Changelog
Version 5.5.0
Release Date: August 10, 2026
- New 404 log with IP geolocation and browser detection.
- Added regex validation with live testing for redirect patterns.
- Fixed redirect matching for URLs with special characters.
Version 5.4.5
Release Date: July 5, 2026
- Enhanced CSV import with column mapping and duplicate detection.
- Added redirect group sorting with drag-and-drop ordering.
- Improved performance for sites with 10,000+ redirects.
Version 5.4.0
Release Date: June 2, 2026
- New conditional redirect rules based on user agent and login status.
- Added REST API for managing redirects programmatically.
- Fixed 404 detection for REST API requests.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Redirection free?
Yes. Redirection is completely free with no premium version. All features are included.
How does Redirection handle 404 errors?
Every 404 is logged with the visitor’s IP, referrer URL, browser, and timestamp. You can create a redirect from the log entry directly.
Can I use regex for redirects?
Yes. Redirection supports regular expressions for complex redirect patterns, including URL matching, capture groups, and conditional replacements.
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