Canonical Tag Checker

How to check a canonical tag

A canonical tag tells search engines which URL you prefer for a page when similar or duplicate versions exist. This free canonical checker reads the canonical link and robots meta value from one public page's HTML, then compares the declaration with the final fetched URL. No account is needed.

Interpret the result before changing anything

1. No canonical found: review whether the page has duplicate URL versions and should declare a preferred URL. A missing tag alone does not prove an indexing problem.
2. Canonical differs: confirm whether this is intentional. A tracking URL or duplicate product URL may legitimately point to the clean version.
3. Canonical matches: the page declares itself as preferred. Still check that the URL works, is intended for indexing, and agrees with internal links and your sitemap.

Example: a tracking URL points to a clean page

How to investigate a questionable canonical

Open the declared target and check whether it is the intended equivalent page. Correct accidental staging URLs, unrelated destinations, or a CMS template that points every page to the homepage. Use a consistent preferred URL in internal links and the XML sitemap. Review unexpected robots meta directives separately. If the declaration points somewhere unavailable or unrelated, follow the broken canonical fix checklist.

Can this show Google's chosen canonical?

No. The declaration is a signal, and Google may select a different URL. Use URL Inspection in Search Console to inspect its selection. This tool does not validate the destination's indexability, compare page similarity, or check canonical HTTP headers and JavaScript-rendered tags. Read Google's canonical URL guidance before changing a deliberate duplicate-page setup.