hreflang checker and generator
hreflang tells search engines which language version of a page to show each visitor. Check that your tags are right, or generate them for your pages.
FolioPress writes correct hreflang for every page automatically: every language version, the return links and x-default, on translated URLs.
Start free for 30 daysHow it works
We read the page
Its hreflang links in the HTML <head> and in the HTTP Link header, its canonical URL and its <html lang>.
We check every value
Each code must be an ISO 639-1 language, optionally with an ISO 3166-1 country, like de or de-AT. en-UK and en_US are common mistakes.
We follow the links
We open up to 20 language versions and check that each one answers and links back. Without return links, search engines may ignore the pair.
You get a clear report
Errors, warnings and what passed, in plain words, with the fix for each problem.
Questions and answers
What is hreflang?
An annotation that links the language versions of a page, like <link rel="alternate" hreflang="de" href="https://example.com/de/">. Search engines use it to show the German page to German speakers and the English page to English speakers.
What does "missing return link" mean?
If page A lists page B as its German version, page B must list page A as well. When the link only goes one way, search engines can't trust it and may ignore it.
Does a page need to list itself?
Yes. Every page in the set lists all versions, itself included. That self-reference is one of the most common things to forget.
What is x-default?
The page for visitors whose language you don't offer, often the language choice page or your main language. It is optional but recommended.
Why is en-UK wrong?
Country codes come from ISO 3166-1, where the United Kingdom is GB. Use en-GB. Underscores (en_US) don't work either: hreflang uses a hyphen.
Can hreflang go in the sitemap instead?
Yes: hreflang can be in the HTML, in the HTTP header, or in the XML sitemap with xhtml:link entries. The generator writes both the tags and the sitemap entries. Use one method consistently.
More free tools
- Website word counter and translation cost calculator: Count the words on your site, then compare what translating them costs with a translator, Weglot, WPML or FolioPress.
- Language reach score: See what share of the world's internet users your site speaks to, and which languages would add the most.
- The languages of the internet: Internet users and websites by language, with sources: the data behind the reach score.
Free, no sign-up. Made by FolioPress, the website builder with translation built in.
FolioPress writes correct hreflang for every page, automatically.
€12 a month after the trial. Every feature included.