Link Tools

Nofollow / Sponsored / UGC Link Checker

Scan page links for rel attributes.

All tools

🔍 Nofollow / Sponsored / UGC Link Checker

Check all links on any webpage for nofollow, sponsored, and UGC rel attributes to optimize your SEO link profile.

💡 What We Check

Dofollow Links: Links that pass SEO value (PageRank) to the target page
Nofollow Links: Links with rel="nofollow" that don't pass SEO value
Sponsored Links: Links with rel="sponsored" for paid or affiliate content
UGC Links: Links with rel="ugc" for user-generated content
Internal vs External: Categorize by domain to check link equity distribution
SEO Score: Get an overall link profile quality rating (0-100)

📚 Google's Link Attributes

rel="nofollow": Don't follow this link (doesn't pass PageRank)

rel="sponsored": This is a paid/sponsored link (Google requirement for paid links)

rel="ugc": This is user-generated content link (forums, comments, reviews)

Dofollow (no rel): Follow this link and pass SEO value (default behavior)

Free Nofollow Link Checker - Check Dofollow, Sponsored & UGC Links

Our free Nofollow Link Checker tool helps you analyze all links on any webpage to identify dofollow, nofollow, sponsored, and UGC (user-generated content) rel attributes. Check your link profile, ensure proper link attribution for SEO, and get actionable recommendations to optimize your internal and external linking strategy.

What is a Nofollow Link Checker?

A Nofollow Link Checker is a free online SEO tool that scans all links on a webpage and identifies which links have nofollow, sponsored, or UGC rel attributes versus standard dofollow links. Understanding your link profile is crucial for SEO because dofollow links pass PageRank (link equity) to the target page and help with search rankings, while nofollow links don't pass SEO value but still provide traffic. Google introduced three types of link attributes in 2019: rel nofollow for general no-follow situations, rel sponsored for paid or affiliate links (required by Google to avoid penalties), and rel ugc for user-generated content links from comments, forums, and reviews. Our nofollow checker tool analyzes your entire page link structure, categorizes every link as internal or external, identifies all rel attributes, and calculates an SEO score based on your link profile quality. This link attribute checker is essential for SEO professionals, website owners, and digital marketers who need to audit link profiles, ensure Google compliance for paid links, prevent PageRank leaks through unnecessary nofollow links, and maintain a healthy balance between dofollow and nofollow links for optimal search engine optimization.

How to Use Our Nofollow Link Checker

Using our free nofollow link analyzer is quick and provides comprehensive insights into your page's link structure.

Enter the URL of the webpage you want to analyze in the input field
Click 'Check Links' to scan all links on the page for rel attributes
View your overall SEO score (0-100) based on your link profile quality
Check the total count of dofollow, nofollow, sponsored, and UGC links
Review the internal vs external breakdown showing how PageRank flows
Browse complete lists of dofollow, nofollow, sponsored, and UGC links with anchor texts and target URLs
Read personalized SEO recommendations to improve your link profile
Identify internal nofollow links that may be blocking PageRank flow within your site

Why Nofollow Link Checking Matters for SEO

Properly managing your dofollow and nofollow links is critical for search engine optimization and avoiding Google penalties.

Dofollow links pass PageRank to the target page and help it rank better in search results
Nofollow links don't pass PageRank but can still drive valuable traffic to your site
Internal nofollow links block PageRank flow within your own site, hurting your SEO
Google requires rel='sponsored' on all paid links - failure to use it can result in manual penalties
Using rel='ugc' on user-generated links protects you from spam and bad link neighborhoods
Too many external dofollow links can leak your PageRank to competitor sites
Proper link attribute management helps you control how PageRank flows through your website

Understanding Google's Link Attributes

Google recognizes three types of nofollow attributes and regular dofollow links. Each serves a different purpose in SEO.

Dofollow (no rel attribute): Default link type that passes PageRank and SEO value to target page
Nofollow (rel='nofollow'): Tells Google not to follow the link or pass PageRank to target page
Sponsored (rel='sponsored'): Required for all paid, affiliate, or sponsored links per Google guidelines
UGC (rel='ugc'): For user-generated content links from comments, forums, reviews, and testimonials
Multiple attributes allowed: You can combine attributes like rel='nofollow sponsored' for paid untrusted links
Hint not directive: As of 2019, Google treats nofollow as a hint, not a directive, but still generally doesn't pass PageRank

Common Nofollow Link Issues and Fixes

Our nofollow link checker identifies critical SEO problems with your link profile so you can fix them.

Internal links with nofollow: Remove nofollow from all internal links to allow PageRank flow within your site
Missing rel='sponsored' on paid links: Add rel='sponsored' to all paid, affiliate, and advertising links to comply with Google
No nofollow on untrusted external links: Add rel='nofollow' to external links you don't fully trust or endorse
Missing rel='ugc' on user content: Add rel='ugc' to all user-generated links from comments, forums, and reviews
Too many external dofollow links: Balance your external links with more internal links or add nofollow to some externals
Nofollow on important external resources: Remove nofollow from high-quality external links you want to support and cite
Inconsistent link attribute usage: Develop a clear policy for when to use each link attribute type

Pro Tip

Run a nofollow link check monthly to catch issues early and maintain a healthy link profile. Never use nofollow on internal links unless you have a very specific reason - internal nofollow links block PageRank from flowing through your site and hurt your overall SEO. Always use rel='sponsored' on paid and affiliate links - Google can detect paid links and will manually penalize sites that don't properly disclose them. For user-generated content, implement rel='ugc' site-wide on all comment and forum links to protect your site from spam. Focus on building a natural mix of dofollow and nofollow links, with internal links being almost entirely dofollow for optimal SEO performance.

FAQ

What is the difference between dofollow and nofollow links?

Dofollow links (default, no rel attribute) pass PageRank to the target page and help it rank better in search engines. Nofollow links (rel='nofollow') don't pass PageRank but still drive traffic and provide value. Use dofollow for trusted links, nofollow for untrusted or user-generated links.

Is this Nofollow Link Checker tool free?

Yes! Our Nofollow Link Checker is completely free with no limits. You can check unlimited pages to analyze dofollow, nofollow, sponsored, and UGC links without any cost. No registration or credit card required.

When should I use rel='nofollow' on links?

Use rel='nofollow' on external links you don't fully trust or endorse, links in widgets or ads (though sponsored is better for ads), and any outbound links where you don't want to pass PageRank. Never use nofollow on internal links as it blocks PageRank flow within your own site.

What is rel='sponsored' and when do I need it?

Rel='sponsored' is required by Google for all paid links, affiliate links, advertising, and sponsored content. Google can detect paid links and will manually penalize websites that don't properly disclose them with rel='sponsored'. Always use it on any link you received money or compensation for.

What is rel='ugc' and why should I use it?

Rel='ugc' stands for User-Generated Content and should be used on all links from comments, forums, reviews, testimonials, and any content created by users rather than site editors. It protects your site from spam links and tells Google these links aren't editorial endorsements.

Can I use nofollow on internal links?

You should almost never use nofollow on internal links. Nofollow blocks PageRank from flowing through your site, which hurts your SEO. Keep all internal links dofollow unless you have a very specific reason (like login/register pages) to prevent PageRank flow.

Do nofollow links hurt my SEO?

Nofollow links don't hurt your SEO - they just don't help with rankings because they don't pass PageRank. A natural link profile includes a mix of dofollow and nofollow links. Having some nofollow links is normal and expected. The problem is only internal nofollow links that block your own PageRank.

Can I use multiple rel attributes on one link?

Yes! You can combine multiple rel attributes like rel='nofollow sponsored' for a paid link you don't want to pass PageRank to, or rel='ugc nofollow' for untrusted user content. Separate multiple attributes with spaces in the rel attribute value.

Does Google still respect nofollow links?

As of March 2020, Google treats nofollow as a 'hint' rather than a directive for crawling and indexing purposes, but generally still doesn't pass PageRank through nofollow links. For SEO purposes, assume nofollow links don't pass PageRank, though they still have value for traffic.

How many nofollow links should my page have?

There's no specific number - it depends on your content. A typical page might have 60-80% dofollow links and 20-40% nofollow/sponsored/ugc links. The key is internal links should be dofollow (90%+), and external links can be a mix based on trust and whether they're paid or user-generated.

Will Google penalize me for not using rel='sponsored'?

Yes, Google can manually penalize websites that don't properly disclose paid links with rel='sponsored' or rel='nofollow'. This is considered a violation of Google's Webmaster Guidelines. Always mark paid links with rel='sponsored' to avoid penalties and maintain your search rankings.

Should I add nofollow to all external links?

No! You should only add nofollow to external links you don't trust or endorse. Dofollow external links to high-quality sources are good for SEO as they show you cite credible resources and contribute to the web ecosystem. Only nofollow untrusted, paid, or user-generated external links.

Related tools

Pro tip: pair this tool with Backlink Checker and Backlink Maker for a faster SEO workflow.