404 errors send website visitors away from your site immediately. The right redirect plugin stops this traffic loss. Redirection vs. WP 301 Redirects stand out as the top choices for handling broken links on WordPress sites.
A proper 301 redirect keeps your traffic flowing when pages move around. WP 301 Redirects handles this automatically with its redirect detection system. The plugin costs $5.99 monthly for the personal plan. Redirection offers similar features without any cost.
This guide shows exactly how these plugins stack up against each other. You’ll see which redirect tool matches your site’s needs and keeps visitors from hitting dead ends.
Key Features: Redirection vs. WP 301 Redirects
These plugins pack different features for fixing broken links. Here’s what each one brings to your WordPress site.
User Interface Design
Redirection keeps things simple with its clean dashboard. You’ll find source and target URL fields right where you need them. The plugin shows 404 errors and redirects logs to separate sections for quick access.
WP 301 Redirects takes a different approach. The dashboard lets you handle multiple sites from one place. You’ll see daily stats and redirect reports right on your main screen.
Redirect Options
Redirection gives you more ways to control your redirects:
- Login-based redirects
- Browser-specific rules
- Cookie-based forwarding
- IP address rules
- Server-level redirects
WP 301 Redirects sticks to standard HTTP codes:
- 301 for permanent moves
- 302 for temporary changes
- 304 when content stays the same
- 307 for temporary moves
- 308 for permanent shifts
Smart Redirect Features
Redirection watches your permalinks constantly. The plugin automatically generates appropriate redirects when you change any URL. It spots 404 errors too, helping you fix pages visitors keep trying to find.
WP 301 Redirects go bigger with smart URL fixes. The plugin catches typos and sends visitors to the right page. A built-in scanner checks your whole site for broken links and bad outbound URLs.
Both plugins handle wildcard redirects and regex patterns. WP 301 Redirects adds extra safety by integrating with Google Safe Browsing and Alexa Rank API to block harmful links.
Redirection vs. WP 301 Redirects: Data Tools
Redirection moves data between different formats:
- Apache .htaccess files
- Nginx rules
- CSV spreadsheets
- JSON transfers
WP 301 Redirects tracks everything about your redirects. You’ll see which redirects work best and get daily reports for all your sites.
Setting Up Your First Redirect
WordPress redirect plugins make URL management simple. Here’s exactly how Redirection and WP 301 Redirects work on your site.
Redirection Plugin Setup
The Redirection plugin needs just a few clicks to start working. Head to your WordPress plugins area, search “redirection”, and hit Install Now.
Your setup path looks like this:
- Find Tools > Redirection
- Click “Start Setup”
- Pick your monitoring settings for:
- URL changes
- 404 errors
- Redirect tracking
- Run the REST API check
- Hit “Finish Setup”
Making your first redirect takes seconds. Put your old URL in the Source field and your new URL in the Target field. The gear icon shows extra options – pick “301 – Moved Permanently” to keep your SEO power.
The plugin handles these redirect types:
- Pattern matching with regex
- Auto-redirects for changed URLs
- Imports from other plugins
WP 301 Redirects Setup
WP 301 Redirects works right from your WordPress plugin area too. Install it like any other plugin and turn on the main features.
The setup works this way:
- Turn on Redirections in your dashboard
- Open the Redirections area
- Pick “Add New”
- Select your match type:
- Exact Match for specific pages
- Contains for URL patterns
Need lots of redirects? The “Add another” button lets you create multiple redirects at once.
Make your redirects work better with these settings:
- Wildcard redirects for URL patterns
- Redirect tracking
- Stats connection
Both plugins take old redirects from:
- Apache files
- Nginx rules
- CSV files
- JSON data
- Other redirect tools
Just remember – you need WordPress 5.3+ and working permalinks for these plugins.
Performance Impact on WordPress: Redirection vs. WP 301 Redirects
Speed matters for your WordPress site. Here’s how Redirection and WP 301 Redirects affect your site’s performance.
Server Load Testing
Most sites handle up to 50,000 redirects without problems. The way each plugin processes redirects makes the real difference.
Redirection stores everything in your database and only checks when needed. This works better than old .htaccess methods since it skips checking every single page load.
WP 301 Redirects uses similar database storage but needs extra power for its special features. Still, your server load stays about the same with either plugin.
Page Speed Results
Sites lose 40% of visitors when pages take over three seconds to load. Each plugin handles speed differently:
Redirection runs through PHP, adding tiny delays on slower servers. Tests show even up to a million redirects won’t slow down your site’s:
- First-byte time
- Page render speed
- Total load time
WP 301 Redirects keeps things quick with smart database queries. The plugin runs smoothly on most servers, though turning on every feature might use more resources.
Database Space Usage
These plugins treat your database differently. Redirection saves only what it needs, keeping things light.
WP 301 Redirects stores extra data for:
- Redirect stats
- Error records
- Speed measurements
Both plugins let you clean up old data to stay fast. Regular cleanup stops your site from slowing down.
Keep your redirects running smoothly:
- Delete old redirect logs
- Clear unused redirects
- Watch database size
- Run latest PHP
Pricing and Support Options: Redirection vs. WP 301 Redirects
Money matters when picking your redirect plugin. Here’s what you get for free and what costs extra.
Free vs Premium Features
Redirection gives you everything at no cost. The plugin packs all these features for free:
- Full redirect controls
- Link tracking
- Domain tools
- Complete logging
WP 301 Redirects splits features between free and paid versions. The free version handles basic redirects, while premium tiers add extra tools:
- Personal: Basic redirect tools
- Team: Group features
- Agency: Full access plus white-label options
Other redirect tools cost more:
- All in One SEO handles redirects for $199.60 yearly, covering 3 sites
- SeedProd starts at $39.50 each year
- Pretty Links asks $99.60 yearly for advanced features
Support Quality
Each plugin helps users differently. Redirection users get help through:
- WordPress.org community
- GitHub bug tracking
- WordPress.org translations
WP 301 Redirects changes support based on what you pay:
- Free users get forum help
- Paid users unlock:
- Direct support
- Fresh updates
- Better assistance
Premium support brings you:
- Quick technical help
- Full documentation
- Fast responses
- Regular updates
Both plugins keep getting better. Redirection takes feature requests on GitHub. WP 301 Redirects premium users to get email reports and custom settings.
Big sites need more power. WP 301 Redirects agency features include:
- Multiple site controls
- White-label tools
- Full reporting
- Remote management
Real User Experiences
Users tell the real story about these redirect plugins. Their feedback shows clear winners for different website needs.
Redirection vs. WP 301 Redirects: Success Stories
SEO agencies love Redirection for big site moves. The plugin handles tough redirect jobs perfectly, especially with Yoast SEO. One agency kept 10 years of SEO power during a full site rebuild – the plugin’s 404 tracking saved their old backlinks.
WP 301 Redirects wins fans with its simple setup. Users give the plugin 4.8 stars out of 5. Site owners say the automatic redirect feature stops 404 errors completely.
Common Problems
Redirection runs into some snags. Users mention these issues:
- Security plugin fights during firewall setup
- Slower speeds on busy sites
- Database problems on some servers
WP 301 Redirects stumbles with URL tracking sometimes. The plugin misses changed URLs, forcing users to add redirects by hand. Some paying customers say the link checker doesn’t always work right.
User Rating Story
Redirection scores 4.4 stars from 667 users. The votes break down like this:
- 532 users gave five stars
- 29 picked four stars
- 13 chose three stars
- 19 went with two stars
- 74 left one star
Users love how it:
- Catches 404 errors
- Keeps traffic flowing
- Helps SEO work
WP 301 Redirects runs on more than 100,000 sites. Users keep talking about:
- Quick 30-second setup
- Easy redirect management
- Strong SEO rank protection
Both plugins have solid fan bases but shine differently. Redirection fits technical users who want full control. WP 301 Redirects matches users who need quick, simple fixes.
Feature Comparison: Redirection vs. WP 301 Redirects
Here’s exactly what you get with each plugin:
| Feature | Redirection | WP 301 Redirects |
| Cost | Free – all features | $5.99/month to start |
| Dashboard | Clean, simple layout | Full control panel |
| Redirect Types | – Login-based- Browser rules- Cookie rules- IP rules- Server rules | – 301 Permanent- 302 Temporary- 304 Not changed- 307 Temporary- 308 Permanent |
| Smart Features | – URL change tracking- 404 error spots | – Smart URL fixes- Full site scanner- Typo catching |
| Data Moving | Works with htaccess, Nginx, CSV, JSON | Daily logs and reports |
| Speed Impact | – Login-based- Browser rules- Cookie rules- IP rules- Server Rules | – Database storage- Slightly heavier- Fast queries |
| Help Options | – WordPress forums- GitHub help- Community support | – Basic forum help- Direct help (paid)- Fast answers (paid) |
| User Scores | 4.4/5 from 667 users | 4.8/5 from 278 users |
| Best Parts | – 404 tracking- Regex tools- Link checks | – Multi-site tools- White-label choice- Google safety checks |
Final Word
Redirection and WP 301 Redirects fix broken links differently. Redirection gives you everything free – perfect for sites needing solid redirect tools without extra costs. The plugin’s 4.4-star rating from 667 users shows it handles tough redirect jobs well.
WP 301 Redirects costs $5.99 monthly but adds smart URL fixes and link scanning. Agencies love the fancy dashboard and multi-site controls. The plugin works great for teams managing lots of WordPress sites.
Speed tests show both plugins run light on your server. Users pick Redirection for its simple setup and 404 tracking. WP 301 Redirects wins praise for quick setup and smart features.
Small sites and bloggers should pick Redirection – it’s free and handles redirects perfectly. Agencies and big sites need WP 301 Redirects for its advanced tools and direct support. Both plugins keep your links working and your SEO strong.
