Unlock smarter audits with underrated (and totally free) tools

Let’s face it—SEO audits can feel overwhelming. Between crawling errors, broken links, page speed issues, and indexing hiccups, there’s always a new fire to put out. But here’s the thing:

If you’re still relying solely on Google Search Console and a single-page audit plugin, it’s time to expand your toolkit. Below, I’m revealing five free, under-the-radar tools that can shave hours off your audit time and give you the insights you’ve been missing.

Ready to dig in?

1. Detailed SEO Extension (by Glen Allsopp)

Quick, actionable on-page insights with zero fluff

Most SEO browser extensions dump you with too much info and no direction. The Detailed SEO Extension cuts the noise and gives you exactly what matters: meta tags, headings, structured data, links, and word count—all in one clean panel.

Why it’s a hidden gem:

• No login or setup required

• Insanely fast to scan a page

• Great for comparing competitors’ on-page setups

Pro Tip: Use it to build a content gap strategy based on what your rivals are doing right.

2. Bulk URL Opener

Open dozens (or hundreds) of links in one click—without losing your mind

If your audits involve checking a long list of live pages—think redirect chains, backlinks, or content updates—then manually opening each URL is just plain painful.

Enter the Bulk URL Opener tool, a free browser-based tool (and Chrome extension) that opens all your pasted URLs in new tabs instantly. Perfect for verifying backlinks, 301 redirects, or just skimming landing pages during an audit.

Why it’s brilliant for audits:

• Opens all your URLs at once—no copy-paste madness

• Saves tons of time on manual link checks

• Helps spot errors like 404s and redirect loops fast

Use it during:

• Backlink audits

• Content inventory reviews

• Site migration QA

3. Hreflang Tag Tester

International SEO doesn’t have to be a black box

Got a multilingual or multi-regional site? You need to be checking hreflang tags, or your international rankings could suffer.

The Hreflang Tag Tester (by Merkle) helps you quickly validate that your hreflang annotations are implemented correctly across versions of your site.

Why it matters:

• Avoid duplicate content issues across regions

• Make sure search engines serve the correct version

• Spot missing or mismatched language codes

Combine this with Screaming Frog (free up to 500 URLs) for deeper hreflang analysis.

4. Xenu Link Sleuth (Windows only)

A bit old school—but still surprisingly powerful

Xenu has been around forever, but it’s still one of the fastest ways to crawl a site and identify broken links, redirects, and orphan pages.

Why it’s worth trying:

• Blazing fast crawls for small to mid-sized sites

• Exports detailed reports in seconds

• No setup or technical know-how required

If you're on Windows and haven’t used it yet, you’re missing out on one of SEO’s best-kept secrets.

5. Google PageSpeed Insights (with a twist)

Don’t just check your own site—check your competitors too

What to look for:

• Lazy loading techniques

• Server response times

• CLS (Cumulative Layout Shift) issues

• JavaScript bloat

Combine this with the Bulk URL Opener to analyze 10+ competitor pages in one go.

Wrapping It Up: Smart Audits Start with Smart Tools

The truth is, you don’t need to pay hundreds a month to perform an effective SEO audit. You just need the right combination of tools—and a few clever hacks.

Let’s recap the lineup:

Over to You: What’s Your Go-To Free SEO Tool?

Whether you’re a freelancer running quick site checks or part of an agency auditing hundreds of pages, these free tools are the unsung heroes of the SEO world.

Got a hidden gem of your own? Drop it in the comments—let’s swap secrets.

And if you’re still manually opening 30 tabs to check redirects or backlinks… seriously, give the Bulk URL Opener a spin. Your sanity will thank you.