FREE SEO TOOL

Anchor Text Checker

Analyze internal anchor text for any page. See how often each anchor is used, identify generic links, and uncover internal linking patterns that impact SEO.

anchor text checker

Anchor Text Snapshot

Enter a target URL and a sitemap URL. This tool crawls a limited set of pages and groups the anchor text used when linking to the target.

Pages checked
0
Inbound links found
0
Unique anchor texts
0
Target:
Sitemap:
Check
Anchor text Count Example source pages
Limitations: This tool reads the raw HTML response. If internal links are injected by JavaScript after page load, the anchor text may be missed. Results are a snapshot based on the sitemap and your selected crawl cap.

Understand how pages on your site describe and reference a URL

Anchor Text Snapshot shows the words and phrases used in internal links that point to a specific page. It groups anchor text by frequency so you can quickly see how a page is being referenced across your site.

This tool is designed to surface patterns, not overwhelm you with crawl data. It provides a clear snapshot of internal anchor usage that is immediately actionable for SEO.

What is anchor text?

Anchor text is the visible, clickable text in a hyperlink.

Example: 

<a href="/services/seo/">SEO services</a>

In this example, SEO services is the anchor text.

How this tool works

When you enter a target URL and a sitemap URL, the tool performs a limited crawl of pages from the sitemap. On each page, it looks for internal links that point to the target URL and extracts the anchor text used.

  • Fetches pages listed in the sitemap, up to a user-defined limit
  • Finds links that point to the target page
  • Extracts visible anchor text (or image alt text when applicable)
  • Groups anchor text by frequency
  • Displays example source pages for context

Results are presented as a snapshot, not a full site audit.

Ignoring header and footer links

By default, the tool ignores links found in headers, footers, and navigation elements. These areas often contain repeated, sitewide links that can distort anchor text analysis.

When this option is enabled, links are excluded if they appear within:

  • <header>, <footer>, or <nav> elements
  • ARIA roles like banner, contentinfo, or navigation
  • Common layout wrappers such as site headers, menus, or footers

This allows SEOs to focus on contextual, in-content links rather than global navigation.

Why anchor text matters for SEO

Anchor text helps search engines understand the relationship between pages. It provides contextual signals about what the linked page is about.

  • Descriptive anchor text improves topical clarity
  • Overuse of generic anchors can weaken internal signals
  • Low anchor diversity may indicate structural or UX issues
  • Consistent mismatches can hint at content or IA problems

While anchor text alone does not determine rankings, it is a foundational internal linking signal.

Common issues this tool helps uncover

  • Excessive use of generic anchors like “click here” or “learn more”
  • Navigation links dominating internal anchor profiles
  • Over-optimized repetition of the same keyword phrase
  • Pages that receive links but lack descriptive context
  • Orphan-like behavior despite having internal links

How to use Anchor Text Snapshot

  • Audit internal linking patterns for key pages
  • QA site architecture or navigation changes
  • Validate internal linking strategies during SEO projects
  • Support content optimization and hub-and-spoke models
  • Explain internal SEO concepts to stakeholders

Important limitations

  • Only pages included in the sitemap are analyzed
  • Links injected via JavaScript after page load may be missed
  • Results represent a snapshot, not a full crawl
  • Anchor quality still requires human judgment

This tool is intentionally focused and lightweight. Its goal is to surface patterns quickly, not replace full crawling software.

Sources