Quick Answer: A free sitemap URLs comparison tool compares two XML sitemaps and shows which URLs were added, removed, or left unchanged. The free Sitemap URLs Comparison Tool helps you catch missing pages, post-migration drift, and wrong sitemap updates before you submit files to search engines.
Site map URL changes can hide SEO issues. A site update can drop a product page by mistake. It can add test URLs. Old pages can stay in the XML file. No one will spot the issue until search data falls off.
The fix is fast. Check your old site map with the new one before you send it to search tools. You get a clean list of what was added and what was removed.
What is a site map URL check tool?
A site map URL check tool is a free tool. It takes two XML site files. It pulls out each link. Then it shows you what is new, what is gone, and what stayed the same.
The free Sitemap URLs Comparison Tool from Word Spinner works with standard XML site maps and index files. The tool page says it can fetch child site maps up to 3 levels deep. It checks up to 500 links per file. You can filter by new, removed, or same links. You can search inside the data too. Save as CSV or PDF when you are done.
Use this tool before site moves, CMS updates, and content edits. A link count tells you something changed. A link check tells you what changed.
Why check site map links before sending them?
Search tools see site maps as hints. A site map does not mean all its links are correct. Google Search Central says a site map helps search tools crawl your site. But it does not mean every page will be found and kept.
A bad site map can waste search focus. It can list old links that are gone. It can miss new links. It can mix up live and test pages after an update.
A link check is the fast QA step between a build and a send. If your new site map lost 300 links, you can check if that was planned or if something broke.
"A site map diff turns a vague crawl risk into a list of links your team can check."
How does a free site map link check tool work?
A free tool grabs two site map files. It reads the XML data. It pulls out each link. Then it checks both lists side by side.
The Word Spinner tool also cleans links. It makes the web address lowercase. It removes extra marks. This stops false mismatches between equal pages.
If you type a domain name instead of a full site map link, the tool checks the robot file first. If no site map is found, it tries the default site map.xml path. This helps when a client sends you just a domain name.
Use the check result as a to-do list. New links should be real new pages or restored parts. Removed links should be planned deletes or forwards. Same links should still be your core page set.
| Result group | What it means | What to check | Common cause |
|---|---|---|---|
| New links | New link only in the second file | Check that the page is real, findable, and meant for search | New content, CMS launch, or test links by mistake |
| Old links | Present in the old file only | Check forwards, new pages, and delete approvals | Cleanup, broken rule, or missing content |
| Same links | Present in both files | Check top pages for status and main tags | Stable site parts or same build logic |
How do you check site map links step by step?
Pick two site maps. Choose one from before a change and one from after. A good pair is last week's file and the one your CMS just built.
Step 1. Open the old site map. Use the last good file, an old save, or a backup XML copy.
Step 2. Open the new site map. Use your live URL or the staging file you want to check.
Step 3. Run the free tool. Paste both files into the free Word Spinner Sitemap URLs Comparison Tool.
Step 4. Check the new links. Look for test paths and pages that should not be in search.
Step 5. Check the old links. Make sure each gone link has a fwd or a valid reason.
Step 6. Save the result. Keep a CSV or PDF for your team and release notes.
Compare two site maps side by side. The free Sitemap URLs Comparison Tool on Word Spinner lets you check site maps, find changes, and save the results.
When should you run a site map link check?
Run a site map check when your site changes a lot. The main risks are site moves, new designs, and platform swaps. Big ecommerce sites make thousands of links from product feeds. One feed bug can add hundreds of bad links. A whole product group can drop from the file with no one seeing it.
A link check catches these changes before you send a bad file. Save your old file before the update. Save the new one after. Then check them.
How do you read new and old site map links?
Think of new links as change requests. Each one needs a reason. New content. Restored pages. Fresh language pages. A planned fwd target.
Treat old links as risk items. An old link is fine if you took that page down on purpose. But if a plugin or deploy dropped a key page by accident, that is a real problem.
Ahrefs guides users to check data between two scans. You do not need a paid tool for a basic check. Just compare your current data with an older save.
Good review notes should name the update, both file sources, how many links were added, how many were removed, and who owns each fix. Keep these notes with your export. If rankings or crawl data change later, your team can trace it to one update. No more searching through weeks of changes.
This stops a common issue too. SEO sees a drop in traffic, but the dev team sees no errors. Both waste time because no one saved the exact link diff.
What site map check mistakes should you avoid?
Do not only look at total numbers. Two files may both list 12,000 links. But one may lose 600 good pages and add 600 bad ones. You cannot catch this from totals alone.
Do not mix domains unless you set it up that way. The site map rules say all links in one file must be from one host. If your tool shows mixed domains, check the rules first.
Do not send a new file before you check the removed pages. Search tools may keep old links for a while. Your file should show what is live right now.
A full site map QA workflow
A site map check tool is part of a larger QA flow. Each free Word Spinner tool covers one step. The table below shows which tool to use and when.
| Free tool | Best use | Output to keep | When to run it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sitemap Finder | Find site map files and nested lists | List of found files | Before an audit starts |
| Sitemap URL Extractor | Pull links from one file or list | Clean link list | Before manual checks |
| XML Sitemap Validator | Check XML, errors, and SEO issues | Check report | Before sending the file |
| Sitemap Index Generator | Make a parent list for many files | Index XML file | After splitting big files |
| Sitemap Split and Merger Tool | Split or join site map files | New XML files | When link counts grow |
All tools on tools.word-spinner.com are free. Build your full QA process without a paid tool. For more help, read the guide on XML sitemap validator fix errors.
FAQ
Is the Word Spinner Sitemap URLs Comparison Tool free?
Yes. The tool is free to use. It runs in your browser. No data leaves your page. You can check two XML site maps. See what was added and removed. Search the data. Save CSV or PDF files.
What is the gap between a site map check and a site map validator?
A validator checks if your file is built right. A check tool shows how one file differs from another. Use both before you send. Validation finds file bugs. A check finds link changes you did not plan.
Can a site map check tool find pages that are gone?
Yes. It finds pages that are not in the new file but still exist in the old one. It does not tell you if they should stay in search. You need to check the fwd rules and content plan. That is why a site map check is a good QA step before any big update.
How often should you check site map links?
Check them after any update that changes your site pages. Run a check each week if your site posts new content often. Save each export with the date and file names. This gives your team a clean record of what changed and when.
Should old site map links always have a forward?
No. Some old pages should show a 404 error if the content is truly gone. Key pages should have a fwd to a related page when one exists. The tool gives you a list to review. Your next step depends on the page value, the backlinks, and if a good new page exists.