Free HTML Sitemap Coverage Checker
Compare your HTML sitemap page against your XML sitemap to find coverage gaps. Enter the URL of your HTML sitemap and the tool will automatically discover your XML sitemap, extract all URLs from both, and show you which pages are missing, extra, or shared between the two.
Check Sitemap Coverage
Enter the URL of your HTML sitemap page. The tool will automatically discover your XML sitemap.
Why HTML Sitemap Coverage Matters
An HTML sitemap serves a dual purpose: it helps users navigate your site and distributes internal link equity to every page it links to. When your HTML sitemap is missing pages that exist in your XML sitemap, those pages lose a potential internal link and may be harder for both users and crawlers to discover through site navigation alone.
Conversely, if your HTML sitemap contains URLs not present in your XML sitemap, it could indicate pages you forgot to add to the XML sitemap or pages that were removed from the XML sitemap but still linked from the HTML version. Either way, the gap represents an inconsistency that should be investigated.
What This Tool Checks
- HTML sitemap link extraction: Fetches your HTML sitemap page and extracts all same-domain links, filtering out external URLs, anchors, and non-HTTP protocols.
- XML sitemap discovery: Automatically tries common XML sitemap locations including /sitemap.xml, /sitemap_index.xml, and /wp-sitemap.xml. Handles sitemap index files with multiple child sitemaps.
- URL normalization: Normalizes all URLs by removing trailing slashes and lowercasing hostnames to ensure accurate comparison without false mismatches.
- Coverage analysis: Calculates the overlap percentage and categorizes every URL into one of three groups: present in both, missing from HTML, or extra in HTML.
HTML Sitemap Best Practices
A well-structured HTML sitemap should list all important pages on your site, organized by category or section. Unlike an XML sitemap that can contain thousands of URLs, an HTML sitemap is most effective when it is curated to include pages that matter most for users and SEO. Group pages logically under headings that match your site's information architecture.
Keep your HTML sitemap to a single page when possible. If your site has thousands of pages, consider splitting the HTML sitemap into category-specific pages. Ensure the main HTML sitemap page is linked from your site footer so it is accessible from every page and passes link equity throughout the site.
How to Use This Tool
- Enter your HTML sitemap URL — Paste the URL of your HTML sitemap page. This is typically at /sitemap, /sitemap.html, or /html-sitemap on your domain.
- Click "Check Coverage" — The tool fetches your HTML sitemap, discovers your XML sitemap, and extracts URLs from both.
- Review the coverage score — The score shows what percentage of all unique URLs appear in both sitemaps.
- Examine the URL lists — Expand each section to see which URLs are missing from your HTML sitemap, which are extra, and which are present in both.
- Fix gaps — Add missing important pages to your HTML sitemap and investigate any URLs that appear in one sitemap but not the other.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an HTML sitemap and how is it different from an XML sitemap?
An HTML sitemap is a user-facing page on your website that lists links to important pages, organized for human visitors to navigate your site. An XML sitemap is a machine-readable file submitted to search engines that lists all URLs you want indexed. Both serve discovery purposes but for different audiences: HTML sitemaps help users and provide internal link equity, while XML sitemaps help search engine crawlers find and prioritize pages.
Why should I compare my HTML sitemap against my XML sitemap?
Comparing the two sitemaps reveals coverage gaps that can hurt SEO. Pages in your XML sitemap but missing from the HTML sitemap lack internal link equity from the sitemap page. Pages in the HTML sitemap but missing from the XML sitemap might not be properly communicated to search engines. Ideally, important pages should appear in both for maximum crawlability and link distribution.
What is a good coverage percentage between HTML and XML sitemaps?
A coverage percentage above 80% is generally good, meaning most URLs appear in both sitemaps. However, 100% coverage is not always necessary or practical. Large sites may intentionally have a curated HTML sitemap with fewer pages than the full XML sitemap. The key is ensuring that all important, high-priority pages are present in both sitemaps.
Do I need both an HTML sitemap and an XML sitemap?
While not strictly required, having both is a best practice. XML sitemaps are essential for search engine crawling and indexation. HTML sitemaps provide additional internal linking, help users find content, and can improve crawl efficiency by creating short click paths to deep pages. Together, they ensure comprehensive site discoverability for both search engines and users.
How often should I update my HTML sitemap?
Your HTML sitemap should be updated whenever you add or remove important pages from your site. Many CMS platforms can auto-generate HTML sitemaps. For dynamic sites, consider generating the HTML sitemap programmatically from the same data source as your XML sitemap to keep them in sync. At minimum, review your HTML sitemap quarterly to catch any drift.
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