About LinkCheckNow
An independent, free set of tools that show where links really go, so you can decide for yourself.
What LinkCheckNow is
LinkCheckNow is a free set of tools that show you where links really go. Paste a short link, a link from a text or email, or a QR code, and we follow every redirect from our server and show you the full path, the final website and anything unusual about it, in plain language.
The site started from a simple frustration. Short links and QR codes are everywhere, and they hide the one thing you need to know before you tap: which website you're about to visit. Most "is this link safe?" tools give a verdict without explaining it, or need an account. We wanted something calm and clear that shows the facts and lets you decide.
Who runs it
LinkCheckNow is an independent website run by Lee Palmer, a small publisher based in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, who builds practical, privacy-friendly web tools. It isn't owned by a security company, a link shortener or an advertiser, and it has no paid placements in results.
Our principles
- Facts, not verdicts. No tool can promise a link is safe. We show what we found and explain what it means.
- Private by design. We don't store the links you check, and you never need an account. The URL Cleaner and QR reader work in your browser.
- Free and light. The site is supported by a small number of ads. Results are never influenced by advertisers.
- Plain language. Results and guides are written for everyone, not just technical users.
How we check links
When you check a link, our server (hosted on Cloudflare's network) requests the address and stops at each redirect to record the status code and the next address, up to 10 steps. We also follow "page refresh" redirects. We read only the first part of the final page, enough to find its title and any refresh redirect, and we never run scripts from it.
We then look at facts that anyone could check by hand: the final domain name and how it compares with well-known brands, the domain's registration date from public registration data (RDAP), whether the address uses common disguises, whether the page is secure, whether it downloads a file, and which tracking codes the link carries. You can read more in how to read your results.
Limits we're open about
Scam sites change quickly and sometimes show different content to automated visitors. We can't follow redirects done with JavaScript, and some sites block automated checks. A result with no warnings is a good sign, not a guarantee. When a message asks you to log in or pay, the safest step is still to go to the organization's official website or app yourself.
Get in touch
Found a result that looks wrong, a bug, or a tool you'd like us to add? Email contact@linkchecknow.com or see the contact page.