Hreflang Tags Testing Tool vs Sitebulb (2026): which should you pick?

Pick Hreflang Tags Testing Tool if

• Fits if you're checking a multilingual site's hreflang setup before launch
• Works for tracking down missing return tag errors from Search Console

Look elsewhere if

• Skip it if your hreflang lives in XML sitemaps or you use a sitemap index, as neither is read
• Not for you if you don't have LinkedIn, the only way to sign in for higher limits and the API
• Tight if your site is large: 30 URLs a test without signing in, and anything past the signed-in limit arranged by email
• Watch out: its pages give different signed-in limits (100 or 250 URLs a test), and the API docs mention a premium tier with no price
• Watch out: the maker describes it as a hobby project run by one person

Pick Sitebulb if

• Fits if you want each audit finding ranked by priority with an explanation of what to do
• Works for freelancers auditing sites under 10,000 URLs, from $180 a year on Lite

Look elsewhere if

• Tight if your site is big, as Lite stops at 10,000 URLs per audit and lacks scheduling, comparisons and several reports
• Pricey if you want it in the browser, as Sitebulb Cloud starts at $125 a month and needs at least 2 users
• Skip it if you need keyword research or rank tracking, as it only audits
• Watch out: desktop crawls depend on your computer; Pro's default cap is 500,000 URLs, and more users are from $11 a month each
• Watch out: there's no free plan after the 14-day trial, and paying by invoice or purchase order is for yearly plans only

Hreflang Tags Testing Tool

• Hreflang declared inside XML sitemaps is not analyzed; the sitemap is only used to find URLs.
• Signing in works only through a LinkedIn account.
• Its pages give different limits for signed-in users (100 or 250 URLs per test), and higher limits are arranged by email.
• The maker describes it as a hobby project; the API docs mention a premium tier with no published price.

Sitebulb

• Lite caps each audit at 10,000 URLs and lacks scheduling, comparisons and several report types.
• Desktop crawls are limited by the computer: Pro's default cap is 500,000 URLs, raisable to 2 million.
• Sitebulb Cloud is priced separately, from $125 a month, and needs at least 2 users.
• Purchase order and invoice payment is only for yearly plans.

Hreflang Tags Testing Tool

List or sitemap crawl

Tests a pasted list of URLs, one per line, or every page in an XML sitemap. Sitemap index files are not supported.

Return tag and cluster checks

Confirms that every page in a language cluster links back to the others and references itself in its own hreflang set.

Code, canonical and x-default checks

Flags invalid ISO language and country codes, duplicates, canonicals pointing to another URL and a missing x-default.

Page health

Checks that every hreflang URL answers with a 200 status rather than a redirect, 404 or 403. Hreflang sent in HTTP headers is read too.

Excel export and history

Results can be exported to an Excel workbook, and signed-in users can see past tests, re-run them and save favorites.

Free REST API

Signed-in users can generate an API key to submit URL lists or sitemaps and fetch results; the free tier allows 50 URLs per test and 10 tests a day.

Sitebulb

Prioritized hints

Each audit flags issues against 100+ hints on Lite or 300+ on Pro, ranked by priority and explained in plain terms.

JavaScript crawling

Render JavaScript-heavy sites during a crawl on every plan, at no extra cost.

Audit comparison and scheduling

On Pro, compare audits to see what changed and schedule audits to run automatically, with auto-export to Google Sheets.

Crawl maps and reports

See site structure as visual crawl maps, and on Pro produce customized PDF reports for clients.

Pro-only checks

Pro adds performance and mobile, structured data, hreflang, spelling, accessibility and AMP reports.

MCP access

Connect audits to Claude, ChatGPT and other AI tools through Sitebulb's MCP server, included on every plan.

Hreflang Tags Testing Tool

• Free$0

  Hreflang tests on a URL list or sitemap, 30 URLs per test without signing in and more with a free LinkedIn login.

Sitebulb

• Lite$18

  per month, billed monthly

  Desktop, 1 user, 10,000 URLs per audit, 100+ hints, JavaScript crawling, crawl maps and GA, GSC and Sheets integration.

• Pro$42

  per month, billed monthly

  Desktop price for 1 user; more users from $11 a month each. 500,000 URLs per audit, 300+ hints, scheduling, comparisons, PDF reports.

• Sitebulb Cloud$125

  per month and up, billed monthly

  Browser-based cloud crawling for 2+ users, no project limits, recurring crawls and Data Studio integration.

Hreflang Tags Testing Tool

No public discounts listed.

Sitebulb

• Annual discount

  Save 15% with yearly plans

  Paid yearly, Lite is $180 a year and Pro $425 for 1 user, with extra users at $115.60 a year; Sitebulb Cloud starts at $1,500 a year.