Free Canonical Tag vs 301 Redirect

The 301 Redirect

A 301 redirect is a server-side command indicating a page has permanently moved. It automatically forces the user's browser (and search engine bots) from URL A to URL B, passing along roughly 90-99% of SEO "link juice."

The Canonical Tag

A rel="canonical" link element (often generated via an offline metadata architect tool) is a hint, not a directive. It tells search engines, "These two pages look identical, but please consider URL B to be the master version." Unlike a 301, users can still access and view URL A in their browser.

When to Use Which?

Use a 301 redirect when a URL is permanently deleted or migrated, and you have server access. Use a Canonical tag when you need the duplicate page to remain accessible to users (like a printable version of an article, or tracking parameter URLs).