Redirect Hero vs SM Quick Redirects & 404s – Which Shopify 404 Redirect App is Better?
In the fast-paced world of eCommerce, 404 errors can mean lost sales, frustrated visitors, and damaged SEO. That’s why using a dedicated Shopify 404 redirect app is essential for any serious store owner. Today, we compare two popular tools—Redirect Hero – Fix 404 links and SM Quick Redirects & 404s—to help you decide which is better for your Shopify store.
Overview: What Do These Apps Do?
Redirect Hero – Fix 404 Links
Redirect Hero is a lightweight tool focused on simplicity. It helps merchants monitor broken URLs and manually create 301 redirects with minimal setup. It is ideal for users looking for a straightforward, no-frills solution.
SM Quick Redirects & 404s
SM Quick Redirects is a feature-rich redirect manager that goes beyond manual workflows. It includes live 404 monitoring, pattern-based rules, bulk import/export tools, auto-alerts, and integration with modern Shopify features like Shopify 2.0 and multi-currency.
Feature Comparison Table
| Feature | Redirect Hero | SM Quick Redirects |
|---|---|---|
| 404 Error Monitoring | ✅ Basic Logs | ✅ Real-time Live Logs |
| Manual Redirect Creation | ✅ | ✅ |
| Bulk CSV Import/Export | ✅ | ✅ |
| Pattern/Regex Redirects | ✅ | ✅ |
| Email Alerts for New 404s | ❌ | ✅ |
| Live Page Redirects | ✅ | ✅ |
| Shopify 2.0 Compatibility | ✅ | ✅ |
| Dashboard Reporting | ✅ | ✅ |
| Free Plan | ✅ | ✅ |
Ease of Use
Redirect Hero is designed for beginners. Setup is fast and the interface is very simple. However, the lack of automation means that larger stores will need to spend more time creating and managing redirects manually.
SM Quick Redirects maintains ease of use even with advanced features. The app includes helpful onboarding, an intuitive UI, and a drag-and-drop import tool. It’s ideal for growing stores with more complex redirect needs.
404 Monitoring & Automation
This is where the two apps really diverge.
Redirect Hero logs broken URLs, but you must manually act on them. There's no automatic suggestion, email alert, or auto-redirect option.
SM Quick Redirects includes a powerful real-time 404 detector with daily email alerts, instant logging, and redirect creation right from the dashboard. For large-scale stores or those doing migrations, this is a game-changer.
Pattern-Based Redirects & Regex Support
When you're migrating hundreds of URLs, a regex or pattern-based redirect rule can save hours.
SM Quick Redirects supports pattern-based rules like:
/old-collection/(.*) → /new-collection/$1Redirect Hero does not support wildcard or pattern matching, which limits its scalability in large catalog scenarios.
Bulk Redirect Import/Export
SM Quick Redirects offers full CSV import/export functionality, enabling you to:
- Upload hundreds of redirects at once
- Edit them in bulk using Google Sheets or Excel
- Back up your redirect structure before major site updates
Redirect Hero does not support this, so each redirect must be added manually—fine for small stores, inefficient for larger ones.
Support & Documentation
Redirect Hero provides basic documentation and email support.
SM Quick Redirects offers live chat support, detailed help articles, and guided onboarding. The support team also assists with theme integration or bulk redirect planning.
Pricing Comparison
| Plan | Redirect Hero | SM Quick Redirects |
|---|---|---|
| Free Tier | ❌ | ✅ |
| Paid Plan | $2.99/month (Starter), $4.99/month (PRO+) | $3.99/month |
| Includes Bulk & Regex? | ❌ | ✅ |
Use Case Scenario
Example: Migrating 500 URLs After a Store Redesign
- With Redirect Hero: You’d need to manually add 500 individual redirects. No alerts for broken links missed. Regex not supported.
- With SM Quick Redirects: Upload all 500 in one CSV. Use pattern rules to catch dynamic URLs. Monitor new 404s in real time with alerts.
Final Verdict
If you're running a small store and only need to fix a handful of 404s, Redirect Hero may be sufficient. It’s lightweight, free, and user-friendly.
But if you want powerful redirect management, especially during replatforming, SEO cleanup, or catalog expansion, SM Quick Redirects & 404s is the clear winner. Its combination of automation, bulk tools, regex support, and live monitoring ensures both user experience and SEO health are maintained.
Ready to streamline your redirect strategy? Try SM Quick Redirects today and never lose traffic to broken links again.