What is a Bot Crawlability Test?
A bot crawlability test checks whether web crawlers and AI agents can access your website. With the rise of AI-powered search engines like Perplexity, ChatGPT, and Google AI Overviews, understanding which bots can reach your content is critical for both SEO and AI visibility.
This free tool tests your URL against 50+ bots across 24 categories:
- AI Training Crawlers: GPTBot, ClaudeBot, Google-Extended
- AI Search Crawlers: PerplexityBot, OAI-SearchBot
- Traditional Search: Googlebot, Bingbot, DuckDuckBot
- Social Media: FacebookBot, Twitterbot, LinkedInBot
Why Bot Access Matters in 2026
AI Search Visibility
AI search engines like Perplexity and ChatGPT now cite sources in their answers. If PerplexityBot or OAI-SearchBot can’t access your content, you won’t appear in AI-generated responses—even if you rank well in traditional search.
AI Training Decisions
Bots like GPTBot and ClaudeBot collect data for training AI models. Some businesses want to allow this for brand awareness; others prefer to block it. This tool shows you which AI training crawlers currently have access.
robots.txt Configuration
Your robots.txt file controls crawler access, but mistakes are common. This tool verifies that your intended allow/block rules are working correctly for each bot category.
Bot Categories Explained
AI Training - Major
Large AI companies (OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, Meta) use these crawlers to collect training data. Blocking them won’t affect search rankings but prevents your content from training future AI models.
AI Search Crawlers
These bots power AI search features. Blocking PerplexityBot means your content won’t appear in Perplexity answers. Blocking OAI-SearchBot affects ChatGPT’s web search feature.
Traditional Search Engines
Googlebot and Bingbot are essential for SEO. Blocking these bots removes you from search results entirely—only do this intentionally.
Social Media Crawlers
FacebookBot and Twitterbot generate link previews. Blocking them means shared links won’t show images or descriptions.
How to Use This Tool
- Enter your URL in the test field (e.g., https://yourdomain.com)
- Configure settings (optional):
- Select which bot categories to test
- Adjust timeout for slow servers
- Choose pacing (Normal, Balanced, or Gentle)
- Click “Test Crawlability” and wait for results
- Review the summary: Health Score shows overall accessibility
- Check Priority Issues: Critical problems are highlighted
- Download results for your records or further analysis
Understanding Your Results
Health Score
Percentage of tested bots that can access your URL. 100% means all selected bots can reach your site.
Server Blocked
Bots that received 4xx/5xx HTTP errors. This usually indicates bot detection or rate limiting.
Robots.txt Blocked
Bots explicitly blocked by your robots.txt file. Intentional blocks are fine; unexpected blocks need investigation.
Errors/Timeouts
Bots that couldn’t connect. High numbers suggest server issues or aggressive bot blocking.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I allow AI training crawlers?
It depends on your goals. Allowing GPTBot and ClaudeBot means your content may train AI models, potentially increasing brand awareness. Blocking them protects your content but reduces AI visibility.
Why is my health score low?
Common causes include:
- Aggressive bot detection blocking legitimate crawlers
- robots.txt misconfiguration
- Server timeout issues
- Geographic restrictions
How do I fix robots.txt issues?
Use our Robots.txt Generator to create a properly configured file with AI crawler settings.
How often should I test?
Test whenever you:
- Update your robots.txt file
- Change server configuration
- Notice drops in search traffic
- Want to verify AI visibility
Is this tool free?
Yes, completely free. We use Netlify Functions with rate limiting to keep it sustainable.
Related Tools
- Robots.txt Generator - Create AI-optimized robots.txt files