How to Check Cached Pages Now That Google Cache is Discontinued

Published On - September 27, 2024

admin
check-cached-pages-without-google-cache

The news that Google Cache has been officially discontinued might leave some digital marketers scrambling to find alternative tools to inspect cached versions of websites. Google Cache was widely used by SEOs to monitor how their websites were indexed, cached, and displayed by Google. Now that this tool is no longer available, understanding alternative solutions is crucial to maintaining your SEO workflow.

This blog will guide you through three top alternatives to Google Cache, breaking down how each one works and why it’s useful for digital marketers. Let’s dive into how you can stay on top of your cache-checking game even without Google Cache.

Why Has Google Cache Been Discontinued?

Before exploring alternatives, it’s important to understand why this change occurred. According to SERoundtable, Google has officially stopped offering cache snapshots, a feature previously accessible via Google Search. While the exact reasons are unclear, it’s likely due to evolving technology and shifts in how Google handles and serves search data.

How to Check Website Cache Without Google Cache

Now that Google Cache is no more, you’ll need to rely on other tools to inspect how your website appears to search engines. Here are three trusted alternatives that can help you access cached versions of any webpage.

1. Wayback Machine

The Wayback Machine is one of the most popular tools for viewing historical versions of websites. Unlike Google Cache, which shows the most recent cached version, the Wayback Machine provides a timeline of website snapshots, allowing you to track changes over time.

How to Use Wayback Machine:

  1. Go to archive.org/web.
  2. Enter the URL of the website you want to check.
  3. Select the date from the timeline that corresponds to when the site was cached.
  4. View the cached snapshot of the website.

Benefits of Wayback Machine:

  • Historical archives: Access older versions of a webpage, sometimes spanning decades.
  • Comprehensive snapshots: It captures all web elements, including images and content.
  • Great for audits: Ideal for seeing how your website has evolved and ensuring historical accuracy in content or layout.

Drawbacks:

Infrequent updates: Wayback Machine may not have the most up-to-date version of your site cached, especially for smaller or less popular sites.

For marketers, this tool is especially useful for checking long-term website evolution, brand consistency, or verifying past SEO strategies.

2. CachedView

CachedView is another excellent replacement for Google Cache. This tool aggregates cached pages from Google Cache, Wayback Machine, and CoralCDN, giving users a broad range of cached snapshots in one place.

How to Use CachedView:

  1. Visit cachedview.com.
  2. Enter the website URL you want to check.
  3. Choose the source for your cached version (Google, Wayback Machine, or CoralCDN).
  4. Click “View Cache” to access the cached version.

Benefits of CachedView:

  • Multiple sources: Pull cached pages from various databases, including Google (if available).
  • User-friendly interface: Easy-to-use dashboard that provides quick access to cached pages.
  • Comprehensive snapshots: The ability to compare cached versions from different sources is particularly useful for tracking website performance across multiple platforms.

Drawbacks:

Dependent on Google: Some features may not work as effectively now that Google Cache has been discontinued.

For digital marketers, CachedView offers a well-rounded solution, especially if you want to access snapshots from multiple databases for a comprehensive analysis.

3. CoralCDN

CoralCDN is a lesser-known but powerful tool for accessing cached content. Originally designed as a content distribution network, CoralCDN also allows users to access cached versions of sites that may be down or unreachable.

How to Use CoralCDN:

  1. Append “.nyud.net” to the end of any URL (e.g., http://example.com.nyud.net).
  2. Press enter and CoralCDN will fetch the cached version of the site.

Benefits of CoralCDN:

  • No special platform required: Simply append “.nyud.net” to the URL for quick access.
  • Cache for unavailable sites: Useful for retrieving cached versions of sites that are down or slow.
  • Content delivery: Optimized for faster loading of cached content.

Drawbacks:

Limited cache history: Only retrieves the latest available version of a site, without the historical archives offered by other tools.

For marketers, CoralCDN is a quick and easy way to access cached versions of sites during downtime or for checking the latest available snapshot.

Final Thoughts

Though Google Cache is no longer available, digital marketers have plenty of alternatives to check cached versions of their websites. Tools like Wayback Machine, CachedView, and CoralCDN not only offer similar functionalities but also provide additional benefits such as historical records and multi-source caching.