You added schema markup to your website—yay, high five 🎉! But before you close that browser tab, move on, and wait for the SEO magic to happen, there’s one more important step: making sure it works. That’s because schema markup only helps your visibility if it’s properly formatted, correctly placed, and recognized by Google.
Fortunately, there are tools that make validation simple. Some of them are simple and free; some of them are more advanced. We’ve tried out many different structured data testing tools and in this post, we’re spilling the beans on our faves. Whether you’re using a schema generator plugin like RankMath to easily write your schema markup or writing custom code, here’s how to confirm your structured data is doing its job.
Why Schema Validation Matters
Schema is kind of like a cheat sheet for search engines to find their way around your website. Instead of letting Google index your website content and make its best algorithmic guess at what’s there and who it matters most to, you can tell it exactly what’s going on. But just like any cheat sheet, if there are typos or missing answers, it’s not going to help you ace the test.
Validating your schema makes sure:
- Your code is free of errors
- Your content is eligible for rich results
- Google knows how to interpret each page on your site
- You’re not missing any key SEO opportunities
If you’ve ever wondered why your service pages aren’t showing star ratings or your blog post doesn’t appear with those snazzy extras in search…schema validation might be the missing link. Here are our favorite tools for getting the job done.
Tool #1: Google Rich Result Test
What it does: Checks if your page is eligible for enhanced results (aka rich results) in Google search (like FAQs, reviews, product info, etc.)
Why we love it:
- Super user-friendly interface
- Tells you which schema types are detected
- Flags what’s missing or broken
- Shows a visual preview of how your page might appear in search
How to use it:
- Copy the URL of a live page on your website
- Paste it into the Rich Results Test tool
- Click “Test URL” and review the results
- Fix any issues the tool flags, especially warnings and errors
💡 Pro Tip: This tool works best for live (public) pages, so make sure your page isn’t in draft or password-protected mode.
Tool #2: Schema Markup Validator
What it does: This is the official structured data checker from Schema.org. It validates all types of structured data (not just the ones Google supports in rich result test.)
Why we love it:
- Detects every kind of schema on your page
- Helps troubleshoot plugin-generated code
- Great for advanced users or anyone using custom schema
How to use it:
- Paste your page’s URL or raw HTML
- Click “Run Test”
- Review errors, warnings, and schema types detected
💡 Pro Tip: This tool shows a more detailed breakdown than Google’s Rich Result Test. Use it to cross-check or dig deeper into issues.
Tool #3: RankMath’s Built-In Schema Preview
If you’re already using RankMath (which we recommend!), validating schema is even easier, because it’s built right into your WordPress editor.
How to use it:
- Open any post or page in WordPress
- Scroll down to the RankMath section
- Click the Schema tab to view what’s currently active
- Use the Schema Generator to preview, edit, or add fields
Why we love it:
- No external tools required
- Works with Gutenberg and Classic Editor
- Lets you assign or remove schema types per page
💡 Pro Tip: After editing your schema, run the page through one of the tools above to confirm your changes.
Tool #4: Ahrefs & Semrush (For Ongoing SEO Monitoring)
If you’re managing a growing site or working on SEO long-term, platforms like Ahrefs and Semrush can help keep running tabs on schema performance.
What they do:
- Track which of your pages are eligible for and receiving rich results
- Flag schema-related errors or issues over time
- Compare your schema setup to competitor sites
Why we love them:
- Ideal for agencies, advanced users, or interior designers investing in long-term SEO
- Offers insight into how schema impacts your click-through rates (CTR)
💡 Heads-up: These are paid tools—but worth the investment if you’re serious about scaling visibility.
What to do if something’s not working
In a perfect world, you’ve done everything right and there’s nothing to fix with your schema markup after the fact. But what happens if your validation tools don’t show what you expected? Here’s how to troubleshoot:
- Double-check that your schema matches your content. Mismatches can throw Google off—and cause you to fail the validation testing process.
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- Review whether the correct schema type is applied (e.g., “Service” instead of “Product”)
- Confirm your site is public and crawlable. Some of these tools won’t work if your site is still password protected.
- Use the “Inspect URL” tool in Google Search Console to request indexing after changes. That way, Google will get the latest schema as quickly as possible (and you can start reaping the benefits ASAP!)
Sometimes the problem is as simple as it taking a day or two for Google to catch up to your latest website data, but it’s always worth checking your work!
Schema markup (and using a schema checker) is important!
You wouldn’t deliver a design plan without checking the measurements or vacation itinerary without double-checking the bookings, right? Schema markup deserves the same attention to detail.
Making sure your structured data is valid means your hard work—your portfolio, your blog content, your services—gets the visibility it deserves.
Feeling overwhelmed or lost on schema markup?
If the tools feel overwhelming or you’re not sure what to do with the results, we’re here to help. We love making the technical side of your website feel simple, approachable, and totally on-brand!
Schedule a call or reach out for a custom SEO blueprint—we’ve got your back.
