By Hridoy Ahmed | Last updated: October 2026 | 5 min read
Short answer: An XML sitemap lists the pages you want search engines to find. On WordPress, let your SEO plugin create it. For a small non-WordPress site, use a generator, upload sitemap.xml to your site root, then submit it in Google Search Console and Bing Webmaster Tools.
Why use a sitemap generator?
Short answer: A sitemap helps search engines find your pages. If your site is small and not on WordPress, a generator is the fastest way to make one. It crawls your pages and builds the file for you.
Real use case: You have a 20-page static site with no plugin. You enter your homepage, generate the file and upload it. Then you submit it in Search Console.
Benefits
- A valid sitemap.xml in minutes
- Noindex pages and query-string URLs are skipped
- One file ready to submit to Google and Bing
Why use this tool
- Free, no signup.
- Live crawl of your pages, up to 50 on this tool
- Simple output: download and upload
On WordPress, let your SEO plugin make the sitemap instead.
Create and submit a sitemap in 5 steps
- Open the tool. Use my free XML Sitemap Generator. It works best for sites up to 50 pages.
- Enter your homepage URL and choose how many pages to crawl.
- Click Generate. Larger sites take longer.
- Download sitemap.xml and upload it to your site root.
- Submit the sitemap URL in Google Search Console (Sitemaps) and Bing Webmaster Tools.
Using WordPress?
Usually you do not need the tool. An SEO plugin such as Rank Math creates the sitemap and keeps it up to date. Use only one sitemap source, so you do not get duplicates.
What should be in a sitemap
- Live pages that return a 200 status
- Pages you want in search results
- No redirected, 404 or noindex pages
The tool skips pages with a noindex tag and URLs with query strings. Review the list before you submit it.
Common mistakes
- Submitting two sitemaps from two plugins
- Leaving old or redirected URLs in the file
- Thinking a sitemap guarantees indexing. It only helps discovery.
If pages still do not appear, read why a page is not indexed.
FAQ
Why does the tool limit me to 50 pages?
The crawl runs on a shared server. A small limit keeps it fast for everyone.
Should I add the sitemap to robots.txt?
Yes. Add a line with your sitemap URL. See how to create robots.txt.
How often should I update it?
Update it when you add or remove pages. A plugin does this automatically.
Try the tool: Generate your sitemap. Want a full crawl and indexing check? See my technical SEO service.
About the author: Hridoy Ahmed is an SEO specialist and WordPress security expert based in Dhaka, Bangladesh. He has 8+ years of experience and works with clients worldwide.