XML vs HTML sitemap: which one helps your SEO more? Understand their roles and when to use each for better performance.
Should you use an XML sitemap or an HTML sitemap? The answer isn’t the same for every site. Sometimes you don’t need either, and sometimes both can help. Let’s look at what each sitemap is, what it does, and when you should use it.
What Is an XML Sitemap?
An XML sitemap is a structured list of the URLs on your website that you want search engines to find and crawl. It can also include extra details about each URL, such as a video’s runtime or an article’s publication date.
XML sitemaps are mainly for search engines, not users. Most visitors will never need to view an XML sitemap—unless they’re debugging an SEO problem!
What Is an XML Sitemap Used For?
The main purpose of an XML sitemap is to help search engines understand which pages on your site are important and should be crawled. It can also guide bots to pages that might otherwise be missed, such as:
- Orphan pages
- Pages with very few internal links
- Recently updated pages you want crawled again
An XML sitemap ensures search bots don’t overlook valuable content, especially on large or complex websites.
Best Practices for XML Sitemaps
Most search engines can read XML sitemaps that follow the sitemaps.org protocol. This protocol outlines where the sitemap should be placed, what schema it must follow, and how to confirm domain ownership when linking across multiple domains.
XML sitemaps also have size limits. To make sure search bots can process your file, keep it under 50 MB (uncompressed) and below 50,000 URLs. If your site is larger, create multiple XML sitemaps and organize them using a sitemap index file.
Since XML sitemaps help bots find your important, crawlable pages, make sure every URL in the file:
- Returns a 200 status code
- Points to the canonical version of the page
- Does not have any crawl or index restrictions
These steps ensure search engines can easily access and understand your most valuable content.
Things To Keep In Mind With XML Sitemaps
Sometimes it makes sense to break the usual “best practices” for XML sitemaps. For example, if you are redirecting many old URLs, you may still want to include those old URLs in a temporary XML sitemap, even though they return a 301 status code.
Adding them helps bots recrawl those URLs quickly and detect the new redirects faster—especially if you have already removed internal links to these old pages. Without this step, bots might take much longer to find them on their own.
What Is an HTML Sitemap?
An HTML sitemap is simply a list of links to important pages on your website. It is created for users, not bots. You’ll often find it linked in the footer or another easily accessible place. It’s not part of your main navigation but serves as a helpful guide for visitors who want a clear, simple list of your site’s key pages.
Both users and search engines can benefit from it, but its main purpose is to improve user experience.
What Is an HTML Sitemap Used For?
An HTML sitemap works like a backup navigation tool. If visitors can’t find a page through your main menu or site search, they can open the HTML sitemap to see a list of important pages. On smaller websites, this list can include every page.
It also helps in another way. While it’s mainly created for users, search bots can use these links too. Since bots follow links to discover content, an HTML sitemap can help them reach pages that are hard to find or not well linked within your site.
Best Practices for HTML Sitemaps
HTML sitemaps don’t have a strict format. They’re usually just basic HTML pages that list links to the key pages you want users to find easily.
To make sure search bots can also use them, keep all links followable—avoid adding nofollow attributes. Also check that these URLs aren’t blocked in robots.txt. If bots can’t follow the links, the sitemap will still work for users, but it won’t help with crawling.
Things to Keep in Mind
Most visitors won’t look at your HTML sitemap unless they can’t find what they need through the main menu or site search. If someone ends up there, it’s a sign that your primary navigation may need improvement. Think of the HTML sitemap as a backup tool, not the main way to guide users around your site.
Which Sitemap Is Better for SEO?
There isn’t a single “best” option for SEO. The right choice depends on your website’s size and structure.
A small website with fewer than 20 well-linked pages may not need an XML or HTML sitemap at all. If both users and search bots can easily reach every page through your main navigation, a sitemap won’t add much value.
However, for large websites with hundreds or millions of pages, both XML and HTML sitemaps can be extremely helpful. Each serves a different purpose, so it’s important to understand when to use them.
When to Use an XML Sitemap
An XML sitemap helps search engines find, crawl, and index your important pages. It acts like a clean list of URLs you want bots to focus on.
It’s especially useful for:
- Large websites
- Sites with crawl issues
- Pages that are hard to find through internal links
- Debugging indexing problems in Google Search Console
There’s almost no downside to having an XML sitemap—many CMS platforms generate them automatically. But if your site is small and well-linked, it’s not critical.
When to Use an HTML Sitemap
An HTML sitemap is more user-focused. It provides a simple list of links to help people find pages that are buried in deep navigation or missed by on-site search.
It’s most useful for:
- Large, complex websites
- Sites with weak or confusing navigation
- Supporting bots by offering more crawlable internal links
If your site structure is strong, you may not need an HTML sitemap. Think of it as a backup tool for navigation.
Final Verdict
There is no one-size-fits-all answer. The best choice depends entirely on your website. Many sites benefit from having both, but it’s not mandatory. Use them when they solve real crawl or navigation issues—not just for the sake of it.
