308 Redirect vs 301: Key Differences, SEO Impact, and When to Use Each

You’ve probably heard of the classic 301 redirect; it’s like the “OG” of HTTP status codes in the SEO world. But if you’re diving deeper into web development or technical SEO, you might stumble upon a lesser-known but powerful ally: the 308 Permanent Redirect.

What is this mystical 308 HTTP code? Is it just a fancier 301? Or does it serve a special purpose?

Let’s break it all down, no fluff, just clarity, strategy, and SEO-savvy tips.

What is 308 Permanent Redirect?

In simple terms, a 308 Permanent Redirect is an HTTP status code that tells search engines and browsers:

“Hey, this page has moved permanently. Please use this new URL from now on.”

But unlike a 301, the 308 response code strictly preserves the HTTP method and body of the original request. So if a form was submitted via POST, the redirect won’t change that to GET (which a 301 often does).

Tip: If your page handles form submissions or sensitive request methods, 308 can prevent data loss or user flow breakage.

Main Points of this Blogs are:

Why is 308 important in SEO?
What is difference between 301 and 308?
307 vs 308 vs 302 Redirects – Comparison Table
What Does Google Say About 308 Redirects?
308 vs 301 vs 307: Quick SEO Breakdown
Step-by-Step Guide: How to Implement a 308 Redirect
When Should You Use a 308 Permanent Redirect?

Why is 308 Important in SEO?

Let’s be honest, redirects are critical in SEO.

Whether you’re migrating to a new domain, switching URLs, or consolidating content, how you redirect users (and bots) affects your:

• Crawl efficiency
• Page authority transfer
• User experience
• Indexing

Here’s where the 308 redirect SEO advantage comes in:

• Preserves request methods
• Prevents unnecessary redirects
• Ensures data consistency
• Performs similarly to 301 in authority transfer

Google officially treats 308 redirects similar to 301 for SEO purposes. This means the equity from old URLs passes on just like a 301 but with better control.

What Is the Difference Between 301 and 308?

307 vs 308 vs 302 Redirects – Comparison Table

When choosing between 302, 307, and 308 redirects, it’s important to understand how they affect HTTP methods, SEO, and caching. While 302 and 307 are used for temporary redirects, only 308 offers a permanent solution without changing the original request method, making it ideal for APIs and form submissions. Use this table to quickly compare and decide the best fit for your website’s redirect needs.

What Does Google Say About 308 Redirects?

According to Google’s Search Central documentation, 308 Permanent Redirects are treated like 301 redirects in how they pass PageRank (link equity). Googlebot understands and respects the 308 HTTP code just as effectively.

 John Mueller (Google Search Advocate) also confirmed that 308 status codes are safe for SEO and indexing.

So if you’re worried about SEO losses when switching to 308—don’t be.

When Should You Use a 308 Permanent Redirect?

Now the big question: When should you use 308 instead of 301 or 307?

Use 308 when:

• You need a permanent redirect
• You want to preserve HTTP request method (like POST or PUT)
• You’re working with APIs or form-based pages
• You want strict redirect behavior

Avoid 308 when:

• You’re doing simple page-to-page redirection without method concerns
• You’re not sure if your server supports it

308 vs 301 vs 307: Quick SEO Breakdown

Pro Tip: Use 308 redirect when handling user forms, login pages, or API requests that need to preserve the original HTTP method. Use 301 for most content migrations.

Step-by-Step Guide: How to Implement a 308 Redirect

Here’s how to get started depending on your tech stack:

1. Apache (via .htaccess)

Redirect permanent /old-page https://www.example.com/new-page

Note: Apache treats this as 301 by default. For 308, you’d need mod_rewrite and explicit code:

2. Nginx

Return 308 https://www.example.com/new-page;

3. Node.js (Express.js)

res.redirect(308, ‘https://www.example.com/new-page’);

4. Cloudflare (Page Rules)

• Go to Page Rules > Add New Rule
• Match old URL
• Use status code 308 in the forwarding settings

 Check server compatibility; not all platforms support 308 by default.

Final Thoughts

If you’re a student learning SEO, or a manager planning a big site migration, understanding the 308 redirect vs 301 difference can level-up your strategy.

For most websites, 301 redirects are still the go-to. But for advanced cases—especially involving form submissions, APIs, or method-sensitive data—308 is the smart, modern choice.

Don’t fear the unknown HTTP code. Embrace the power of 308 Permanent Redirects with confidence and clarity.

FAQs

How do I fix error code 308 permanent redirect?

A 308 Permanent Redirect means that a page or resource has been moved permanently to a new URL, and the browser should always use that new URL going forward. It’s not usually an error, but if you’re seeing it unexpectedly, here’s what you can do:

• Check the redirect settings on your website or server to make sure they point to the correct URL.
• Make sure there are no redirect loops, where one page keeps redirecting to another in a cycle.
• Clear your browser cache, as it may be storing an old redirect.
• Check if your server or app supports 308 redirects, especially if you’re using forms or APIs.

If you don’t need to preserve request methods (like POST), you can also consider using a 301 redirect instead.

What is a 308 Permanent Redirect?

A 308 Permanent Redirect is an HTTP status code indicating that a resource has been permanently moved to a new URL, and the original request method (like POST or PUT) should not change during redirection.

Is a 308 redirect good for SEO?

Yes, it passes link equity just like a 301 redirect and is considered SEO-safe by Google. It also avoids method-switching issues that can affect user experience or data.

When should I use a 308 instead of a 301?

Use a 308 when you want a permanent redirect and need to preserve the original HTTP method, such as with form submissions, APIs, or login flows.

What’s the difference between 308 and 301 redirects?

While both are permanent, a 301 may change the request method (POST → GET), while a 308 preserves it. This makes 308 better for data-sensitive use cases.

How do I implement a 308 redirect?

You can set up a 308 redirect using server rules in Apache, Nginx, Node.js, or through CDN platforms like Cloudflare. Make sure your server supports HTTP/1.1 or higher.

Does Google treat 308 and 301 redirects the same?

Yes, Googlebot treats both as permanent redirects and passes PageRank (link equity) accordingly.

Is 308 redirect cacheable?

Yes. Like a 301, a 308 redirect is cacheable by default, improving load times and reducing server requests.

Mohit Verma – I am an experienced professional with 9+ years of experience in Search Engine Optimization. I am on a mission to provide industry focused job oriented SEO so the students/mentees can get their dream SEO job and and start working from day 1.