A sitemap is a file that lists the URLs you want search engines to find. Kwebby's XML Sitemap Generator builds that file from a list you enter. You add or paste your URLs, add a last modified date where you know it, then copy the result or download it as sitemap.xml. It does not crawl your site, so it suits small sites and hand-picked URL sets. This page explains how the tool works, which sitemap tags Google actually uses and what to do with the file once you have it.
Key Takeaways
- Kwebby's XML Sitemap Generator turns a list of URLs into a sitemap.xml file in the Sitemap Protocol 0.9 format, with a Copy button and a Download button.
- It builds only from URLs you type or paste. It does not crawl a site, so it is best for small sites, new sites and focused lists.
- Google ignores the priority and changefreq tags. It uses lastmod only when the dates are consistently and verifiably accurate, so the tool leaves lastmod out unless you enter a date.
- A single sitemap file can hold up to 50,000 URLs or 50 MB uncompressed. The tool warns above 50,000 URLs but does not split files or build a sitemap index.
- The tool escapes special characters such as & in URLs and drops duplicate URLs, so the XML stays valid.
- A sitemap helps Google discover URLs but does not guarantee that they are crawled or indexed. The tool is free and needs no account.
What Is the Kwebby XML Sitemap Generator?
Kwebby's XML Sitemap Generator is a free web tool that writes a sitemap.xml file from the URLs you give it. Each URL can carry a priority, a change frequency and a last modified date, and the finished XML appears beside the form. Copy it into a file or download it, upload it to your site and submit it to search engines.
You do not need an account, and nothing is installed. If you need a crawler that finds every page for you, use a crawling tool or your CMS. If you already know which URLs belong in the file, this generator is the quicker route.
Key Features and How It Works
The tool has two input tabs, two default settings and one output pane.
Manual Entry
Manual Entry is the default tab. Each row has a URL box, a Priority menu (1.0 down to 0.1), a Frequency menu (always, hourly, daily, weekly, monthly, yearly or never) and a Last Mod date picker. Priority and Frequency also offer omit, and Last Mod starts empty. Click + Add URL for another row. Once there is more than one row, each row gets a remove button. If you type a URL without http at the start, the tool adds https:// in front of it.
Bulk Import
The Bulk Import tab gives you a text box for one URL per line, with a running URL count. The sitemap pane updates as you type. Click Import as Rows to move the list into Manual Entry, where you can change the priority, frequency and date of single URLs.
Default Frequency, Priority and Last Mod
Three controls at the top set the starting values for new rows and for the Bulk Import list. Frequency starts at weekly, Priority at 0.8 and Last Mod empty. Change them before you paste a list, because imported rows take the defaults at the moment you import.
The sitemap.xml Pane
The output pane shows the XML as you work, with a count of URLs in the file. It opens with an XML declaration and a urlset element that uses the sitemaps.org 0.9 namespace. Each URL becomes a url block with a loc tag, plus lastmod, changefreq and priority tags when those fields have a value. A note tells you how many duplicate URLs were left out. Click Copy to put it on your clipboard or Download to save sitemap.xml. A note beneath reminds you to upload the file to your domain root and submit it in Google Search Console under Sitemaps.
Here is one entry as the tool writes it with the default settings and no date:
<url>
<loc>https://example.com/search?q=shoes&page=2</loc>
<changefreq>weekly</changefreq>
<priority>0.8</priority>
</url>
What the Tool Does Not Do
The generator does not crawl, check that a URL works, check that every URL uses the same host or split large lists into several files. It shows a warning above 50,000 URLs. Check the output before you upload it.
Why XML Sitemaps Matter
A sitemap gives search engines a list of URLs to look at, which helps most when links alone might miss pages. Google's sitemap overview says a sitemap helps most when a site is large, when a site is new with few external links, or when it has a lot of media. It also says a site of about 500 pages or fewer that is well linked internally may not need one, and that a sitemap does not guarantee that every URL is crawled and indexed.
So do not treat a sitemap as a way to force indexing. Treat it as a clean, current list of the pages you want found, and keep your internal links in good shape too.
Which Sitemap Tags Does Google Use?
Only loc and lastmod are worth your time. Google's sitemap guidelines say that Google ignores the priority and changefreq values. It uses lastmod only when the value is consistently and verifiably accurate, for example the date of a significant change to the main content, not a footer edit.
The sitemaps.org protocol defines the full set: loc is required, while lastmod, changefreq and priority are optional. It calls changefreq a hint and not a command, and gives priority a range of 0.0 to 1.0 with a default of 0.5 that only compares pages within your own site.
The tool writes priority and changefreq by default and lets you set either to omit. The two Google ignores are harmless, so put your effort into accurate dates.
How to Use the XML Sitemap Generator
Collect your URLs, enter them, fix the dates and publish the file. The steps below match the labels on the page.
- Gather your URLs. List the canonical, indexable pages you want in search results. Leave out redirects, error pages and noindex pages.
- Set the defaults. Pick a Default Frequency and Default Priority, for example weekly and 0.8.
- Enter the URLs. Use Manual Entry with + Add URL, or paste one URL per line in Bulk Import and click Import as Rows.
- Add Last Mod dates you know. Enter the day each page last changed in a significant way, or leave the field empty.
- Review the sitemap.xml pane. Check the URL count and the duplicate note.
- Copy or download the file. Click Copy, or click Download to save sitemap.xml.
- Upload it to your domain root. The file should live at an address such as https://example.com/sitemap.xml.
- Submit it. Open Google Search Console, go to Sitemaps and enter the address. Add a Sitemap line to robots.txt as well.
Best Practices for XML Sitemaps
A short, accurate sitemap beats a long, careless one.
List Only Canonical, Indexable URLs
Include the version of each page you want in search results. Skip duplicates, redirected URLs, pages with a noindex tag and URLs that robots.txt blocks. Your sitemap should agree with your canonical tags and your robots rules.
Keep Lastmod Honest
The tool leaves lastmod out unless you enter a date. Enter the true date of each page's last significant update. If you cannot keep dates accurate, leave them out, because Google only trusts the tag when it proves reliable.
Stay Inside the Limits
A sitemap file can hold 50,000 URLs and 50 MB uncompressed, and URLs must be fully qualified and absolute. Larger sites need several files, usually tied together by a sitemap index. The generator makes one file and warns above 50,000 URLs, so it works for lists below those limits.
Place the File at the Root
Google says a sitemap affects only the URLs in its own directory and below, unless you submit it in Search Console. The site root is the safest place. Use UTF-8. The tool escapes special characters in URLs for you.
Submit It Through Search Console or robots.txt
You can submit a sitemap in the Search Console Sitemaps report, through the Search Console API or by adding a Sitemap line to robots.txt. Kwebby's Robots.txt Generator has a Sitemap URL field that writes that line for you.
Common Mistakes
- Setting every date to today. It makes the dates meaningless to crawlers.
- Including noindex pages. The sitemap says index this, and the page says do not.
- Forgetting to update the file. Add new pages and drop deleted ones when your site changes.
- Mixing hosts. One sitemap should list URLs from one host.
Common Use Cases
- New site owners build a first sitemap for a handful of pages.
- Small business sites list service and location pages by hand.
- Developers produce a quick sitemap for a static site or a staging test.
- SEO teams create a sitemap for one section, such as a set of landing pages.
Related Kwebby Tools
The XML Sitemap Generator is part of Kwebby's SEO Tools hub. These tools work with it:
- Robots.txt Generator writes the robots.txt file where you can point crawlers to your sitemap.
- Google Index Checker shows whether a page is already in Google's index.
- Meta Tag Generator builds the canonical and robots tags that your sitemap should agree with.
- Meta Tags Analyzer reads a live page's canonical and robots tags.
- Page Speed Checker tests how fast the pages in your sitemap load.
- SEO Checklist walks through the on-page and technical steps to work through after the sitemap.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is an XML sitemap?
An XML sitemap is a file that lists the URLs on a site that you want search engines to find. Each entry holds a page address and can include a last modified date. Search engines read it to discover pages, but it does not guarantee that a page will be crawled or indexed.
Do I need an XML sitemap?
Not always. Google says a small site of about 500 pages or fewer that is well linked internally may not need one. A sitemap helps more on large sites, new sites with few external links and sites with a lot of media. Adding one is harmless if you keep it accurate.
Does the Kwebby XML Sitemap Generator crawl my site?
No. It builds the file only from the URLs you enter or paste. For a large site, use a crawler or your CMS to produce the sitemap. For a short, known list, this generator is quick and needs no setup.
Does Google use priority and changefreq?
No. Google says it ignores both values. It uses lastmod only when the dates are consistently and verifiably accurate. The Kwebby tool writes priority and changefreq by default because they are part of the sitemap format, and you can set either to omit.
How do I submit a sitemap to Google?
Upload sitemap.xml to your site, then open Google Search Console, choose Sitemaps and enter the sitemap address. You can also add a Sitemap line to robots.txt or use the Search Console API. Google lists these as the supported ways to submit.
Is the Kwebby XML Sitemap Generator free?
Yes. The tool is free and needs no account.
Final Thoughts
List the pages you want found, enter them in the XML Sitemap Generator and set honest dates before you copy the file. Upload it to your site root, submit it in Search Console and check the report for errors a few days later. Then confirm your key pages with the Google Index Checker and fix anything the sitemap cannot fix on its own, such as weak internal links.