A website audit checklist is a structured list of technical checks used to assess the health, performance and security of a website.

When auditing a website, organisations typically review five main areas. If you’re researching the process in more detail, our guide on how to check the health of a website explains how these technical reviews work.

1. Website security checklist

Security reviews help identify vulnerabilities that could expose a website to attacks or data breaches.

Typical checks include:

• Confirm SSL certificates are correctly installed and enforced
• Review security headers and browser protections
• Check login protection and authentication settings
• Identify outdated plugins, themes or software components
• Scan for potential malware exposure
• Review third-party integrations and dependencies

Many website security risks arise from outdated software or misconfigured settings, which makes regular checks important. If you’d prefer an expert assessment rather than running the checklist yourself, you can request a Website Health Check, where we review your site’s security, performance, accessibility and SEO and provide a prioritised technical report.

2. Performance and page speed checklist

Website performance directly affects user experience and search visibility.

A performance review should examine:

• Page load speed across key pages
• Server response times
• Image compression and asset optimisation
• Script and stylesheet loading behaviour
• Caching configuration
• Content delivery network setup (if used)

Performance issues often develop gradually as content grows and scripts accumulate.

3. Accessibility checklist

Accessibility ensures websites can be used by people with disabilities and comply with recognised standards such as WCAG.

Common accessibility checks include:

• Keyboard navigation support
• Screen reader compatibility
• Colour contrast compliance
• Accessible form inputs and labels
• Logical heading hierarchy
• Accessibility attributes and ARIA labels

For organisations in regulated sectors, accessibility issues may also present compliance risks.

4. Technical SEO checklist

Technical SEO ensures search engines can properly crawl, understand and index a website.

A technical SEO review typically includes:

• XML sitemap configuration
• Robots.txt rules
• Crawl errors and broken links
• Canonical tags and duplicate content signals
• Page titles and meta descriptions
• Structured data markup
• Internal linking structure

Technical issues in these areas can prevent important pages from appearing in search results.

5. User experience and usability checklist

Even technically sound websites can struggle if users find navigation confusing or forms difficult to use.

A usability review often checks:

• Navigation clarity and structure
• Page hierarchy and content layout
• Calls to action and conversion pathways
• Form usability and error handling
• Mobile responsiveness
• Content readability and structure

Small usability improvements can significantly improve engagement and conversion.

When organisations should run a website audit

Many organisations run website audits on a regular basis to maintain platform stability.

Situations where a website audit checklist is particularly useful include:

• preparing for a website redesign
• diagnosing performance problems
• investigating declining search visibility
• reviewing accessibility compliance
• identifying outdated software or integrations

Regular audits help organisations identify issues before they impact users or search performance.

Using a professional website audit

For organisations managing important websites or digital platforms, a professional review can provide deeper insight than a simple checklist.

At Mainstay Digital, we provide a Website Health Check that reviews security, performance, accessibility, SEO and usability across your site.

The result is a clear technical report outlining:

• risks
• improvement opportunities
• recommended next steps

If you’d like a structured technical assessment of your website, you can request a free Website Health Check.

Summary

A website audit checklist helps organisations systematically review the technical health of their website.

A comprehensive audit typically examines:

• security configuration
• performance and page speed
• accessibility compliance
• technical SEO
• usability and navigation

Regular audits, combined with ongoing website maintenance, help ensure websites remain secure, discoverable and effective as technologies evolve.