The sitemap.xml is a text file in XML (Extensible Markup Language) format that lists all the subpages of your website. It helps search engines like Google or Bing discover available and relevant pages, speeding up and optimising the indexing process. This article will guide you through creating a sitemap.xml for your web project.

Note

Additional detailed information can be found in the IONOS Digital Guide “How to create a sitemap.xml file

Create a sitemap.xml with WordPress

WordPress can automatically create a sitemap.xml with the help of plugins:

Install one of these plugins in your WordPress administration area and generate a sitemap.xml following the plugin's instructions.

Create a sitemap.xml with MyWebsite

MyWebsite automatically creates a sitemap.xml with all the pages of your website.

Create a sitemap.xml manually

If you create your website without a content management system or website builder, such as MyWebsite Now, you will usually lack an automated solution for creating a sitemap.xls. With the help of an online service, such as www.xml-sitemaps.com, you have an alternative.

For smaller projects up to 500 pages, the indexing and output of a sitemap.xml is free of charge (as of February 2025). There are fee-based variants for larger projects.