---
title: "robots.txt Generator & Tester for AI Crawlers | usedocs"
description: "Generate and test robots.txt rules for search engines and AI crawlers, including GPTBot, ClaudeBot, and PerplexityBot."
image: "https://usedocs.app/og.png"
url: "https://usedocs.app/tools/robots-txt"
---

SEO  + AI crawler control

# robots.txt Generator & Tester

Generate and test robots.txt rules for search engines, AI crawlers, and private routes.

## Generate

			  AI crawlers (ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity)
				  Allow AI crawlers  Block AI crawlers
			  Search engines (Google, Bing)
				  Allow all  Block everything
			  Sitemap URL (optional)

			  Disallow paths (one per line, optional)

## Test a live robots.txt

## How to set robots.txt for SEO, AEO, and GEO

### Allow important public pages

Search and answer engines need access to indexable public content. Block app shells, dashboards, private APIs, and staging pages, but keep marketing pages, docs, guides, and comparison pages crawlable.

### Name AI crawler policy explicitly

Use explicit user-agent sections when you want a clear policy for OpenAI, Anthropic, Perplexity, Google, Apple, Common Crawl, and other AI-related crawlers. Treat search access and training access as separate policy choices.

### Always include sitemap

Add a Sitemap line so crawlers can discover canonical URLs quickly. Keep sitemap.xml updated with accurate lastmod dates.

### FAQ

			  Can robots.txt force a page out of search?

Use noindex for that. robots.txt blocks crawling, but blocked URLs can still be discovered from links.

			  Should API routes be blocked?

Usually yes for public marketing SEO. APIs should also return noindex headers when appropriate.

Need help?

Email [hello@usedocs.app](mailto:hello@usedocs.app) for product questions, setup help, sales, partnerships, or security reports.

		 Want AI assistants to cite your docs? Pair an open robots.txt with a usedocs-generated  llms.txt generator .  Start free

### More free tools

- [AI readiness checker](/tools/aeo-audit)
- [Sitemap checker](/tools/sitemap-finder)
- [llms.txt generator](/tools/llms-txt)

```json
[
  {
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
    "itemListElement": [
      {
        "@type": "ListItem",
        "position": 1,
        "name": "Home",
        "item": "https://usedocs.app/"
      },
      {
        "@type": "ListItem",
        "position": 2,
        "name": "Free tools",
        "item": "https://usedocs.app/tools/"
      },
      {
        "@type": "ListItem",
        "position": 3,
        "name": "robots.txt Generator & Tester",
        "item": "https://usedocs.app/tools/robots-txt"
      }
    ]
  },
  {
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@type": "WebPage",
    "name": "robots.txt Generator & Tester for AI Crawlers | usedocs",
    "url": "https://usedocs.app/tools/robots-txt",
    "dateModified": "2026-06-12",
    "isPartOf": {
      "@type": "WebSite",
      "name": "usedocs.app",
      "url": "https://usedocs.app/"
    }
  },
  {
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@type": "FAQPage",
    "mainEntity": [
      {
        "@type": "Question",
        "name": "Can robots.txt force a page out of search?",
        "acceptedAnswer": {
          "@type": "Answer",
          "text": "Use noindex for that. robots.txt blocks crawling, but blocked URLs can still be discovered from links."
        }
      },
      {
        "@type": "Question",
        "name": "Should API routes be blocked?",
        "acceptedAnswer": {
          "@type": "Answer",
          "text": "Usually yes for public marketing SEO. APIs should also return noindex headers when appropriate."
        }
      }
    ]
  },
  {
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@type": "SoftwareApplication",
    "name": "robots.txt Generator & Tester",
    "applicationCategory": "BusinessApplication",
    "offers": {
      "@type": "Offer",
      "price": "0"
    }
  }
]
```