URL shortener: short links, custom domains and analytics
Shorten a link for free. With an account, give it your own name and domain and measure its clicks. Pick the guide that matches what you need.
A URL shortener turns a long web address into a short link that redirects to it. ShortFreeURL adds what makes a short link worth keeping: a custom name, your own domain with HTTPS, a destination you can change later, QR codes and click analytics that separate people from bots.
The free plan includes 1,000 links and 6 custom domains. Paid plans start at $4 a month for bulk import, mobile targeting, A/B tests and exports.
Shorten your link
Free, instant, no ads. A QR code comes with it.
A quick anonymous link cannot be edited or measured. Create a free account first if you need to change its destination or see clicks.
- 1,000 links free
- 6 custom domains free
- No credit card
Create your first short URL
For a quick one-off link, paste your destination in the form above. To choose a memorable address and manage its clicks later, create a free account and follow these steps:
- 1
Choose a short-link domain
Claim an available free subdomain, or connect a domain you own and follow its DNS instructions. Compare the domain options.
- 2
Paste, name and create
In the dashboard, paste the destination into “Paste URL here.” Choose a readable slug if you want one, then create the link. See the first-link guide.
- 3
Test and track it
Copy the short URL and open it to check the redirect. Share its QR code if useful, then view human and bot clicks separately in Statistics.
For example, you could turn https://example.com/products/summer-offer into https://go.yourbrand.com/offer after connecting that domain. This is an illustration, not a live link. A quick anonymous link has no dashboard editing or click statistics; sign in to manage links. See plan limits and pricing.
You can shorten an HTTP or HTTPS page, form, video or file URL, then share the link in a message or use its QR code in print. For many links, use bulk import or the API, subject to your plan limits. Choose a readable name, and test the destination before sharing.
Choose the workflow for your links
| Your task | Start here | Check before sharing |
|---|---|---|
| Create and manage a few links | Free account and first-link guide | Select a connected domain, choose a slug and test the destination. |
| Share links under your own brand | Branded domains and short links | Keep control of your domain registration, DNS and HTTPS setup. |
| Import a list of campaign URLs | CSV and bulk shortening guide | Preview column mapping and conflicts; confirm your plan's import allowance. |
| Create links from an application | URL shortener API guide | Use a scoped key, a domain you control and explicit retry handling. |
Choose a unique short URL
A short URL combines a domain and a path, also called its slug. After connecting go.yourbrand.com, you might create /summer for a campaign. That exact domain-and-path combination must be available. If a name is already taken, choose a different slug; if the existing link is yours, open it in the dashboard and check its destination before editing it.
Keep the name readable and specific to the campaign. Add tracking parameters to the destination with the UTM builder before shortening it. The link editor guide explains destination, slug and routing controls.
Check the journey from a shared link to your page
Open a test link on the devices your audience uses, check its final destination, and scan any printed QR code at its intended size. Use the redirect checker to inspect unexpected hops and the analytics guides to understand clicks. A click is a visit signal; it is not proof of a signup or purchase. Conversion reporting needs its own configured events.
How short links relate to Google Search
A shorter address alone does not promise a better search position. Keep the destination page useful, accessible and canonical. Google treats permanent redirects as a signal for the destination URL; a short link is not a second copy of the page to rank independently. Choose redirect settings for the actual use case and avoid sending visitors through unnecessary redirect chains.
See Google's explanation of redirects and canonical URLs. To review a link before opening it, use the link expander; report a suspicious ShortFreeURL link through Report abuse.
Create and shorten
Free URL shortener
Make a short link for a web page, document or campaign. Choose a free account when you need to manage the link after sharing it.
Long URL to short URL converter
Make a long web address easier to share, then check that the short link reaches the intended page with the parameters it needs.
Tiny URL generator
Create a compact link for a message, slide or printed QR code, and choose a readable name when you need people to type it.
Hyperlink shortener
Create shorter hyperlinks for emails, documents, slides and chat — readable, clickable and trackable.
Website link shortener
Shorten any website address online — home pages, product pages, articles or files — and share one clean link.
Custom and branded links
Custom URL shortener
Give a short link a readable name, such as /menu or /spring-offer, and manage the destination from your account.
Vanity URL generator
Create personalized short links that carry your name — for a podcast, a book, a profile or a campaign.
Branded URL shortener
Share a recognisable link on your own domain, with a name you choose and clicks you can measure.
URL shortener with your own domain
Shorten URLs on a domain you own — with free automatic HTTPS and nothing to host.
Track and control
URL shortener with analytics
Measure requests to your short links, separate detected bots from human clicks and compare campaign traffic with the right reporting context.
URL shortener with UTM parameters
Add UTM tags, keep every query parameter and still share a short, clean link.
Editable URL shortener: change the destination any time
Shared a link and need it to go somewhere else? Change the destination — the short link stays the same.
Bulk, API and developers
URL shortener API
Create short links from an application, scheduled job or publishing workflow. Start with one authenticated request, then add bulk creation and reporting.
Bulk URL shortener
Turn a campaign or catalogue list into short links with named slugs and tags. Preview a CSV in the dashboard, or process the list through the API.
Self-hosted URL shortener or your own domain on a managed one?
Want your own URL shortener? You can build or self-host one — or get the same control on your own domain without running a server.
Safe, permanent links
Permanent URL shortener
Short links for things that last — print, packaging, books and signage — that keep working for years.
URL shortener with expiration
Make a link that stops working when you want — on a date, after a period or after a number of clicks.
Safe and reliable URL shortener
HTTPS links, direct redirects and abuse review, with tools to inspect where a short link leads.
Unshorten a URL: see where a short link goes
Paste any short link to reveal its final destination and every redirect on the way — without visiting it.
Compare and switch
The best URL shortener: what to look for
Most shorteners make a short link. The best ones keep that link useful for years. Here is what to check before you choose.
A Bitly alternative for shortening links
Everything you use Bitly for — short links, QR codes, analytics and an API — with more on the free plan.
Google URL shortener (goo.gl) alternative
goo.gl no longer creates links — here is a free, drop-in replacement with your own domain and an API.
Firebase Dynamic Links alternative
Firebase Dynamic Links shut down on 25 August 2025. Replace them with short links that send each device to the right place.
For every platform
Link shortener for Instagram
Short, branded links for your Instagram bio and stories — plus a link-in-bio page to share everything with one link.
Share multiple links with one short URL
Put all your important links on one page and share a single short link to it.
YouTube URL shortener
Short links for YouTube videos, Shorts, playlists and your channel — with a name people remember.
Link shortener for social media
Short, clean links for Facebook, X, LinkedIn, WhatsApp and Snapchat — and a clear view of which network brings clicks.
Shorten Google Form, Docs and Drive links
Turn long Google Forms, Docs, Drive and review links into short links and QR codes people can actually type.
Link shortener for Shopify, Amazon and affiliate links
Short, branded product and affiliate links — with campaign tags, QR codes and conversions tracked.
URL shortener app and browser extension
Shorten the page you are on in one click, or create links from your phone.
More ways in
Start Free — no credit card
The free plan includes 1,000 links, 6 custom domains and 50,000 tracked clicks a month, free forever. Choose a free subdomain from six shared domains. Paid plans start at $4 a month when you outgrow it, and you keep everything you have built.
Frequently asked questions
What is a URL shortener?
A service that turns a long web address into a short link that redirects to it, usually with click tracking.
Is this URL shortener free?
Yes. The free plan includes 1,000 short links, 6 custom domains, analytics and QR codes.
Can I choose the name of my short link?
Yes, custom names are free.
Can I use my own domain?
Yes, on every plan, with automatic HTTPS.
Do short links expire?
A link has no scheduled expiry unless one is configured. It still depends on an active domain, working destination and compliant account. A deleted, disabled or abuse-blocked link will not continue redirecting.
Can a short URL improve my Google ranking?
Shortening an address alone does not guarantee a ranking improvement. Keep the destination page useful and accessible, and choose redirect settings for its actual purpose.