Custom URL shortener
Give a short link a readable name, such as /menu or /spring-offer, and manage the destination from your account.
A custom short URL has two choices: the domain before the slash and the slug after it. In go.example.com/menu, go.example.com is the domain and menu is the slug. Choosing a slug does not give you ownership of the domain; use a connected domain you control when you want both parts to carry your brand.
Custom slugs are included on Free, with 1,000 short links, 6 custom domains and 50,000 tracked clicks per month. Create the link while signed in so you can choose its name and edit it later. The quick anonymous form on this page generates its own address.
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
How to do it in three steps
- 1
Select your domain
Sign in and select a domain in the dashboard. Claim an available free subdomain, or connect a domain you own and complete its DNS and HTTPS setup.
- 2
Enter the destination and name
Paste the complete destination URL and fill in Link slug, for example spring-offer. Keep campaign parameters on the destination. Check that the requested name is available on the selected domain.
- 3
Create, copy and test
Create the link, copy the returned short URL and open it to verify the final page. Test its QR code before printing and check file-sharing permissions as a signed-out visitor.
Choose a name people can type
Use short, descriptive words and hyphens, such as spring-offer. Supported slug characters are letters, numbers and . _ ~ - /. Spaces and question marks are not slug characters. A slash can be part of a slug: docs/api is one short link, not a dashboard folder. Avoid names that differ only by capital letters; matching follows the domain’s case-sensitivity setting, and a case-only spelling is not a way to claim a taken name.
Set up a custom domain before sharing
Choose an unused subdomain such as go.example.com if your main website already uses example.com. Add it in the dashboard, copy the exact DNS records shown into your DNS provider and use Refresh DNS check. Wait for DNS verification and HTTPS readiness before distributing links. Domain registration and renewal remain your responsibility; the free account allowance does not include buying a domain.
A taken name and a duplicate destination are different
A taken slug means another link already uses that name on the selected domain. Review the existing record or choose a distinct name, such as spring-email. A reserved slug is blocked by the platform or domain’s reserved list, so choose another. A duplicate destination warning means the target URL already has a link and duplicates are disabled; reuse that link or deliberately enable duplicate destinations when separate campaign links are needed.
Edit the destination without changing the address
For an already shared or printed link, change the destination in the link editor and leave the domain and slug in place. Renaming the slug changes the short URL; the old address is not automatically kept as an alias. Update distributed copies if you rename it. Archiving hides a link from the table while its redirect continues, whereas deleting removes the link and frees its slug.
Troubleshoot a custom link before launch
If creation fails, check the selected domain, allowed characters, reserved names and duplicate settings. If the URL fails to open, check that you copied the exact hostname and path, DNS points to the values shown in the dashboard, and HTTPS is ready. Then check the destination itself: a private document or expired booking page can still reject visitors after a successful redirect.
Example: a stable menu link
Connected domain: go.example.com
Link slug: menu
Destination: https://www.example.com/menus/autumn.pdf
Illustrative short URL: https://go.example.com/menu
Later destination: https://www.example.com/menus/winter.pdfAfter connecting the example domain and creating an available menu slug, a printed QR code can encode the short URL. When the menu changes, edit the saved destination to winter.pdf and keep the domain and slug unchanged. The printed address then reaches the updated destination. These are illustrative addresses, not live links.
Guides and documentation
Related guides
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.
Vanity URL generator
Create personalized short links that carry your name — for a podcast, a book, a profile or a campaign.
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.
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.
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
How do I shorten a URL with a custom name?
Create an account, select a domain, paste the destination and enter the name in Link slug. Create the link and test the returned short URL.
Is the custom URL shortener free?
Yes. Free includes custom slugs within its 1,000-link allowance and supports 6 custom domains. You still need to own and renew any domain you connect.
Can I rename a short link after sharing it?
Yes, but renaming changes its address and does not preserve the old slug as an alias. If you want an existing printed or shared URL to keep working, edit the destination while keeping its domain and slug unchanged.
Can two custom links have the same name?
A slug must be available on its selected domain. The same name can be used on different domains, but changing the hostname creates a different full short URL.
Do I need a new domain to make a custom link?
No. You can claim an available free subdomain or connect an unused subdomain of a domain you already own. Complete the setup shown in your dashboard before sharing.