Imagine you're packing for a short trip. Would you prefer carrying a bulky suitcase or a small, neatly organized bag? You’ll most likely choose the latter because it’s convenient and hassle-free.
This same logic applies to sharing links online. On their own, URLs are long, complicated, and hard to share. With additional tracking parameters added to them (in the case of e-commerce products, social media referrals, etc.), such as information about the visitor, the ad they’ve seen, etc., they start looking cluttered and unprofessional. This is where URL shorteners come in.
As the name suggests, URL shorteners are simple tools that can transform lengthy web addresses into short, clean, and easy-to-share links.
Today, you can find plenty of free and paid URL shorteners in the market. Some tools also come with extra features, such as geo redirection, custom domains, branded links, advanced analytics, etc. However, how do you know which URL shortener is right for you?
Worry not because we have done the legwork for you and gathered a list of the 8 best URL shorteners to use in 2024 and beyond.
Top URL shorteners ranked
Initially, Google URL Shortener was the most popular tool for making URLs more manageable. However, after it was shut down in 2019, plenty of alternatives have entered the market. In such a scenario, knowing the right tool for your needs can be a bit of a hassle.
But worry not because we have tested almost every tool out there–from free URL-shortening apps to ones focused on marketing and analytics–to bring you the best selection of URL shorteners.
Do you need to use a URL Shortener?
Whether you run a business, are tasked with managing social media accounts, or simply want to send a link to your friend, a URL shortener can come in handy. Beyond just turning lengthier links short, a URL shortener:
- Improve the visual appeal of links in emails, social media posts, and other content types
- Allow for customization of URLs to enhance branding
- Improve user experience by creating cleaner, less intimidating links
- The best tools can even change content based on where they’re clicked on from
Short links look better than lengthier links online, are much easier to copy and paste, and have higher chances of being clicked on. They’ll also fit in places with a character limit, such as Twitter. Most often, you can customize your short URLs, giving you the chance to ensure they align with your brand themes. This translates to getting more clicks since users familiar with your brand will know it isn’t spam.
Lastly, whether you’re posting on social media, emailing a colleague, or launching a marketing campaign, concise, user-friendly URLs can help streamline communication and track user engagement.
1. Geo Targetly - Best overall URL shortener
Price: Free trial for 14 days. 6 Paid plans ranging from $9 to $279 per month.
Pros:
- Geolocation targeting for customized user experiences
- Integrates with most e-commerce and CMS platforms
- User-friendly interface despite advanced features
Cons:
- Overkill for users who don’t need location-specific targeting
- Lacks features for link organization
- Doesn’t integrate with other social media tools
Geo Targetly’s Geo Link is the perfect tool for anyone looking to get their URLs shortened, but it is especially valuable for businesses looking to deliver region-specific content. It allows for location-based targeting, meaning you can show different content depending on which part of the world a visitor is from.
For instance, if you’re running a global marketing campaign and want users in the U.K. to see a different landing page than those in the U.S.—Geo Link can automatically redirect visitors to location-specific pages based on their IP address. This is incredibly useful for companies that operate in multiple countries and want to tailor their marketing effort for different audiences.
Geo Targetly seamlessly integrates with various platforms e-commerce and CMS platforms. Whether you use Shopify, WordPress, or major CRMs like HubSpot, Geo Targetly can fit into your workflow effortlessly.
That being said, this is Geo Targetly’s blog, so don’t take our word for it. Try our tools for yourself and see the difference. Feel free to also take a look at some of our other popular tools.
2. Rebrandly - Best for customized links
Pricing: Free Basic plan. 4 paid plans ranging from $8 to $625 per month.
Pros:
- A decent, free basic plan
- Easy-to-navigate website
- Advanced link tracking and analytics
- Integration with popular apps and services
Cons:
- Relatively expensive subscription plans
- Advanced features are only available on high-tier plans
Rebrandly is for businesses, marketers, and influencers who not only want their URLs shortened but also need more control over how the shortening is done. The tool allows users to create custom links to enhance their branding. If you want to track your campaigns' performance, Rebrandly also features advanced link management and analytics.
The basic plan allows you to make 10 branded links per month and also gives you QR codes, basic analytics, and UTM parameters. If you need higher volumes and more in-depth analytics, there are paid plans ranging from $8 to $625 per month, which gives you 250 to 20,000 branded links per month.
Beyond these, Rebrandly has a minimalistic website that’s quite easy to use. They also have tools for tracking the popularity of each link, information about who’s clicking on the links, and automatic QR code generation.
While it may not be the cheapest option for URL shortening, Rebrandly’s personalization features and advanced analytics make it worth the investment.
3. Bitly - Best for overall link management
Pricing: Free plan. 3 paid plans ranging from $8 to $199 per month.
Pros:
- Simple and user-friendly interface
- Comprehensive link tracking and analytics
- Scalable for businesses of all sizes
- All the features you need in a URL-shortening tool
Cons:
- Custom-branded links are limited on lower-tier plans
- Advanced analytics and important features locked behind premium pricing
Bitly is perhaps the most well-known among all URL shorteners. After all, it has been in the market, serving both businesses and professionals for over 15 years!
Bitly’s standout feature is its simplicity. The user-friendly design makes it incredibly easy to shorten URLs within seconds. Beyond shortening URLs, the platform features a comprehensive dashboard where you can monitor link clicks, geographic locations, and referral sources to get insights into your campaigns.
The free account limits you to creating just ten short, non-customizable links per month and 2 QR codes. For branded links, redirects, QR code optimization, in-depth analytics, and more, you need to upgrade to one of the paid plans ranging from $8 to $199. They also offer a Custom Enterprise plan where you can get a quote depending on your needs.
Additionally, Bitly seamlessly integrates with apps like Zapier and Google Analytics, making it adaptable to various business models.
4. TinyURL - Best for quick shortening
Price: Free plan. 2 paid plans at $9.99 and $99 per month.
Pros:
- Extremely simple and quick to use
- No account or sign-up required
- A generous free plan
Cons:
- Relatively limited than other link shorteners
- Limited customization and analytics features
- Lots of ads on the website
TinyURL is one of the oldest URL shorteners out there and is a great option if you’re looking for a tool that does the job quickly without hassles. The website is super simple and allows you to shorten links in seconds without even creating an account (but creating one will help you view a history of all your shortened links). All you have to do is paste in your long URL, customize the random string of characters at the end to fit your branding, and click a button. You’ll get a shortened link that never expires in literally just a few seconds.
TinyURL’s free plan is pretty generous and makes an ideal choice if you need to shorten links often without in-depth tracking, analytics, or customization. The widget can even be added to your browser’s toolbar for easy access.
5. Go Links: Best for internal link management
Price: Free plan for basic link creation. 2 paid plans costing $4-$6 per user per month.
Pros:
- Perfect for internal team collaboration
- Creates personalized, memorable links
- Integrates with workplace tools like Slack
- Tracks link usage and provides analytics
Cons:
- Limited use for external or public-facing links
- Lacks customization options for branded links
Go Links is an interesting option in the arsenal of link shorteners. Unlike most URL shortener tools for external link sharing on social media or emails, Go Links is designed for internal collaboration. It simplifies how your team accesses internal resources by allowing you to convert long, hard-to-remember URLs into easy, memorable “Go Links” your entire team can remember and use.
For instance, instead of a complicated URL for a shared document, you can create something simple like go/docs, which makes it super efficient for teams working together on projects or sharing resources.
Go Links also integrates with workplace and collaboration apps. So you can create tiny links that take you to specific platforms. The tool also creates a shared, centralized system for managing links. With the right naming strategy, teams can create and access links instantly, which helps cut down on time spent searching for internal resources.
Up to 10 members of your team can create unlimited Go Links on a free plan. The paid plans range between $4-$6 per user per month and offer more features like organization tools and AI-powered search results.
6. Dub: Best modern URL shortener
Price: Free plan that allows for 25 basic link creation per month. Paid plans for $19 and $49 per month.
Pros:
- User-friendly interface
- Provides detailed engagement analytics
- Integrates seamlessly with Zapier
Cons:
- Relatively expensive
- Still under development
Dub is a modern URL shortener that has only been around for a few years. It doesn’t come with a lot of features like most other tools on this list, but it has all the necessary features. It has also been very quick at developing and adding unique features like keyboard shortcuts and AI-powered URL slug suggestions.
The platform is user-friendly, and most importantly, you get great value for your investment. The free plan is quite generous, giving you 25 links and 1000 tracked clicks per month. In addition, you get 10 AI credits, 3 custom domains, and API access.
Dub also has paid plans. By spending $19 monthly, you get 1000 new links and 50K tracked clicks. You also get unlimited AI credits and advanced link features, such as password-protected links, social media cards, device targeting, and more.
7. BL.INK: Best for large-scale link management
Price: No free plan. 4 paid plans range from $48 to $599 per month and come with a 21-day free trial.
Pros:
- Suitable for large-scale link management
- Detailed analytics, including device, click counts, and location tracking
- Branded links and advanced organizational tools
- Strong security features
Cons:
- Not an ideal choice for individuals or small teams
- Relatively expensive
- Steeper learning curve for new users
BL.INK is designed for enterprise-level link management. It not only shortens URLs but also helps you organize, monitor, and analyze them at a granular level. Though a bit hard to navigate, the website features a dashboard that shows trending links and general statistics. An analytics page also tracks metrics like clicks, devices, location, referrals, and more. This makes it particularly useful for large campaigns, marketing efforts, and internal operations that require detailed insights and control.
BL.INK offers 4 paid plans, ranging from $48 to $599 per month, as well as a custom plan. Though there is no free plan, you can enjoy 21 days of free trial with all paid plans.
While it is right that the platform is on the pricier side, BL.INK is a great choice for companies that require high-level link management features.
8. Short.io: Best for multidomain link customization
Price: Free plan with 1000 branded links, 5 custom domains, and 50,000 tracked links. 3 paid plans ranging from $18 to $148 per month.
Pros:
- User-friendly interface and powerful tracking tools
- Perfect for managing different brands and campaigns
- Support multiple custom domains
- Integrates with apps like Zapier and Google Analytics
Cons:
- A bit complex for casual users
- Not as streamlined for one-off link shortening
Short.io is another URL shortener with a generous free plan, which makes it a great option if you’re just starting and trying out different options. It allows for multidomain link customization, has a user-friendly interface, and has a set of powerful features that make it easier to create branded links, track their performance, and manage multiple domains, all from a single dashboard. After you add a link, you can choose how you want to target your clickers, which is something unique to Short.io. Plus, the platform offers robust tracking tools to monitor clicks, geographic data, and more.
Short.io integrates well with popular apps like Zapier and Google Analytics. So, if you're working with a team, it also allows you to assign roles and manage permissions, making it a brilliant tool for collaboration.
9. Zapier: Best for automating link creation
Price: Free plan with two-step Zaps and 100 tasks/month. Paid plans for $19.99 and $69.99 per month.
Pros:
- Simple, no-code interface that’s easy to use
- Integrates with popular apps like Google Drive, Slack, and Salesforce
Cons:
- Advanced features require paid plans
- May require a learning curve
The URL Shortener offered by Zapier is a simple and user-friendly tool that is best used to create short links for social media sharing, email marketing, and other initiatives focused on the external audience. Beyond creating short links, Zapier’s URL shortener lets you customize it, track clicks, and even integrate it with tools like Google Sheets and Slack. This makes link management and sharing easier and hassle-free.
If you use many apps and want a tool that automates the link-shortening process, Zapier is your best bet. You can create automated workflows, aka Zaps, that trigger a specific action every time you do something on the associated apps. Zapier will create a shortened link and then save it to a Google Sheet or share it via an app, depending on the preset workflows.
Conclusion
As you have already seen, there are plenty of URL shorteners in the market, each offering unique features and serving different use cases. So, there is clearly no one-size-fits-all solution.
If your only goal is to shorten a handful of URLs, any URL shorteners mentioned on this page will help you get your job done. However, if you need more from a URL shortener, feel free to take this list and a guide, try out a few that fit your needs, and finally, stick with the one that works the best for you. GeoTargetly includes features like Geo Redirect, Geo Popups, Geo Bars, and more that help you improve your conversions.
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