If you’re looking for a way to shorten URL free in 2024, you’re not alone. URL shortener free are tools that transform long and complex web addresses into shorter and simpler ones that are easier to share and remember. They are useful for online sharing and marketing, especially on platforms where space and readability are limited, such as social media, blogs, SMS, emails, ads, etc.
But with so many URL shorteners available in the market, how do you choose the best one for your needs and goals? What features and benefits should you look for when comparing different options? And which URL shortener is the best all-around solution for most people?
In this article, we will answer these questions and more. We will compare and review the best free URL shortener service available in 2023 based on the following criteria:
- Features: What functionalities and options does the URL shortener offer, such as custom domains, branded links, QR codes, link management, integrations, analytics, smart links, etc.?
- Ease of use: How simple and user-friendly is the URL shortener to use, such as pasting a long URL, choosing a custom domain or using a default one, url shortener platform with custom links, copying and sharing it?
- Customization: How much control and flexibility does the URL shortener give you over the appearance and behavior of your shortened links, such as choosing your own domain name or alias, adding your own branding or logo, setting up rules for redirection based on various criteria, etc.?
- Analytics: How much insight and feedback does the URL shortener provide you on the performance and impact of your shortened links, such as clicks, views, conversions, sources, locations, devices, languages, etc.?
- Branding: How much value and recognition does the URL shortener add to your online presence and reputation, such as enhancing your brand visibility and recall, building trust with your audience, optimizing your marketing campaigns, etc.?
We will also provide a clear recommendation based on our evaluation and analysis: which URL shortener is best for whom and why. By the end of this article, you will have a better understanding of how to shorten URL free in 2023 and which tool to use for your specific purposes.
Bitly: The Best All-Around Shorten URL Free
Bitly is one of the most popular and trusted URL shorteners in the market. It has been around since 2008 and has over 800 million links created every month on bitly url shortener platform. Bitly offers a range of features that make it a versatile and powerful tool for anyone who wants to shorten URL free in 2023.
Bitly’s link shortener free features
- Custom domains: You can use your own domain name or choose from over 20 available domains such as bit.ly, j.mp, bit.do, etc.
- Branded links: You can add your own branding or logo to your shortened links to increase brand awareness and trust.
- QR codes: You can generate QR codes for your shortened links to make them easier to scan and share offline.
- Link management: You can organize your shortened links into groups or tags to keep track of them better.
- Integrations: You can connect Bitly with over 1,500 apps such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, WhatsApp, emails, SMS, videos, etc. to create and share shortened links seamlessly.
- Analytics: You can access detailed reports on the performance and impact of your shortened links such as clicks, views, conversions, sources, locations, devices, languages, etc.
Using Bitly is very simple and user-friendly. All you have to do is paste a long URL into the Bitly website or app, choose a custom domain or use bit.ly by default, customize the link if you want, and copy and share it with your audience.
Bitly has different pricing plans depending on your needs and goals. The free plan allows you to create up to 1,000 links per month with limited customization options. The paid plans start from $14 per month and offer more features and links.
Bitly’s URL shortening service pros
- Reliable: Bitly has a high uptime and speed guarantee that ensures your shortened links work smoothly and consistently.
- Versatile: Bitly can handle any type of link from any source or destination with ease.
- User-friendly: Bitly has a simple and intuitive interface that makes it easy to use for anyone.
- Powerful: Bitly has a range of features that make it a comprehensive and effective tool for online sharing and marketing.
Bitly’s Shorten Links Cons
Limited customization options for free users: Free users can only customize their links with their own domain name or alias but not with their own branding or logo.
No bulk link creation or editing: Bitly does not allow you to create or edit multiple links at once which can be time-consuming if you have many links to shorten.
Rebrandly Shorten URLs: An Alternative to Bitly
Rebrandly is another popular and trusted URL shortener that focuses on branding. It was founded in 2015 and has over 100 million links created every month. Rebrandly offers a range of features that make it a flexible and brand-enhancing tool for anyone who wants to shorten URL free in 2023.
Rebrandly’s short URL features
- Custom domains: You can use url shortener platform with custom domains to shorten your links or choose from over 500 available domains such as rebrand.ly, link.ws, clicky.me, etc.
- Branded url: You can add your own branding or logo to your shortened links to increase brand awareness and trust.
- Link management: You can organize your shortened links into folders or tags to keep track of them better.
- Integrations: You can connect Rebrandly with over 100 apps such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, WhatsApp, emails, SMS, videos, etc. to create and share shortened links seamlessly.
- Analytics: You can access detailed reports on the performance and impact of your shortened links such as clicks, views, conversions, sources, locations, devices, languages, etc.
Using Rebrandly is very simple and user-friendly. All you have to do is paste a long URL into the Rebrandly website or app, choose a custom domain or use rebrand.ly by default, customize the link if you want, and copy and share it with your audience.
Rebrandly has different pricing plans depending on your needs and goals. The free plan allows you to create up to 500 links per month with limited customization options. The paid plans start from $29 per month and offer more features and links.
Rebrandly’s url Generator Pros
Flexible: rebrandly is the free url gives you more control and flexibility over the appearance and behavior of your shorten a long link than Bitly.
Brand-enhancing: Rebrandly helps you create memorable and trustworthy links that reflect your brand identity and values.
User-friendly: Rebrandly is the free url shortener has a simple and intuitive interface that makes it easy to use for anyone.
Powerful: Rebrandly has a range of features that make it a comprehensive and effective tool for online sharing and marketing.
Rebrandly’s shorten long URLs cons
Limited analytics options for free users: Free users can only access basic analytics such as clicks and views but not advanced metrics such as conversions and sources.
No QR codes or link-in-bio: Rebrandly does not offer QR codes or link-in-bio features which can be useful for offline or social media sharing.
Linkye.net: Free, Fast, and Unlimited Shorten URL Free
Linkye.net is one of the newest and simplest URL shorteners in the market. It was launched in 2022 and has millions of links created every month. Linkye offers a few features that make it a fast and anonymous and unlimited tool for anyone who wants to shorten URL free in 2023.
Linkye’s Shorten URL Free Features
- Use Bundles: Linkye allows short link creators to manage bundles and choose when to shorten a link.
- Display Feed: Linkye allows short link creators to display articles from their website(using the RSS feed URL) into the short link page.
- Display Comments: Linkye allows short link creators to display a comment box so visitors can leave their comments into the short link page.
Using Linkye is very fast and easy. All you have to do is paste a long URL into the Linkye website or browser extension, choose a custom alias, and copy and share it with your audience.
Linkye is completely free for unlimited links.
Linkye’s Shorten URL Free Pros
- Fast: Linkye creates shortened links in seconds without any hassle or delay.
- Easy: Linkye has a minimal and straightforward interface that makes it easy to use for anyone.
- Anonymous: Linkye does not require any registration or login which makes it more private and secure.
- Multi-domains: Linky enables you to use the multiple domains feature when registering on the site for free, and use these short domains to shorten addresses.
- Cheapest Paid Plans: Linky offers paid plans that are the cheapest on the Internet in terms of cost for value, you can sign up for the free plan for only $7.5 a month or $50 a year to get additional features.
Linkye’s Shorten URL Free Cons
- No QR codes or link-in-bio: Linkye does not offer QR codes or link-in-bio features which can be useful for offline or social media sharing.
BL.INK: For Business Owners
BL.INK is a URL shortener that caters to business owners who want to optimize their online presence and reputation. It was founded in 2018 and has over 10 million links created every month. BL.INK offers a range of features that make it a professional and customizable tool for anyone who wants to shorten URL free in 2023.
Some of BL.INK’s features are:
- Custom domains: You can use your own domain name or choose from over 100 available domains such as b.link, go.link, click.link, etc.
- Branded links: You can add your own branding or logo to your shortened links to increase brand awareness and trust.
- QR codes: You can generate QR codes for your shortened links to make them easier to scan and share offline.
- Link management: You can organize your shortened links into folders or tags to keep track of them better.
- Integrations: You can connect BL.INK with over 50 apps such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, WhatsApp, emails, SMS, videos, etc. to create and share shortened links seamlessly.
- Analytics: You can access detailed reports on the performance and impact of your shortened links such as clicks, views, conversions, sources, locations, devices, languages, etc.
- Smart links: You can create smart links that redirect visitors to different destinations based on their location, device, language, etc.
Using BL.INK is very simple and user-friendly. All you have to do is paste a long URL into the BL.INK website or app, choose a custom domain or use b.link by default, customize the link if you want, and copy and share it with your audience.
BL.INK has different pricing plans depending on your needs and goals. The free plan allows you to create up to 1,000 clicks per month with limited customization options. The paid plans start from $12 per month and offer more features and clicks.
BL.INK’s pros are:
- Professional: BL.INK has a sleek and modern interface that makes it appealing and trustworthy for business owners.
- Customizable: BL.INK gives you more control and flexibility over the appearance and behavior of your shortened links than Linkye.net.
- User-friendly: BL.INK has a simple and intuitive interface that makes it easy to use for anyone.
- Smart: BL.INK has a range of features that make it a comprehensive and effective tool for online sharing and marketing.
BL.INK’s cons are:
- Expensive for high-volume users: BL.INK charges per click rather than per link which can be costly if you have many visitors or campaigns.
- No link-in-bio or bulk link creation: BL.INK does not offer link-in-bio or bulk link creation features which can be useful for social media or email marketing.
URL Shortener by Zapier: For Automatically Creating Short Links
URL Shortener by Zapier is a URL shortener that works with Zapier to automate link creation and sharing across different apps. It was launched in 2019 and has thousands of links created every month. URL Shortener by Zapier offers a few features that make it a convenient and integrated tool for anyone who wants to shorten URL free in 2023.
Some of URL Shortener by Zapier’s features are:
- Integrations: You can connect URL Shortener by Zapier with over 3,000 apps such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, WhatsApp, emails, SMS, videos, etc. to create and share shortened links automatically.
- Custom domains: You can use your own domain name or choose from over 20 available domains such as zapier.com/shorten-url-free
- Branded links: You can add your own branding or logo to your shortened links to increase brand awareness and trust.
- Analytics: You can access basic reports on the performance and impact of your shortened links such as clicks and views.
Using URL Shortener by Zapier is very convenient and automated. All you have to do is create a zap that triggers when a new long URL is created or received in an app, use URL Shortener by Zapier as an action to shorten the URL and optionally customize it, use another action to share the shortened URL in another app.
URL Shortener by Zapier has different pricing plans depending on your needs and goals. The free plan allows you to create up to 100 tasks per month with limited customization options. The paid plans start from $19.99 per month and offer more tasks and features.
URL Shortener by Zapier’s pros are:
- Convenient: URL Shortener by Zapier saves you time and effort by creating and sharing shortened links automatically without any manual input.
- Automated: URL Shortener by Zapier works seamlessly with Zapier which is a powerful tool for automating workflows across different apps.
- Integrated: URL Shortener by Zapier connects with over 3,000 apps that you already use and love which makes it easy to integrate with your existing systems and processes.
URL Shortener by Zapier’s cons are:
- Requires Zapier account and setup: URL Shortener by Zapier requires you to have a Zapier account and set up zaps which can be complicated or confusing for some users.
- No link management or QR codes: URL Shortener by Zapier does not provide any link management or QR codes features which can be useful for organizing or sharing your shortened links.
Short.io: For Sending Different Visitors Different Links
Short.io is a URL shortener that allows you to create smart links that redirect visitors to different destinations based on their location, device, language, etc. It was founded in 2015 and has over 50 million links created every month. Short.io offers a range of features that make it an innovative and smart tool for anyone who wants to shorten URL free in 2023.
Some of Short.io’s features are:
- Custom domains: You can use your own domain name or choose from over 500 available domains such as short.io, link.ws, clicky.me, etc.
- Branded links: You can add your own branding or logo to your shortened links to increase brand awareness and trust.
- QR codes: You can generate QR codes for your shortened links to make them easier to scan and share offline.
- Link management: You can organize your shortened links into folders or tags to keep track of them better.
- Integrations: You can connect Short.io with over 100 apps such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, WhatsApp, emails, SMS, videos, etc. to create and share shortened links seamlessly.
- Analytics: You can access detailed reports on the performance and impact of your shortened links such as clicks, views, conversions, sources, locations, devices, languages, etc.
- Smart links: You can create smart links that redirect visitors to different destinations based on their location, device, language, etc.
Using Short.io is very simple and user-friendly. All you have to do is paste a long URL into the Short.io website or app, choose a custom domain or use short.io by default, customize the link if you want, set up rules for redirection based on various criteria, and copy and share it with your audience.
Short.io has different pricing plans depending on your needs and goals. The free plan allows you to create up to 1,000 clicks per month with limited customization options. The paid plans start from $20 per month and offer more features and clicks.
Short.io’s pros are:
- Innovative: Short.io is one of the few URL shorteners that offer smart links that redirect visitors to different destinations based on various criteria which makes it more personalized and relevant.
- Customizable: Short.io gives you more control and flexibility over the appearance and behavior of your shortened links than BL.INK.
- User-friendly: Short.io has a simple and intuitive interface that makes it easy to use for anyone.
- Smart: Short.io has a range of features that make it a comprehensive and effective tool for online sharing and marketing.
Short.io’s cons are:
- Limited analytics options for free users: Free users can only access basic analytics such as clicks and views but not advanced metrics such as conversions and sources.
- No link-in-bio or bulk link creation: Short.io does not offer link-in-bio or bulk link creation features which can be useful for social media or email marketing.
Shorten URL Free FAQs
What is a URL shortener?
A URL shortener is a tool that transforms a long and complex web address into a shorter and simpler one that is easier to share and remember.
How do URL shorteners work?
URL shorteners work by creating a new web address that redirects to the original one. When a user clicks on the shortened URL, they are automatically forwarded to the destination URL.
Why use a URL shortener?
There are many benefits of using a URL shortener, such as saving space, improving readability, enhancing branding, tracking performance, optimizing marketing, etc.
Conclusion
In this article, we have compared and reviewed the best free URL shorteners available in 2023 based on the following criteria: features, ease of use, customization, analytics, branding. We have also provided a clear recommendation based on our evaluation and analysis: which URL shortener is best for whom and why.
Here is a summary of our findings:
- Bitly is the best all-around URL shortener for most people who want a reliable, versatile, user-friendly, and powerful tool for online sharing and marketing.
- Rebrandly is an alternative to Bitly for those who want more flexibility and brand-enhancement in their shortened links.
- Linkye.net is a free, fast, unlimited, and anonymous URL shortener for those who want a minimal and straightforward tool for online sharing without any registration or login.
- BL.INK is a URL shortener for business owners who want to optimize their online presence and reputation with professional and customizable shortened links.
- URL Shortener by Zapier is a URL shortener for those who want to automate link creation and sharing across different apps with Zapier.
- Short.io is a URL shortener for those who want to create smart links that redirect visitors to different destinations based on their location, device, language, etc.
We hope this article has helped you understand how to shorten URL free in 2023 and which tool to use for your specific purposes.
Published on: 7/3/23, 12:38 PM