URL shorteners do exactly what their name suggests — they take long, unwieldy URLs and make them short and easy to manage. Curious about which ones are the best? Stick around — we’ll dive into a list of top URL shorteners in just a bit!
But first, think about this: Have you ever tried to type out a super long URL and gotten frustrated halfway through? Sure, typing something simple like “waleedkhan.agency/services” is no big deal. But dealing with a link like “acoolcompany.com/blog/how-to-guides/sjdfha6&^823(4uis/” — yeah, that’s a headache. And let’s be honest, no one’s going to remember that!
Long URLs can be a real pain for your audience, and you don’t want to make it harder for them to engage with your content. When you’re sharing links in your marketing, it’s always smart to keep them short and sweet. Ideally, keeping your website URLs streamlined from the start is best, but we know that’s not always possible.
So, what do you do when you’re stuck with a link that looks like a jumbled mess of characters? That’s where URL shorteners come in handy.
In this post, we’re going to share a list of the best URL shortening tools available, plus a few extra tips to make your links more user-friendly. Here’s what you can expect to find:
What’s a URL Shortener?
A URL shortener is exactly what it sounds like — a handy tool that takes those long, complex URLs from your website and turns them into something much shorter and simpler. You’ll find plenty of these tools online, and while some offer premium services, there are also great free options to get the job done.
Why Should You Use a URL Shortener?
There are plenty of good reasons to use a URL shortener. For starters, short URLs are cleaner and take up less space, which can make your content look more polished — especially when posting on social media platforms that have character limits. No one wants to waste valuable space on a massive, clunky URL, right?
Shortened links are also super handy if you ever need to memorize a link or type it out manually. Fewer characters mean less frustration.
But there’s more! Some URL shorteners let you customize or brand your shortened links, which can be a game-changer for building trust and reinforcing your brand identity. A memorable, branded link isn’t just easier to recognize — it’s also more likely to get clicks. Plus, these custom links can be tailored to match the content they point to, making them more relevant and enticing to your audience.
And here’s the cherry on top: Many URL shorteners come with built-in analytics. This means you can track how many people are clicking your links, see which ones perform best, and get insights into what your audience is really interested in. So it’s not just about making your links look good — you’re also gaining valuable data to improve your marketing efforts.
How Do URL Shorteners Work?
The process is super simple. All you do is take one of your existing long URLs, pop it into the tool, and voilà — it gives you a shorter version. In some cases, the shortened URL might look completely different from the original, but many top-tier URL shortening tools allow you to keep your branding intact, so you get a short link that’s still recognizable as yours.
Integrating URL Shorteners with Other Tools
Using URL shorteners isn’t just about making links shorter — they can also enhance your overall marketing efforts when integrated with other tools and platforms. Here’s how you can make the most of URL shorteners across different channels:
- Email Campaigns: Ever noticed how long URLs can make an email look cluttered? Shortened links help clean up your emails, making them easier to read and improving the overall user experience.
- Social Media Platforms: Character limits on social media can be a challenge, especially when you’re trying to share links. That’s where shortened URLs come in handy. Plus, custom short links give you the chance to align with your brand’s style and tone, making your social posts even more on-point.
- Websites and Landing Pages: Whether it’s in blog posts, online ads, or landing pages, shortened URLs just look better. They’re cleaner, more professional, and easier on the eyes compared to long, messy URLs.
The 7 Best URL Shorteners
Now that we’ve covered how useful URL shorteners can be, you’re probably wondering which ones are worth using. Don’t worry — we’ve got you covered! Let’s dive into our list of the best URL shorteners out there. Here are seven tools you should consider:
- Bitly
- TinyURL
- Rebrandly
- Sniply
- Owly
- Short.io
- BL.INK
Here’s a summary of how the best URL shortener tools stack up against one another:
| URL shortener | Price | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Bitly | $35+ per month (free plan available) | Generating QR codes |
| TinyURL | Free (or $9.99 per month for a premium plan) | People wanting a free tool without creating an account |
| Rebrandly | $34+ per month (free plan available) | Ease of use |
| Sniply | $9+ per month | CTA creation |
| Owly | $99+ per month | Hootsuite users |
| Short.io | Free (or $19 per month for a premium version) | Audience segmentation |
| BL.INK | $48+ per month (free plan available) | Multiple users |
Keep reading to learn more about the best URL shortening apps out there!
1. Bitly
Price: $35+ per month (free plan available)
Bitly is the best URL shortener and one of the most longstanding tools out there. And it doesn’t just generate shorter links. This URL link shortener tool also allows you to generate QR codes for those links, which can be even easier to use in some cases. Plus, you can track how those links and QR codes are performing—that is, how many people are using them.
In terms of pricing, Bitly does offer a free plan, but the features are extremely limited. You might find that it’s best used as a free trial. If you end up liking the tool enough, you’ll probably want to upgrade to the paid plan.
2. TinyURL
Price: Free (or $9.99 per month for a premium plan)
TinyURL is another of the best URL shorteners out there, and it’s also super convenient. The link shortener tool is free (although for $9.99 per month, you can get additional features like link tracking), and you don’t need to have an account to use the tool.
Although branded domains are limited to the paid account, you can still customize the second half of the URL, even with the free version.
3. Rebrandly
Price: $34+ per month (free plan available)
Rebrandly has many of the same features as the previous two URL shorteners on this list. It can generate branded links, track clicks on those links, and create QR codes. In addition, Rebrandly is very intuitive to use, so it scores big points in user experience.
Rebrandly’s paid plan starts at $34 per month, but the paid plan is nothing to turn up your nose at—it comes with 2500 clicks tracked each month, which is pretty good.
4. Sniply
Price: $9+ per month
Sniply is another of the best URL shortening apps for businesses. It has all the necessary features, and while link shortening is one of the biggest things people use it for, it can also help you create custom calls to action (CTAs) for your website.
While Sniply used to have a free plan, their cheapest option is now $9 per month. However, they do offer a free trial.
5. Owly
Price: $99+ per month
You’re probably thinking, “Woah, $99 per month is wildly expensive for a link shortening tool. Why on Earth does Owly cost that much?” The answer is that Owly is offered by Hootsuite. And while it’s technically free, that’s only the case for people who already have a Hootsuite account—and Hootsuite pricing starts at $99 per month.
If you already use Hootsuite (or plan on using it) to help you manage your social media, this is great—Owly is essentially free for you. But if not, you probably don’t want to pay $99+ each month just for a URL link shortener.
6. Short.io
Price: Free (or $19 per month for a premium plan)
Short.io is another great URL shortener and offers many of the usual features. However, the thing that really makes it stand out is the fact that it actually allows for audience segmentation. You can arrange for a single link to lead to different pages for different people based on their device or location.
Maybe you want to send people on Android to a slightly different page than people on iPhone. Or maybe you want people in Canada to see different pricing than people in the United States. In either of those scenarios, you can set it up so that’s what happens when those people click on a link.
7. BL.INK
Price: $48+ per month (free plan available)
Last on our list of best URL shortener apps is BL.INK. The standout feature of this tool is that it lets you add multiple users, which is perfect for businesses. You can give a whole team access to the tool so that all of them can shorten links.
Outside of that, it has all of the typical features. There is a free plan, but it’s rather limited, and the cheapest paid plan is still on the expensive side.
