The 8 best URL shorteners of 2021 | Zapier

Since the Google URL Shortener was shut down a few years ago (RIP), the internet has been trying to find the next best option. WhyZapier?HowZapierworksProducttourCustomerstoriesSecurityExplorePopularwaystouseZapierAppsthatworkwithZapierExploreZapierbyjobroleResourcesBlogReadtheZapierblogfortipsonproductivity,automation,andgrowingyourbusinessExpertsHireaZapierExperttohelpyouimproveprocessesandautomateworkflows.HelpcenterGethelpwithZapierfromourtutorials,FAQs,andtroubleshootingarticles.CommunityAskquestions,shareyourknowledge,andgetinspiredbyotherZapierusers.ZapierUniversityVideocoursesdesignedtohelpyoubecomeabetterZapieruser.WebinarsLearnaboutautomationanytime,anywherewithouron-demandwebinarlibrary.Teams&CompaniesZapierforTeamsShareandcollaborateonworkwithyourteaminZapier.ZapierforCompaniesManagemultipleteamswithadvancedadministrativecontrolsinZapier.PricingSearchapps…LoginSignupLoadingHomeApppicksBestapps10minreadThe8bestURLshortenersof2021TopalternativestoGoogleURLShortenerByHarryGuinness·March26,2021SincetheGoogleURLShortenerwasshutdownafewyearsago(RIP),theinternethasbeentryingtofindthenextbestoption.Ofcourse,aswithmostthings,there'snoonerightanswer:thebestURLshorteningserviceforyoudependsonwhatyouneedandwantfromone.Therearesimple,fast,andfreeURLshorteningapps;marketing-andanalytics-focusedoneswithdashboardsanddetailedmetrics;andevenoptionswhereyoucanaddyourowncall-to-actionoverthelinkyoushare. TohelpyoufindthebestURLshortenerservices,wetestedover30differentoptions.Hereareourfavorites. LookingtoshortenGoogleDriveorGoogleDocslinks?Ourtutorialshowsyouhowtodothisautomatically,usingZapier.The8bestURLshortenerservicesBitlyforthebestall-roundURLshortenerRebrandlyforcreatingbrandedlinksTinyURLforfastandanonymousshortURLsBL.INKforsmallbusinessownersURLShortenerbyZapierforautomaticallycreatingshortlinksShorbyforInstagramusersShort.ioforsendingdifferentvisitorsdifferentlinksSniplyforaddingaCTAtothelinksyoushareWhatmakesagreatURLshortener?Atitsmostbasic,aURLshortenertakessomelong,unwieldylinkandturnsitintoashorter,easy-to-shareone.Forexample,youcantakesomethinglikehttp://www.example.com/my-blog/2021/my-super-awesome-blogpost-about-squirrels-and-why-they%27re-awesome-too,andturnitintohttps://tinyurl.com/awesome-squirrels.Thisenablesyoutoprovideamemorable,typablelinkonabusinesscard,printad,podcastinterview,oranyothersituationwheresomeonecan'tclickonahyperlink.GetmoreROIoutofyourURLshortenerswithautomationLearnhowURLshortenerscanalsobeusefulforshorteninglongerlinkstofitcharacterlimitsonsocialmediaandmessagingapps,althoughalotofplatformstakecareofthatforyou.Twitter,forexample,automaticallyshortensanysharedlinkswithitst.coshorteningservice,whileiMessageobscuresanylinksbehindapreviewcard.Ifyou'rejustsendingthingstoyourfriends,youonlyreallyneedtoworryaboutURLshorteningifyou'reusingSMS.AnotherthingmostgoodURLshortenersofferissomekindofanalyticsandclicktracking.Ifyousharesomeoneelse'swebsiteaddresswithyouraudience,youdon'tnecessarilyknowwhoclicksthrough.IfyouuseaURLshortener,however,you'llbeabletocollectdatalikethenumberofclicksthelinkgets,wherethey'recomingfrom,andwhatdevicespeopleareusing.Generallyspeaking,themoredetailedandpowerfultheseanalytics,thehigherthecostoftheservice.Freeservicestendtohavebasicclicktracking,whilepremiummarketingserviceswillcollectasmuchdataaspossible—andevenallowyoutoservedifferentURLstopeopleindifferentplacesorusingdifferentdevices. OurfavoriteURLshortenersallallowyoutocustomizetheshortenedURLs.Thismeansyoucanusedifferentlinksinmultipleadsorsocialmediapoststocompareclick-throughrates.ThebasicorfreeplansmayonlyletyouchangethelastpartoftheURL(soyougethttps://tinyurl.com/awesome-squirrels)whilethemorebusiness-focusedservicesenableyoutouseacustomdomain. TherearelotsofdifferentURLshorteningoptionsoutthere,andwelimitedoursearchtoeasy-to-set-up,standaloneservices.Thereareself-hostedversions,likePolrandYourls,that,whilefreeandpowerful,requiretoomuchtechnicalknowledgetoeasilyrecommend.TherearealsoURLshortenersbuiltintootherappsthatwedidn'tconsider.Forexample,Ow.lyisfullyintegratedintoHootsuite,andmostnewsletterserviceshavesomekindofURLshorteningandtracking.It'snotthattheseservicesaren'tgood,buttheygofarbeyondwhatmostpeopleneedaURLshortenertodo.So,let'slookatthebestoptionsthatmadeourlist.InterestedindoingevenmorewithyourURLshorteners?Checkoutourtipsforhowtouseautomationtotrackthem,sendthem,andstayontopofperformance.Bestall-aroundURLshortenerBitlyBitlyisafull-service,business-gradeURLshortener.Ifyouonlyneedtoshortentheoccasionallink,youcanuseitwithoutcreatinganaccount.JustpasteyourlongURLintotheboxonthehomepage,clickShorten,andbeonyourway. ButBitlyreallystandsoutforitsbusinessoffering.PartoftheappealisthatBitlyissosimpleandeasytouse.Ithasacomprehensivedashboardwhereyoucantrackover20real-timedatapoints,includingthelocationofyourvisitors,organicshares,andmore.Toolsfortrackingcampaignsareeasytouseaswell.WithBitly'sfreelimitedaccount,youcancustomizetheback-halfof50shortenedURLspermonth,andtrackclickratesandinformationaboutyourtopreferrersfor1,000linkspermonth.It'sagenerousfreeplanandcouldverywellbeadequateforsomesmallbusinesses.The$35/monthBasicplanprovidesafreecustomdomain,allowsyoutocreate1,500linkspermonth,andshowsmoredataaboutwhoclicksyourlinks.IfyouneedmorefromBitly,Premium,at$300/month,isabigstepupbutoffersmorelinkspermonth,betteranalytics,andotherfeatures,likecustomQRcodes. BitlyisthebestURLshortenerforlargebusinesseslookingtobrandandtracklinks,andit'sagreatchoiceforsmallbusinessesthatwanttogenerateshortURLsandfollowtheirstatsforamodestnumberofcampaigns.BitlyevenintegrateswithZapier,soyoucandothingslikeautomaticallygenerateshortlinksfromanRSSfeedorInstagrampost. Bitlyprice:Freeplanwithlimitedcustomization;Basicplanfrom$35/monthwithbrandeddomains,morelinkspermonth,andsupport.BestURLshortenerforcreatingbrandedlinksRebrandlyWhileRebrandlyisagreatURLshortenerlikealltheotherappsonourlist,itsappealisunique.Rebrandlybelievesthatbrands,whetherit'saproductoraperson,getvalueoutofcustomizinglinkstocontentthatreferencesthemfromallovertheweb.Theirfreeplanoffersfivecustomdomains,themostofanyappweconsidered,soyoucancustomizethewholeshortURL,andnotjustthelasthalfofit. Forexample,BobVilacouldcustomizethelinktohisWikipediaentryfromen.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_VilatoBobVila.Tools/wikipedia.AlinktooneofhisbooksonAmazoncouldbeBobVila.Tools/amazon-book.Vilacanusetheselinksonhisownsite,businesscards,orinadvertisements. Rebrandlyincludestoolsfortrackingthepopularityofeachlink,dataaboutwhoisclickingonthem,andautomaticQRcodegeneration,too.Onthefreeplan,you'relimitedto500totalbrandedlinksand5,000clickstrackedpermonth—butthat'splentyifyou'rejuststartingout. RebrandlyalsointegrateswithZapier,soyoucandothingslikeautomaticallygenerateashort,brandedlinkfornewWordPresspostsorDropboxfiles. Rebrandlyprice:Freeplanwithupto500linksand5,000clickstrackedpermonth;Starterplanfrom$29/monthfor5,000linksand25,000clickstrackedpermonth.BestURLshortenerforquick,anonymoususeTinyURLFreeURLshortenerTinyURLhasbeeninthegamesince2002,andforgoodreason.It'sausefultoolforwhenyou'reinahurryandneedtocreateashortlinkthatwillneverexpire.Justpasteyourlonglinkintothebox,customizethesecondhalfoftheURL,ifyouwant,andclickMakeTinyURL!Youcanthenusethatlinkindefinitelywithoutfearthatitwillstopworking. Althoughyoudon'tneedanaccounttouseTinyURL,ifyousignupforone,youcanseeahistoryofallyourshortenedlinks.Youcanalsosubscribetoapaidplanifyouwantfeaturesliketrackingandanalytics,brandeddomains,andtheabilitytoeditwhereeachTinyURLgoes. TinyURLprice:Freetouse;Personalfrom$9.99/monthfortrackedlinksandbrandeddomains. BestURLshortenerforsmallbusinessownersBL.INKBL.INKisafull-featuredURLshortenerservicethatcanbeusedtonotonlyturnlongURLsintoshortonesbutalsototrackthetrafficcomingfromyourlinks.Itsdashboardshowstrendinglinksandgeneralstatistics,whileananalyticspageletsyoudiveintotrafficbydevice,location,andreferrers.Youcanalsodrilldownintoclicksbythetimeofday.Tags,whichyoucanaddtoyourshortenedlinks,letyouviewyourlinktrafficinnewandcustomwaysandareperfectfortrackingandcoordinatingcampaigns.BL.INKoffersfourtiersofpaidplanstogivesmallbusinesses,teams,andenterprisesavarietyofoptionsbasedonthenumberoflinksyouneedtogenerateandtrack.Freeaccountholderscangenerate1,000activelinks,trackupto1,000clicksperlink,andcreateacustomdomaintomakebrandedlinks.Ifyou'reabusinessinneedofafull-serviceURLshortenerandBitly'senterprise-gradeplanseemslikeoverkill,thenBL.INKisoneofyourbestoptions.Plus,BL.INKintegrateswithZapier,soyoucandothingslikeautomaticallypostnewshortlinkstoaSlackchanneloraddthemtoyourBufferqueue.BL.INKprice:Freeplanwith1,000activelinksandlimitedanalytics;Expert+planfrom$48/monthwith10,000activelinks,7,500trackedclicksperlink,and3users.BestURLshortenerforautomaticallycreatingshortlinksURLShortenerbyZapierWhenyouwanttoautomaticallycreateandsaveashortenedlinkeverytimeyouperformacertainaction—likeaddaphototoInstagramoruploadanewproducttoyourShopifystore—Zapier'sURLShortenerisoneofthebestoptions.YoucancreateaZap(that'swhatwecallZapier'sautomatedworkflows)thattriggerseverytimeyouuploadapost,createaproduct,ordosomethingelseintheotherappsyouusemost.ZapierwillthensavetheshortenedURLtoaGoogleSheetordirectlytoanotherapp.HerearesomeotherpopularwayspeopleuseZapier'sURLshortener.URLShortenerbyZapierprice:Freeplanlimitedto5activesingle-stepZapsand100Tasks/month;Starterfrom$24.99/monthwith20multi-stepZapsand750Tasks/month.BestURLshortenerforInstagramusersShorbyShorbyisn'tyourtypicalURLshortener.RatherthansimplyshorteningalongURL,ShorbyhasbeendesignedwithInstagram's"onelinkinyourbio"ruleinmind. MostInstagramcreatorsupdatetheirbiolinkregularlywithshortURLsthatpointtonewcontent,podcastepisodes,YouTubeuploads,andsoon.ShorbymakesitmucheasierbyprovidingacustomizableshortURL"profile"thatcanbekeptuptodate,andshowsmorethanonething.So,insteadofchangingtheshortURLinyourInstagrambio,youcanjustaddyourlatestcontenttoShorbyandleavethelinkas-is.Theservicehasafewothertricksupitssleeve.Youcancreateclick-to-callboxesforpopularcommunicationplatforms,suchasWhatsApp,FacebookMessenger,Skype,oraregularoldphonenumber.YoucanalsoaddlinkstowebcontentinBlocksorpullindynamiccontentfromYouTube,Etsy,andmore,whichisperfectifyou'reacreatorwhousesInstagramtopromotecontenthostedelsewhereontheweb.YoucaneventrackanalyticsforyourShorbylink,justlikeyouwouldwithotherURLshorteningservices. Shorbyisn'tfree,andhowmuchyou'llpaydependsontheamountofcontentyouwanttodisplay.Shorbyprice:From$15/monthforRocketplanwith5smartpageswith10linksperpage;DynamicContent,GoogleAnalytics,andadtrackingavailableonProplanfrom$29/month.BestURLshortenerforsendingdifferentvisitorsdifferentlinksShort.ioMostURLshortenerswillhappilytellyouwherepeopleareclickingonyourlinksandwhatdevicesthey'reusing,butShort.iogoesonebetter:itenablesyoutotargetvisitorsindifferentlocationsorusingdifferentdevicesandsendthemtoadifferentlink.ThisisusefulifyouwanttomakesureiOSusersandAndroidusersseetherightappdownloadlink,orthatyourAmericanandCanadiancustomersseetherightkindofdollars. Whenyouaddalink,clicktheAppleicon,Androidicon,ortheglobeiconandselecthowyouwanttotargetyourclickersandwhatlinkyouwanttoservethem.Youcan,ofcourse,sendiOSuserssomethingtotallydifferentthandesktopusers,butthat'sprobablygoingtobeveryconfusingforeveryone—includingyou.Instead,it'sbesttousethisfeatureonlywhenyouhaveareasontosenddifferenttypesofvisitorstosubtlydifferentplaces. Otherwise,Short.ioisagreatURLshortener,thoughitpushesyoutouseacustomdomain.(Igetawarningthattheshort.gydomainmyaccounthasisfortestingpurposesonly,althoughIhaveyettohaveanyissues.)Youcansetadefaultdomainforanyshortlinkthatdoesn'twork,anddigdeepintowhen,where,andhowpeopleareclickingonyourlinksintheStatisticsandClickStreamssections. AndShort.iointegrateswithZapier,soyoucandothingslikecreatenewshortlinksfromanRSSfeedorShopifyproducts. Short.ioPrice:Freeplanwith1,000brandedlinks,50,000trackedclicks,anddevicetargeting;Personalplanfrom$20/monthfor10,000brandedlinksandgeo-targeting.BestURLshortenerforaddingaCTAtothelinksyoushareSniplyIfyou'resharinglinksinanewsletteroronyoursocialmediaaccountstointerestingarticles,videos,andthelike,youmightwanttohavethelastword.WithSniply,youcan. Sniply'sbigfeatureisthat,aswellasgivingyouashortURLandclick-trackingdetails,youcanalsoaddacall-to-action(CTA)overanylinkyoushare.So,whensomeonefollowsalinkfromyourTwitterprofiletosomecoolarticle,atthebottomofthepage,youcanshowapop-upsuggestingtheysubscribetoyournewsletterformoreawesomelinks. FromtheDashboard,clickManage>Call-to-ActionsandthenNewCalltoActiontocreateone.Dependingonyourplan,youcanmaketext,forms,andevenimageCTAs.Now,whenyouaddalink,youcanselectaCTAtobedisplayedtoanyonewhoclicksit.IfyoujustwanttouseSniply'strackingandanalytics,youcanalsomakeahiddenCTAthatwon'tgetshown. ThebigcaveatwithSniplythat,asamarketingservice,it'sabitpricierthansimplerURLshorteners.Featureslikecustomdomainsandshortlinksarelimitedtothe$149/monthBusinessplanandabove.Ifthat'sadeal-breaker,checkoutPixeljoy.It'sasimilarCTA-addingapp,althoughwefounditlessuser-friendly. SniplyintegrateswithZapier,soyoucandothingslikeuseaCTAformtoautomaticallyaddsubscribersstraighttoyouremailmarketingapp. SniplyPrice:From$29/monthforBasicplanwith5,000clickspermonth;from$149/monthforBusinessplanwithcustomdomainandnoSniplybranding. OriginallypublishedinOctober2018byJillDuffy,thisposthasalsohadcontributionsfromTimBrookes.GetproductivitytipsdeliveredstraighttoyourinboxSubscribeWe’llemailyou1/wk,andnevershareyourinformation.HarryGuinnessHarryGuinnessisawriterandphotographerfromDublin,Ireland.HiswritinghasappearedintheNewYorkTimes,Lifehacker,theIrishExaminer,andHow-ToGeek.Hisphotoshavebeenpublishedonhundredsofsites—mostlywithouthispermission.tagsURLshortenersmentionedappsBitlyBLINKRebrandlyURLShortenerbyZapierSniplyShort.ioRelatedarticlesImproveyourproductivityautomatically.UseZapiertogetyourappsworkingtogether.SignupSeehowitworks