10+ Best Free URL Shortening Services

URL shortening services keep URLs short and sweet and easily shareable in conversations, forum threads, social media, etc. Some services are used to hide affiliate links or to bypass firewalls that block websites according to URLs.

If you’re bored with the regular services, know that the Internet is home to plenty of other options. Some of them offer more than just shorten-url-to-go services. We’ve updated this post; here are some of the best ones. And yes, most –if not all– of them are free to use.

Related posts:

• How to Create URL Shortener With Your Domain
• Building a URL Shortener with PHP
• How to See Shortened URLs Without Opening Them

1. is.gd

Is.gd is an online URL shortener service with many interesting features. Without having to sign up or login, you can shorten any URL with just one click. You can either automatically generate an alias for your shortened URL or specify your own (between 5 to 30 characters) through the ‘further options’ button.

What’s interesting about is.gd is that it allows you to view some basic statistics on who has visited your shortened URL. Plus, it gives you a preview page so you can look at the destination of the shortened URL. Furthermore, there are many plugins, workflows, and browser extensions that support is.gd.

Summary:

• URL domain: https://is.gd/
• Short URL example: https://is.gd/rXv0Kh
• Sign-up / login required? – No
• Alternative domain? – Yes, v.gd
• Keyword customization? – No
• Analytics and tracking? – Yes
• API provided? – No
• Bookmarklet? – No

Other features:

• Plenty of support from developers

Shorten URL with is.gd

2. ouo.io

ouo.io is a URL shortening service that just works. You can simply enter a URL of any length and get its shortened version in one click and without any sign up required.

A cool feature of ouo.io is that you can earn every time a user clicks on the URL shortened through this service. Just sign up for an account and check out the payout rate that’s different for each country. There is, however, no API or any option to add custom keywords to your shortened URLs.

Summary:

• URL domain: https://ouo.io/
• Short URL example: https://ouo.io/jl6WXZm
• Sign-up / login required? – No
• Alternative domain? – No
• Keyword customization? – No
• Analytics and tracking? – No
• API provided? – No
• Bookmarklet? – No

Other features:

• Get paid when links is clicked, read more about it here.

Shorten URL with ouo.io

3. Hootsuite

Hootsuite is a popular social media management platform that offers a URL shortening feature on its dashboard called Ow.ly. You need to have a Hootsuite account in order to user it, but the good thing is that it comes with the free version of Hootsuite, so that’s a relief.

Like all other URL shortness, it offers a one-click functioning. Plus, you can add tracking on your shortened URL and customize the keywords in your URL.

Summary:

• URL domain: http://ow.ly/
• Short URL example: http://ow.ly/uvc750KlPzj
• Sign-up / login required? – Yes
• Alternative domain? – No
• Keyword customization? – No
• Analytics and tracking? – Yes
• API provided? – No
• Bookmarklet? – no

Shorten URL with Hootsuite

4. Bitly

Bitly already has a god name among URL shortening services. Through a cleaner interface and no login required, you can shorten your URLs in a jiffy. Some of the best features of Bitly include flexibility of customizing the shortened URL and an overview of the URL statistics and analytics.

Moreover, the site provides API to integrate Bitly in your workflow and project management tools. Though the service is free, but you can get many advanced features like custom link redirects, custom domain, and data export through paid subscriptions.

Summary:

• URL domain: https://bit.ly/
• Short URL example: https://bit.ly/3AtI6yj
• Sign-up / login required? – No
• Alternative domain? – Yes
• Keyword customization? – Yes
• Analytics and tracking? – Yes
• API provided? – Yes
• Bookmarklet? – no

Other features:

• Branded links.
• More features here.

Shorten URL with Bitly

5. zzb.bz

zzb.bz lets you shorten your URLs in a fast and efficient way. Though there is no sign-up required for shortening URLs, however in order to manage all shortened URLs, you need to register for an account.

Unlike many other URL shortness in the list, you can password-protect the shortened links and add descriptions to your record of URLs. Also, there’s an option to specify the URL you want but remember to check its availability to make it yours.

Summary:

• URL domain: https://zzb.bz/
• Short URL example: https://zzb.bz/5PDq1
• Sign-up / login required? – No
• Alternative domain? – Yes, gcc.gl
• Keyword customization? – Yes
• Analytics and tracking? – no
• API provided? – Yes
• Bookmarklet? – Yes

Shorten URL with zzb.bz

6. YouTube shorten URL

y2u.be is a URL shortener that works only for shortening URLs for YouTube videos. Though there is no option for customization, however, you can choose between a short or a very short URL. Plus, you get a QR code for the shortened URL which is a great feature.

What’s more is that y2u.be offers an API that allows you to incorporate it in your apps and web services. Though there is no analytics feature, some of the other tools in the list.

Summary:

• URL domain: https://youtu.be/
• Short URL example: https://youtu.be/PkwvvO9icm0
• Sign-up / login required? – No
• Alternative domain? – No
• Keyword customization? – No
• Analytics and tracking? – No
• API provided? – No
• Bookmarklet? – No

Shorten URL with y2u.be

7. tny.im

A unique in the list, tny.im is a URL shortener as well as a shortener for images, email addresses, source code, and link list, etc. Even though you don’t need to register for using the service, but to avail all other features you need to sign up for an account.

Talking about the features, these include statistics for short URL, link editing even after it is created, public API, sharing toolbar, and a bookmarklet. There’s also a Firefox OS app so you can work on it on the go.

Summary:

• URL domain: http://tny.im/
• Short URL example: http://tny.im/t5X
• Sign-up / login required? – No
• Alternative domain? – No
• Keyword customization? – Yes
• Analytics and tracking? – Yes
• API provided? – Yes
• Bookmarklet? – Yes

Other features:

• Able to edit URL after it is created.
• Link preview

Shorten URL with tny.im

8. TinyURL

TinyURL gives you an easy Lin shortening service. You can customize your shortened URL by entering your own alias or keywords. It does provide analytics for your shortened URLs as well as a bookmarklet to add it to your browser. There are also alternative domains, however available for paid subscription.

Summary:

• URL domain: https://tinyurl.com/
• Short URL example: https://tinyurl.com/mu4ut2f7
• Sign-up / login required? – No
• Alternative domain? – Yes, tiny.one, and rotf.lol
• Keyword customization? – Yes
• Analytics and tracking? – Yes
• API provided? – Yes
• Bookmarklet? – No

Other features:

• Branded links for free.
• Links management, including monitoring and analytics. (Sign-up required)

Shorten URL with TinyURL

9. TinyCC

As the name says, you can use tiny.cc to convert your log URLs into shorter ones. There’s no login required to shorten URLs, but the links you create without registration get expire after some time.

You can get click statistics and other analytics for your links as well as the option to manage URLs through editing or deleting. You can also get a bookmarklet tool for one-click link shortening anywhere on the web.

Summary:

• URL domain: http://tiny.cc/
• Short URL example: http://tiny.cc/4c7wuz
• Sign-up / login required? – No
• Alternative domain? – No
• Keyword customization? – Yes
• Analytics and tracking? – Yes
• API provided? – Yes
• Bookmarklet? – Yes (Sign-in required)

Other features:

• Branded links. (Paid plan required)

Shorten URL with TinyCC

10. Rebrandly

Rebrandly offers you to shorten your URLs using custom domain names so you can create a greater brand recall for the shared links. It lets you track click rates of the URLs created through the service and you can post them to blogs, social media sites, ads, or emails.

Rebrandly also offers API so you can use it in your apps and services. However, there is no bookmarklet option available.

Summary:

• URL domain: https://rb.gy/
• Short URL example: https://rb.gy/xarrsw
• Sign-up / login required? – No
• Alternative domain? – Yes
• Keyword customization? – Yes
• Analytics and tracking? – Yes
• API provided? – Yes
• Bookmarklet? – No

Other features:

• Able to generate QR code for link.
• More features with paid plans.

Shorten URL with Rebrandly

11. Cuttly

Cuttly is basically a link management platform with URL shortener being one of its features. You can shorten any link without any sign-up required but for greater link management, you need to sign up for registration.

Cuttly’s other features include advanced link analytics, URL customisation, UTM code generator, password protection, mobile link redirection, and editable link destination among many others.

Summary:

• URL domain: https://cutt.ly/
• Short URL example: https://cutt.ly/kXl7fa4
• Sign-up / login required? – No
• Alternative domain? – Yes
• Keyword customization? – No
• Analytics and tracking? – Yes
• API provided? – Yes (Sign up required)
• Bookmarklet? – No

Other features:

• More features with paid plans.

Shorten URL with Cuttly

12. Short.io

Short.io can help you transform long URLs to short branded links. For simple link shortening, you don’t need to register, but to access advanced features, you need to create an account.

Some of it most interesting features include password-protecting your links, generating QR code, link cloaking, redirection for mobile users, and geo-targeting to deliver appropriate content.

Summary:

• URL domain: https://4udl.short.gy/
• Short URL example: https://4udl.short.gy/9ixhKZ
• Sign-up / login required? – No
• Alternative domain? – Yes
• Keyword customization? – Yes
• Analytics and tracking? – Yes
• API provided? – Yes
• Bookmarklet? – No

Other features:

• Link cloaking.
• Integration with other tools and services.
• Password protection.
• More features with paid plans.

Shorten URL with Short.io

13. T.ly

T.ly is link shortener for creating tiny URLs for any type of link. It allows you to track your clicks and offers an API that lets you integrate the tool in any app and service. There’s also a browser extension for Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and Opera.

Summary:

• URL domain: https://t.ly/
• Short URL example: https://t.ly/KF_s
• Sign-up / login required? – No
• Alternative domain? – Yes (Sign up required)
• Keyword customization? – Yes (Sign up required)
• Analytics and tracking? – Yes
• API provided? – Yes
• Bookmarklet? – No

Other features:

• Chrome browser extension.
• Customizable QR Codes

Shorten URL with T.ly