Top 7 URL and Link Shortening Tools to Boost Your 2025 Marketing Strategy (Free & Premium)

URL and link shorteners are essential tools that convert lengthy web addresses into short, easy-to-manage links typically under 20 characters. These tools are valuable for organizing links, tracking how many times they are clicked, promoting sharing on social media platforms, and even earning money online.

There are numerous options available. To assist you in choosing the best one, I’ve ranked and reviewed the top link shorteners. These reviews consider factors such as ease of use, features, support, pricing, and more.

Let’s dive in.

Below is my list of the top URL and link shorteners to use this year.

Ideal for creating and sharing branded links ($29/month). Rebrandly is a comprehensive link management platform that enables you to track, customize, shorten, and share URLs branded with your own domain name. It also supports team collaboration by allowing multiple users to create folders and manage branded links together without confusion. Users can modify destination URLs, craft custom slugs, set expiry dates, and enable faster redirects. Overall, Rebrandly is a full-featured platform to streamline and personalize link management.

If your focus is primarily social media, explore my curated list of the best Linktree alternatives.

Key functionalities include:

Beyond basic features, Rebrandly offers management of 404 traffic and SSL certificates, connection of multiple custom domains, and generation of scheduled traffic reports for teams.

Rebrandly offers five subscription plans:

All paid plans include a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Best for shortening affiliate links for social media ($29/month).

Bit.ly is a platform based in New York that specializes in customizing and managing shortened links. It allows users to generate memorable short URLs easily. With Bit.ly, you get access to detailed analytics across 20 metrics, including the sources that refer traffic and geographic location data. This feature helps businesses make smarter, data-informed decisions.

Using Bit.ly’s API and integration with over 700 applications, you can automate your workflows efficiently. You can also distribute custom short links in larger quantities by sending texts or sharing referral links through your affiliate programs. Rest assured, all links are encrypted with HTTPS for maximum security. Additionally, you can personalize your links with custom names to enhance your brand recognition, making it easy for your customers to identify your business immediately.

All in all, Bit.ly is most ideal for:

Bit.ly offers four subscription options:

Opting for an annual plan can save you up to 33%.

A Free Solution for Small Businesses to Shorten URLs. TinyURL provides a straightforward service to create compact links for long URLs, making sharing easier. It features a user-friendly interface where users simply input a URL and click “Make TinyURL” to generate a shortened link instantly. The platform also offers a preview option, allowing you to see the final shortened link before using it, ensuring accuracy and preventing errors.

Additionally, TinyURL allows users to add shortcuts directly to their browser toolbar, enabling quick URL shortening with a single click. The platform also supports redirecting to any webpage through shortened URLs for convenience. Advanced features like link tracking, management, and analytics are available on paid plans, offering insights into link performance and user engagement.

The Pro plan is particularly suitable for small businesses seeking a reliable URL shortening service.

Ideal for users already leveraging Hootsuite for social media management (Free version available).

Ow.ly is a tool that shortens URLs and monitors the traffic they generate. It creates secure, custom links to increase engagement and allows collaboration with team members for link management. Additionally, it enables tracking of clicks from newsletters, social platforms like Facebook, comments, and micro-sites to measure outreach effectively. The service verifies links against Google’s Safe Browsing list to avoid phishing and malware threats, and all custom URLs are fully compatible with SEO practices for easy indexing.

Ow.ly is included in all Hootsuite plans, including free tiers, providing basic features at no extra cost. For enhanced capabilities, paid plans are available with additional features:

You can trial the Professional and Team packages free for 30 days.

Perfect for creating automated workflows that shorten links automatically (Free).

Zapier’s URL shortener automates the process of creating and storing short links, enabling integration into various workflows. For example, you can automatically shorten links when posting on social media or saving them in spreadsheets, saving time and resources. It also supports sharing links via SMS, automatically reducing character count and costs. With over 2,000 supported applications, it can seamlessly connect your URL shortening tasks to other tools like Google Sheets or email platforms.

with over 2000 applications, including social media platforms, Google Docs, email marketing tools, and survey forms, it offers extensive integration options. It also features Unlimited Links — bundled free with Zapier — allowing users to generate an unlimited number of shortened links.

Pros of this service include a free plan that supports up to 100 tasks per month, the ability to add shortened links to personalized messages and email campaigns, and detailed tracking of link performance across various data points like demographics and click metrics. Additionally, users benefit from quick email support and can even hire a Zapier Expert for personalized assistance. Pricing for this URL shortener is included with all Zapier plans at no extra cost.

Another popular tool is BL.INK, which costs $48 monthly and excels at measuring link performance and value. It allows you to create custom short links that incorporate brand-specific words, making links more memorable. The core strength of BL.INK lies in its powerful analytics features, which enable you to monitor every interaction and engagement with your links. It’s versatile, offering features such as:

– BLINK in Social, making social media sharing easier
– BLINK in Messaging, for sharing links via WhatsApp, SMS, Skype, Messenger, etc.
– BLINK Everywhere, allowing links to be used in QR codes, PDFs, emails, and other mediums

BL.INK supports editing of all link details at any point. Its open API seamlessly connects with your existing technology stack and thousands of automation tools, including Zoho Flow and Zapier. The platform is scalable, suitable for large teams, extensive brand portfolios, and numerous campaigns.

Key features include creating branded links with custom domains, advanced analytics integrated with Google and Adobe services to optimize campaigns, and flexible tiered pricing plans that adjust based on your usage. Users can route clicks dynamically based on location, language, time, device, and other factors, supporting redirects like 301 and 307. The platform also provides link masking, ensuring that only short links appear in the address bar, and includes automatic data deletion for short links when needed.

BL.INK offers five pricing tiers: Expert at $48/month, SMB at $99/month, Team at $299/month, Business at $599/month, and a custom Enterprise option. A 21-day free trial is available for new users.

Firebase Dynamic Links is another notable tool, especially ideal for promoting mobile apps, offering its services for free. It supports creating deep links that work seamlessly across different platforms, enhancing user experience and engagement in app promotion campaigns.

Firebase Dynamic Links is an innovative URL shortener developed by Google that allows you to generate short, clickable links that adapt to user behavior. These links can guide users seamlessly to specific pages within your app, whether on mobile web or native application, boosting user engagement and increasing app installations. By creating URLs that open directly in the app or suggest installation if it’s not present, this tool effectively converts web visitors into app users.

It offers advanced features such as A/B testing, cloud messaging, comprehensive analytics, and an unlimited number of dynamic links. Developers can utilize APIs tailored for web, iOS, and Android platforms to expand their user base and enhance revenue streams.

Key features include efficient marketing capabilities, aiding in delivering targeted content to users precisely as seen in desktop campaigns. It helps in migrating desktop users to mobile by sending links via text messages that prompt app installation. Additionally, fallback URLs are provided so users are motivated to download the app if it isn’t already installed, ensuring a smooth user experience.

Advantages include straightforward tracking of conversions and click data through the Firebase dashboard, customizable domains for branding, quick appending of UTM parameters for marketing analysis, and detailed metrics such as initial opens, re-opens, and installs. The system integrates effortlessly into existing app projects, making it a versatile choice for developers.

Firebase Dynamic Links is entirely free to use, making it accessible for businesses of all sizes looking to enhance their marketing strategies and app engagement.

Open-source, simple, and free URL shortening tool.

YOURLS (Your Own URL Shortener) is an open-source solution that enables you to create and manage your own URL shortening service. It supports both private and public links, all hosted on your own server. The system is flexible, allowing for the creation of custom URLs, whether sequential or keyword-based, with full control over branding and accessibility. Its plugin architecture allows for easy expansion of functionalities, and it provides detailed analytics—such as referrer tracking, historical click reports, and geo-location data—which helps you monitor link performance effectively.

Additional features include the ability to generate shareable short links directly through browser bookmarklets, and a comprehensive developer API for customizing the tool. Output can be received in various formats like XML, JSON, or plain text, making integration and data handling straightforward. It also offers options for security, including password protection and controlled access, ensuring that your shortened links are managed safely.

YOURLS is an open-source platform, so it is completely free to use.

Earn Extra Money by Sharing Shortened Links for Free. AdFly is a free tool that shortens URLs and also allows you to make money when others click on your links.

AdFly offers free URL shortening and also provides a monetization option — you earn money each time someone clicks your shortened links. To get started, just sign up and create an account. Then, share your links on social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn for more clicks and visibility. AdFly ensures secure advertising without pop-ups, and it lets you monitor your links’ performance with detailed analytics to help improve your marketing strategies.

AdFly is a free, open-source URL shortening service.

Simple Link Shortener for Small Businesses ($5/month). Tiny.cc offers an easy-to-use platform for shortening URLs, with additional features suitable for small businesses.

Tiny.cc is another straightforward URL shortening tool. Simply paste your long URL in the input box and click ‘shorten’ — your link is generated instantly. You can customize your shortened URLs, create targeted links based on language, and add retargeting pixels to measure campaign performance and increase your ROI. If you lack a branded domain, Tiny.cc allows you to use its domains, or you can create vanity URLs or keyword-rich links to enhance branding and trustworthiness.

Tiny.CC offers four paid subscription plans billed monthly:

Quote-based

You can opt for the free plan, but keep in mind that it only provides a link that will expire after some time. Paid plans, however, allow you to generate permanent links that you can modify later as needed.

Choosing annual billing can save you around 8.3% compared to monthly payments.

What is a URL Shortener or Link Shortener?

A URL or link shortener simplifies long URLs by making them shorter and easier to share. It also offers the option to rebrand and customize your links to match your brand identity.

Long URLs, especially those with random numbers and symbols, can be difficult to remember. Shorter, custom-named URLs are much easier to recall and manage. They also make sharing links seamless across various platforms.

This is exactly where URL and link shorteners come into play.

Why Use a Link Shortener?

– Shorter URLs take up fewer characters, making them perfect for sharing via text messages or tweets that have character limits.
– With a short URL, you can add parameters to track important metrics like user location, device type, and demographics. This helps you see how much traffic each link generates.
– Many link shorteners allow you to connect your own custom domain, so instead of using generic domains like rebrand.ly or bit.ly, you can use your own branded domain for a more professional look.

What Features Should You Consider When Choosing a Link Shortener?

There are numerous URL shorteners available with varying features, which can make selecting the best one overwhelming. To help guide your decision, here are some essential features to look for:

– Powerful Analytics: Detailed reports that allow you to analyze traffic sources, click rates, and audience demographics. Real-time tracking helps optimize your marketing efforts and improve return on investment.
– Branded Links: Custom branded domains increase brand recognition and trust. Look for tools that allow you to create personalized short links using your own domain name.
– Integration Capabilities: Seamless integration with CRM systems and other marketing tools, such as Zapier, can streamline workflows and automate link management tasks.
– Domain Management: For large campaigns, the ability to manage multiple domains, SSL certificates, 404 pages, and redirects is important for smooth operation.
– Free Plans: If you’re a small business or just starting out, a free URL shortener like TinyURL can be sufficient without the need for paid plans.

Summary

Here’s a quick overview of some top URL and link shorteners. Each tool offers unique features and advantages. Some are free, while others have flexible paid options. The ideal choice depends on your specific marketing needs, budget, and team size.

For example, if you’re already a HootSuite user, you can access Ow.ly for free. Zapier’s URL Shortener is excellent if you want to incorporate link shortening into your automation workflows. TinyURL is a simple, no-cost solution for basic needs.

Larger organizations with bigger budgets and teams might benefit from Rebrandly, which helps manage extensive marketing campaigns effectively.

Take the time to review these tools carefully so you can select the best URL shortener for your business.

Don’t forget to share which link shortener works best for you! Let me know in the comments below.