Top 10 URL Shortening Services

Long URLs spanning multiple lines should be shortened. This recommendation is especially relevant for SMS, social networks and instant messengers, presentations and websites. Our article will introduce you to a dozen online services that will help you quickly and beautifully shorten a link.  

The most common and valid reasons for URLs shortening are:

Cost: Free version, paid versions (Starter - $8 per month, Basic - $29 per month, Premium - $199 per month, Enterprise - price is discussed individually)

The Bitly service is considered one of the best and most sought after. Many people prefer it because it not only shortens the link, but also shows the statistics of the clicks made on it.

Before you start working, you need to register. If you already have a Google account, you can log in to the service through it. Shortening a link here is very easy: enter the URL that needs to be shortened in a special field, and you will instantly get a "shorty".

The Bitly browser extension allows you to generate a short link on any web page in just 1 click. You don't even have to enter its URL yourself. The shortened link is available for editing — this can be done in the user's personal account. Statistics are tracked there.

One of the advantages of Bitly is the generation of customized links, which are not a randomly generated set of characters, but a word (abbreviation) chosen by the user. Representatives of the service claim that more clicks are recorded on such URLs — by 34%. True, this feature is only available in paid versions.

Cost: free

Polr is one of the open source URL shorteners. Gained fame for the feature of separate hosting. You can install and run this service on your own domain. Polr was built in PHP and runs on Lumen, so deploying it to any server is no problem.

One of its advantages is the presence of a demo page, which many competitors do not have. It allows you to first try how the service works before agreeing to the terms of its use. Another plus is the ability to receive analytics about the work of links.

Cost: free

Is.gd is a minimalistic URL shortening service. Everything is clear and to the point here: you do not need to register and enter personal data when creating a user account. The main page contains only a field for entering a link that needs to be cut, and a "Shorten!" button.

The Is.gd service allows you to customize the link. To do this, go to the menu "Further options/custom URL" (located on the right under the line for entering the link) and enter the parameters you need. In addition, the user can turn the link into a QR code. To do this, you need to click on "Give me this URL as a QR code". This option appears after generating a short link — just below it.

By checking the "Log statistics for this link" option (located in the "Further options/custom URL" menu), you will receive click-through analytics divided by several criteria (browser, country, date, and so on). You can get acquainted with this data by clicking on "My recently shortened URLs" (located under the "Shorten!" button). All compressed links that you have recently created are stored here. You will be able to view information for those of them for which statistics tracking was previously enabled.

Cost: Free version, paid versions (Pro - $9.99/month, Bulk100K - $99/month)

Tiny URL is one of the old timers among link shorteners. Its launch took place in 2002 — as much as 20 years ago! For such a long time, he has not lost his popularity. They are still actively used. Once the social network Twitter collaborated with him. True, then she abandoned it in favor of Bitly, after which she developed her own link shortening system — T.co.

Working with Tiny URL is very easy. First, you need to insert the original long link into the input line. The "Customize your link" field will allow you to create a customized unique link. To get a customized version, enter your name that you came up with for the link.

Among the advantages of the service, users name maximum convenience and simplicity, as well as the ability to collect analytical data via links (this feature is available in paid versions). The disadvantage is the need for mandatory registration for the free version.

Cost: free

Cutt.us is one of the popular URL shortening services. Users really like the intuitive interface and the ability to customize the link on their own. The only drawback is the lack of a function for collecting analytical data.

The Cutt.us service consists of 2 parts:

The ability to cut several links at once is a significant advantage of Cutt.us, which distinguishes it from its competitors. True, such a seemingly useful function has a “side effect” — a slight slowdown in the service.

Cost: Free version, Paid versions (Pro - $10/month, Business - $40/month, Ultimate - $160/month, 2 months free)

Capsulink unlocks the full potential of your short offering a versatile set of features tailored to meet the diverse needs of marketers and businesses, Capsulink ensures optimal performance and maximum impact for every link you share. Elevate your link management strategy with Capsulink's Smart URL feature, enabling you to craft branded links embedded with multiple destination links and customize dynamic redirection rules based on location, time, device, and language. With Smart URLs, gain unparalleled control over your link campaigns, empowering you to deliver personalized experiences to your audience and drive engagement like never before.

Seamlessly collaborate with your team members and clients using Capsulink's intuitive dashboard. Edit destination URLs, generate QR codes, and clear Facebook cache with ease, all while gaining valuable insights through comprehensive analytics. With unlimited branded links and cli.fm short domain options, Capsulink ensures brand consistency and trust across all your marketing channels. Harness the power of Capsulink's URL Shortening API to take your link management to the next level. Programmatically generate branded short links and Smart links to create dynamic, evergreen URLs that never expire. Whether you're building an app or integrating deep links into existing systems, Capsulink's API provides the flexibility and scalability you need to succeed.

Cost: 21-day free trial, paid versions (Expert+ - $48/month, SMB - $99/month, Team - $299/month, Business - $599/month, Enterprise - price negotiable)

Bl.ink is a URL shortening service in demand in the business environment. The service has its own powerful set of APIs and extensive tools that are valuable for entrepreneurs. Well-known brands use it to increase sales: short links are more attractive to potential buyers and, accordingly, they are more likely to click on them.

In the social networks Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, the Bl.ink service can be used as an additional analytical tool with which it is convenient to collect information and evaluate the effectiveness of links.

Bl.ink can be used not only for social networks, but also for SMS and instant messengers. Short links look neat, do not go beyond one message and are easier for the addressee to perceive.

Cost: Free version, paid versions (Starter - $29/month, Pro - $89/month, Premium - $499/month, Enterprise - price is discussed individually)

Rebrandly is a powerful URL shortening tool for media and famous brands. This service transforms a long, clumsy link that cannot be dictated to anyone into a customized branded recognizable link.

Registration is not required to get started with Rebrandly. In addition to the usual shortening of the link, the service gives the user the opportunity not only to change its ending, but also to provide it with its own domain name. One of the significant advantages is the availability of many functions in the free version. The number of links that can be shortened is limited here. The free version is limited to 500 URLs per month, while the Premium plan allows you to cut 1,500,000 links per month.

You will have to pay to shorten thousands of links, connect several domain names, get detailed analytics (geography, language, device) and build reports. For those who want not just to cut links, but to use a full-fledged link manager, the service offers a Premium version with advanced functionality. If this is not enough, there is a special tariff, which will be calculated on an individual basis.

Cost: free

Ow.ly was originally created as a standalone link shortening service. Today it is part of the Hootsuite platform, a social media account management system whose main task is to analyze their performance. Ow.ly helps with the processing of statistical data, combining it with information about clicks on short links. Such details are very important for developing strategies in marketing.

To get started with Ow.ly, you must first register with Hootsuite. If you are not interested in collecting analytics or your activity is not related to social networks, it is better to choose something alternative.

Cost: Free version, paid versions (Beginner - $9/month, Basic - $29/month, Pro - $99/month, Premium - $299/month)

Wow.link is a URL shortening service with serious requirements for potential users. To start working with it, you must register. But that's not all. The e-mail address specified during the registration process must be verified by confirming the subscription by clicking on the link sent to it. Only after going through all these stages, you can finally begin to shorten the links.

The advantage of Wow.link is the ability to set the name of the company for the reduced link and provide it with a description and tags. In addition, the service allows you to independently determine the criteria for access to analytical data (with a password or freely).

Cost: free

T1p.de is a German URL shortening service. Working with it is extremely simple: you just need to insert a link into the field for entering it and click the button.

Among the advantages of the service, first of all, they name confidentiality and a high level of reliability. T1p.de does not collect personal data. Also, the pluses include an intuitive interface and the ability to dereference during the transition to a web page.

Shortening links does not always lead to positive results. In some cases, link shortening is contraindicated:

A short URL looks neat and saves the number of characters in a message when sent via SMS or messenger. Almost all link shortening services do this job well. We have presented to you only a part of such web programs that exist today - there are, of course, many more. But not all of them are free and, most importantly, safe. Therefore, cutting URLs is recommended only on a trusted service with a good reputation. When choosing it, do not forget to decide what you want from it: just shorten links or, in addition, collect information about the audience, receive statistics on clicks. The optimal solution should take into account your requirements and preferences as much as possible.