Shorten Link is a technique to shorten URLs, making them significantly shorter. When someone clicks on a shortened URL, it redirects them to a webpage with a longer URL. The purpose is to reduce the number of characters in a URL, making it easier to share and track clicks.
For example, the URL https://seotongthe.vn/seo-la-gi/ can be shortened using bit.ly to “https://bit.ly/3zom2RZ”.
Shortened domains are typically shorter than the original domain. A friendly URL is desired for messaging technologies that limit the number of characters in a message (e.g., SMS) or when posting on Twitter, where the character limit is 140.
Why do we need to shorten links?
Some URL shortening tools can also help you track and manipulate those links, with features such as click analytics, support for UTM parameters, and retargeting.
A URL shortening tool helps you create shorter, more aesthetically pleasing URLs, as well as benefit from tracking and retargeting features.
- Short URLs take up less space and are useful in business cards, SMS, and emails.
- Convenient for managing and measuring the number of visits, such as having 5 different referral sources from Facebook, G+, LinkedIn, Blogspot, and Twitter. You can use 5 corresponding URL shortening tools to know the exact traffic source.
- Easy sharing on social networks.
- Cheaper marketing through SMS since the character limit is 160 per message.
Long URLs are hard to remember and create obstacles when distributing, for example, via SMS. Therefore, long URLs have to be copied and pasted, which is less reliable.
Some link shortening services, such as goo.gl, tinyurl.com, and bit.ly, can create human-readable URLs, although the resulting strings are longer than URLs created by length-optimized services.
Finally, URL shortening websites provide detailed information about the clicks a link receives, which can be simpler than setting up a powerful server-side analytics tool and unlike the latter, does not require any access to the server.
URLs encoded in two-dimensional barcodes, such as QR codes, are often shortened by URL shorteners to reduce the print area of the code or allow printing at a lower density to improve scanning reliability.
Subscribe to a short URL management account
Most URL Shortener providers do not require account registration, but you should still consider registering an account with a URL Shortener service for convenience in managing your URLs and easily tracking the number of clicks to your shortened URLs.
Some popular websites have set up their own URL shortener services for their own use – e.g., Twitter with t.co and Google with goo.gl.
Some popular URL shortening tools
1. Bit.ly – Best for link tracking
The URL shortening service, Bitly, offers a range of services, all of which are simple and easy to use.
Firstly, anyone can use Bitly anonymously to shorten the length of a URL.
Secondly, Bitly offers a free limited account where you can customize your shortened URLs, track click rates, and receive information about your top referring links.
The free account allows you to create 500 branded links and 10,000 non-branded links. The business-level account (custom pricing) allows you to create as many custom branded links as you want, as well as receive richer reports on who clicked on your links.
Integrate Bit with Zapier, which means you can automate it with any other Zapier-supported tool.
Bitly also supports a convenient Chrome plugin whenever you need to shorten a URL while browsing the web. If you like this feature, install this helpful plugin here.
Features
- Connect custom domains
- Analytics dashboard
- Smart audience
- Customized URLs
- Integration with Zapier and TweetDeck
- Full responsive
- Cloud-hosted
- Retargeting URLs
Pricing
Bitly offers a basic service for free. Then, premium packages with a custom domain and other features cost $35 per month with monthly payment or $29 per month with annual payment.
Visit Bit.ly to shorten Link
2. Ow.ly – HootSuite’s link shortener
Another popular choice, Ow.ly is a link shortening tool from the leading social media application called HootSuite. You can shorten a link instantly, although you will need to enter a CAPTCHA.
You can also easily share files, images, and videos with Ow.ly in all different formats. The real benefit of using this link shortener comes with using it in conjunction with HootSuite for all your social media
Features
- URL performance data
- Retargeting links
- Trackable shortened links
- Supports mobile platforms
- Rank monitoring
- Show social ROI
Pricing: Ow.ly is included in the free Hootsuite package. So, while you do have to create a Hootsuite account to use it, you do not have to pay for it.
3. Tiny URL – Best for quick, anonymous use
The TinyURL free URL shortening tool has been around since 2002. It is a great tool when you need to create a short link that will never expire. TinyURL can suggest a shorter URL for you or you can customize the result, although it will start with tinyurl.com/.
TinyURL also provides a browser toolbar that allows you to create a shortened link from the current webpage on your screen.
It’s a bit different from a regular browser plugin. On the TinyURL homepage, there are instructions for dragging a link from this page into the link area of your toolbar. That link is actually a small script.
From any web page, you can click on that link and it will take you back to TinyURL where a shortened link will be created for the page you started with. While TinyURL is entirely free and anonymous to use, it does not contain any reports or information about your links and their popularity.
Features
- Fast redirection
- Customizable shortened URLs
- Anonymous use
- Easy to use
Pricing: TinyURL is 100% free.
4. Is.gd – Simple and quick link shortener
Is.gd offers one of the simplest URL shortening experiences by providing you with nothing more than a field to enter your long URL so that you can instantly convert it to a shorter URL.
There are no additional features or services, so this is a good choice if you want to do the job quickly and smoothly without having to log in, complete a CAPTCHA, or use other tools.
5. Rebrandly – Best URL shortener for creating branded links
Rebrandly offers advanced URL shortening technology with many features. You can use this digital tool to create customized/branded and memorable short links. You can use this URL shortener to build and share short links across different social media networks.
Rebrandly also allows you to create separate workspaces and teams, making it a great URL shortener tool for groups, and it also includes advanced features like retargeting link support.
Features
- Create batch links
- UTM parameters
- API access
- Over 100 integrated applications
- Emojis on short links
- GDPR-compliant
- Automatically scaling servers
- Private reporting
- Customized reporting
- Track clicks
Pricing
Rebrandly offers a free plan with a limit of 500 branded links and 5,000 non-branded links per month.
6. T2M
T2M is another unique competitor in our list of best URL shortening tools. You will appreciate the usability of this link shortening solution. To make it easier to track URLs, they have both a location overview page and a device/platform overview page. They can even generate a QR code along with the shortened URL.
T2M has dedicated versions, meaning that the server’s response will be dedicated 100% to a single user. This ensures fast redirection to your destination URL. You can create shortened, branded URLs that will receive more clicks or even decide where the link will work.
Features
- No spam policy
- Personalized short URLs
- Full scalability analytics
- One-click domain mapping
- Create batch URLs
- Unlimited API keys
- URLs that don’t expire
- Dedicated version
- QR code generated automatically
- CSV import
Pricing
T2M offers a basic plan with a one-time fee of $5 free. The $5 is only for verification and spam reduction – no ongoing fee.
7. ClickMeter
ClickMeter is not just a URL shortening tool and more than a compelling click targeting optimizer. There are many features to help you create a URL with many clicks. ClickMeter is targeting advertisers and agencies using Google AdWords or other advertising networks.
It works like a charm for web administrators with a global audience and multiple languages. In addition to location targeting, you can easily integrate with popular content management systems (CMS) like WordPress and Shopify. ClickMeter’s dashboard provides in-depth analytics reporting.
Features
- Multi-language support
- Geotargeting
- URL encoding
- Create batch links
- Branded trackable links
- Multiple API keys
- Supports Google Analytics UTM
- Device targeting
- Copy links
Pricing
ClickMeter has three premium plans, all of which offer a 30-day money-back guarantee:
- Medium – $29 per month
- Large – $99 per month
- X-Large – $349 per month
8. Hyperlink
Hyperlink is a URL shortening tool with mobile functionality. Its Android and iOS apps are front and center, although it can also be accessed via the Chrome extension and web app that works on all browsers. Hyperlink’s payout notification feature sends push notifications to your mobile device whenever someone clicks on one of your links.
Similar to most other services on this list, Hyperlink has a free package that you can use to test the service. You will receive unlimited links and clicks for free, although you can upgrade to premium if you want to use your custom domain.
Free package: Yes
9. URL Shortener by Zapier
When you want to automatically create and save a shortened link every time you perform a certain action, Zapier’s URL Shortener is one of the best options. Formerly part of Zapier’s Formatter, URL Shortener is now a standalone tool with its own integration.
For example, whenever you upload a new photo to Flickr, you may want to create a shorter link and save a copy of it to Google Sheets. You can create a Zap (that’s what we call a Zapier automated workflow) to do that. From then on, all you have to do is upload your picture to Flickr and Zapier will take care of the rest.
Pricing: Free
10. BL.INK – Best URL shortener for small businesses
BL.INK is a feature-rich URL shortener with tracking capabilities for your link clicks. Its dashboard displays trending links and general statistics, while the analytics page allows you to dive deeper into traffic by device, location, and referral links. You can even dive into click time analysis during the day.
BL.INK offers four premium tiers to provide small businesses, teams, and enterprises with multiple options based on the number of links you need to create and track. Free account holders can create 1,000 links, track up to 1,000 clicks per link, and create a custom domain to build branded links.
BL.INK Pricing: Free
11. Shorten links with MegaURL.in
Megaurl is a reputable link shortening site from Vietnam. If your shortened links are mainly shared with Vietnamese people, you may want to choose MegaURL.
Why choose MegaURL:
- High click rate (earnings per 1000 clicks): the highest currently is from Greenland with $10.50, Iceland with $9.00, and in Vietnam, it’s $3/1000 clicks.
- Supports multiple payment platforms such as PayPal, MoMo, and bank transfer. For PayPal payment requests, the minimum withdrawal amount is $10 in your account. For bank transfer payments, the minimum amount will be $10.
- User-friendly interface, supporting both Vietnamese and English.
- Enthusiastic and professional support team.
- Supports link statistics management
12. Shorten links with Shrtfly.com
Shrtfly is an excellent international link shortening site that you should consider.
Why choose Shrtfly:
- Modern and intuitive interface design compared to other link shortening sites.
- Short link rate is high: The highest currently is from Greenland, which is $21 for banner advertising.
- Supports multiple platforms: PayPal, Paytm, UPI, Bitcoin. Bank transfer, Payoneer VIP.
- Payment time: Within 4 days after executing the order.
- Shrtfly also supports a mobile APP.
13. Shorten links with Linkvertise.net
Linkvertise is a popular URL shortener website from Germany that is highly recognizable worldwide with an Alexa rank of about 175,000.
One of the attractive features that attracts users to Linkvertise is the investment in professional design interface compared to other ordinary link shortening sites, and no Popup ads.
Another differentiating factor that makes Linkvertise stands out is that the payout rate is not fixed according to each country like other link shorteners. Instead, it is based on the highest RPM performance depending on user behavior.
14. Shorte.st
Shorte.st is considered one of the best international URL shorteners, known for its high rate of skipping ads without the need to confirm captchas, thereby increasing the success rate of clicks compared to other sites.
But the most important reason is that the site has been in operation for a long time and its credibility has been ensured by a stable number of users.
Some other advantages of Shorte.st:
Alexa Rank: 6700.
Payout Rates: Quite stable, around 1.01$ in Vietnam, mainly optimized for the US market with a payout rate of up to 14.04$.
15. Ouo.io
Ouo.io is one of the most reputable international URL shortener sites from France that has been in operation for a long time, making it highly reliable and stable in the market.
Currently, it is also one of the sites with the highest number of users and has an Alexa rank of around 147.
16. Shink.me
After Ouo.io encountered payment-related issues, users gradually switched to using Shink.me.
One drawback of the Shink URL shortener compared to other link shorteners is that it blocks Adblock. Therefore, if you are using ad-blocking plugins, you will not be able to access Shink links, resulting in no traffic and income through shortened links.
17. Adf.ly
The Adf.ly URL shortening site is from France and has been operating for quite a long time. It is considered reputable and the most stable in the URL shortening market.
Currently, it is also one of the sites with the largest number of members, ranking around 147 on Alexa.
18. Bom.to
This is the URL shortening site that I use most frequently and want to introduce to you. Some advantages can be mentioned:
- Modern, intuitive, and easy-to-use interface.
- Supports 2 languages: Vietnamese and English.
- Easily merge related link groups together into one group for easier management.
- Set link expiration time and manage expired links.
- Customize shortened links as desired.
- Click statistics on each link by country.
- Manage custom domains and add domains to your URLs.
- …
Conclusion
Those are the 18 most popular URL shortening websites. In order to avoid spam or blocked links on social networks like Facebook, it is recommended to shorten any promotional links for your website using one of these websites.
Top 16 Best and Fastest Link Shortening Websites for You
Shortening links can make them more neat and professional. If you’re not familiar with popular link shortening websites, check out this article by FPT Shop for more information.
