12 Best URL Shorteners to Use in 2025

Lengthy and cluttered URLs can make your content appear unprofessional and difficult to manage. Additionally, they take up valuable character space—posing a challenge on platforms with strict limits, such as social media and SMS.

Enter URL shorteners

A URL link shortener is an essential tool for streamlining your shareable links. A short link generator generates compact, dedicated short links that seamlessly redirect to your original URL.

But what do we get as a result?

Clean, professional, and trackable links that enhance your content’s visual appeal and user experience across various platforms.

However, with various URL shorteners available, how do you pick the best link shortener for your needs? The decision hinges on your specific requirements:

• Do you prefer a straightforward, user-friendly tool?
• Is access to detailed analytics a top priority?
• Would branded links strengthen your brand identity?
• Do you require advanced features like link customization?
• Are you looking for a free solution, or are you open to investing in a premium short link generator tool?

Whether you’re a marketer fine-tuning campaign performance, a business optimizing social media engagement, or an individual seeking to simplify link sharing, selecting the right URL shortener can significantly impact your digital strategy.

Let’s explore the best URL shorteners in 2025 to help you maximize efficiency.

12 Top URL Shorteners at a Glance in 2025

Replug

Best URL shortener for retargeting ad campaigns!

Replug is a link shortener that goes one step ahead of generating a shortened link. This URL shortener helps marketers retarget the audience who clicks the shortened link. Retargeting allows marketers to maximize their ad ROI.

Anyone who clicks your link gets added to the customized audience pool. It helps you show them the targeted ad when they browse social platforms and other websites.

Some more features are A/B testing, URL slugs, and customized CTAs.

Why is Replug a highlighted link shortener?

• Offer CTAs for overlaying on the destination URL
• Include retargeting pixels to the shortened URLs
• It can split traffic for testing various end URLs
• Track conversions, visitor attributes, and click performance

The Bottom Line:

Replug sets itself apart by effortlessly blending retargeting with advanced link management. With this tool, every click on your shared links becomes an opportunity to build a custom audience, allowing you to refine and enhance your ad campaigns precisely.

Pricing:

Subscription plans begin at just $19 per month, allowing you to track up to 10,000 clicks across unlimited links. It ensures maximum flexibility and efficiency for your marketing efforts.

TinyURL

Best URL shortener for on-off link generation!

Sometimes, you just need a quick and hassle-free way to shorten a link—no account creation, no complicated features, no learning curve. That’s where TinyURL shines. It’s the go-to solution for effortless link shortening, ideal for occasional users who want a straightforward experience.

With TinyURL, you can generate a compact link in seconds—entirely free without signing up. These links never expire, ensuring they remain accessible indefinitely. Plus, you even have the option to customize the URL’s slug for added personalization.

For those who create an account, TinyURL offers additional perks like custom domains and basic link tracking. While its analytics aren’t as comprehensive as other options, it still provides valuable insights into link performance.

Why TinyURL Stands Out:

• Simple and intuitive interface
• Instantly create short links without registration
• Customize link endings for better branding
• Links never expire, ensuring long-term usability
• Account holders can access custom domains and link-tracking

The Bottom Line:

TinyURL may not boast the most advanced features, but its simplicity makes it powerful. When you all need a fast, reliable, and clean link to share, it delivers precisely that.

Pricing:

• Free Plan: This short link generator shortens up to 100 links per month
• Paid Plan: Unlock premium features starting at $12.99/month

Bitly

Bitly is one of the best URL shorteners in link-shortening services. However, its pricing and feature set cater more to organizations with substantial budgets that create short URLs for in-depth analytics.

With Bitly, you can generate short links, branded URLs, custom logo QR codes, and UTM-enabled links. This short link generator also allows you to add UTM parameters to monitor traffic sources across your marketing channels.

While Bitly does offer an entry-level plan, its most powerful features—including custom domains—are reserved for higher-tier subscriptions.

Why Bitly Stands Out as a short URL generator:

• Comprehensive analytics and detailed reporting
• Custom-branded domains for boosted brand visibility
• Ability to create QR codes with custom logos
• UTM parameter integration for advanced tracking

The Bottom Line:

Bitly’s scalability and enterprise-grade features make it the best link shortener for large teams and organizations. However, smaller businesses may find its robust features more than they need.

Pricing:

• Free plan: Includes 10 short links and two QR codes per month.
• Basic plan ($8/month): Offers 100 links and five QR codes with limited features.
• Premium plans (starting at $35/month): Get additional features, including custom domains and expanded link shortener management capabilities.

Dub

Top short link generator for funnel analysis!

Dub stands out in several key areas, making it a powerful tool for optimizing your link management strategy. One of its standout features is robust analytics, which allows you to track clicks, leads, and conversions. By providing insights into how your shortened URLs contribute to your sales funnel, Dub empowers you to refine your marketing efforts for maximum impact.

Another valuable feature is Dub’s innovative redirection capabilities. You can automatically send users to different landing pages based on their device or geographic location. This is particularly useful for directing Android users to the correct app download page or ensuring Malaysian visitors land on a localized version of your website using the same short link.

A feature that genuinely sets Dub apart is its custom link preview functionality. Unlike other platforms, Dub enables you to edit your links’ title, description, and image when shared on social media, giving you full control over how your content appears.

Why You’ll Love Dub:

• Smart redirection based on device or location
• Customizable link previews for social media
• Set expiration dates for links
• Comprehensive link analytics to track performance

The Bottom Line:

As one of the affordable URL shorteners, Dub offers intelligent redirection, customizable previews, and detailed analytics. Overall, it is an ideal short URL generator for businesses looking to optimize their link-sharing strategy.

Pricing:

• The free plan includes up to 25 links per month.
• The paid plans start at $24/month for 1,000 links.

Short.io

It is one of the best URL shorteners for branded and free shortened links!

Short.io is a standout choice if you’re looking for a way to use your domain for shortened links without spending a penny. Unlike many competitors, this link shortener allows you to connect up to five custom domains on its free plan, which is ideal for managing multiple brands or websites.

You can either integrate an existing domain or purchase one directly through Short.io. Each domain has its own set of settings, enabling you to track analytics separately for each brand or website.

Beyond this impressive domain flexibility, Short.io offers all the essential features you’d expect from a top-tier URL shortener: a QR code generator, comprehensive link analytics, and a UTM builder to enhance your marketing efforts.

That’s an impressive suite for a free plan!

For those looking for even more control, Short.io’s paid plan offers premium capabilities such as:

• Deep linking for mobile apps
• Geo-targeted redirects
• Link expiration settings

Why Choose Short.io?

• Create branded links with your domain
• Separate audience tracking for each domain
• Built-in QR code generator
• Advanced click analytics
• UTM builder to refine marketing campaign performance

The Bottom Line

Short.io’s true strength lies in its ability to handle multiple domains efficiently. With customizable settings and separate analytics for each domain, it’s a perfect solution for businesses managing different brands from one intuitive dashboard.

Pricing:

The free plan includes up to five custom domains and 1,000 branded links. Paid plans start at $5/month for additional capacity and features.

SnipIt

Best short URL generator for Shopify

If you’re running a Shopify store and looking for a free link shortener, SnipIt is a game-changer. This short URL generator automatically imports all your store pages, making creating short URLs for your products, collections, and other essential pages effortless.

Moreover, it allows you to generate short links for specific product variants, ensuring a seamless shopping experience for your customers.

Why SnipIt Stands Out

• Automatic Page Import: No need to manually create links—SnipIt pulls in all your Shopify pages instantly.
• One-Click Short Links: Quickly generate and organize short URLs for your store’s products.
• Easy Setup: Install directly from the Shopify App Store and immediately shorten links.
• Custom URL Options: Personalize your short links or integrate with popular platforms like Bitly or TinyURL.

The Bottom Line

SnipIt’s automatic import feature saves time and eliminates the hassle of managing product links manually. Whether you’re launching a new collection or promoting a sale, this short link generator helps you easily streamline your marketing efforts.

Pricing:

Free

Zapier’s URL Shortener

For those who frequently need to shorten URLs as part of their workflow, Zapier’s short URL generator is a game-changer. Instead of manually shortening links every time, you can automate the process, saving valuable time and effort.

Whether publishing blog posts, sharing marketing content, or managing customer communications, Zapier ensures that short link creation happens seamlessly in the background.

Why Zapier Stands Out:

Trigger-Based Automation – Generate short links automatically based on predefined triggers.

Effortless Distribution – Instantly send shortened links to the platform of your choice.

Robust Integrations – Connect with thousands of apps to streamline your workflow.

Reduce Manual Effort – Eliminate repetitive tasks and improve efficiency.

The Bottom Line:

Zapier empowers you to create short URLs effortlessly by integrating with the tools you already use. With its automation capabilities, you can focus on what truly matters—without the hassle of manual link shortening.

Pricing:

Zapier’s link shortener is available on all plans, but advanced multi-step automations require a paid subscription. Pricing starts at $29.99 per month.

Nimble Links

Best short link generator for optimization

For optimization-driven marketers, Nimble Links delivers a powerful short link generator that directs visitors to destinations based on your strategic needs.

This versatile link shortener enables you to divide traffic for A/B testing, helping you discover which landing pages, content formats, or offers truly connect with your audience. You can personalize the destination URL based on user characteristics like location or language preferences.

Moreover, you can determine where visitors land depending on when they click your link or how many people have already engaged with it.

Why Nimble Links Stands Out Among Best URL Shorteners:

• Split-test different destination URLs
• Control traffic distribution between variants
• Customize URL destinations based on user attributes
• Intuitive interface with minimal learning curve

The Bottom Line:

This platform excels at A/B testing and personalizing link destinations through various targeting factors, making it one of the best link shortener options for data-driven marketers.

Pricing Structure:

The free plan provides just 10 links with 100 clicks per link, making it suitable for initial service evaluation. For serious marketing needs, paid plans begin at $9/month for unlimited links.

Sniply

Best link shortener tool for adding CTAs to shortened links!

Sniply empowers you to attach a customized call-to-action (CTA) to any link you share—even when directing users to third-party content.

This CTA appears as a compact rectangle overlaid on the destination page. It supports various formats, including buttons, forms, images, or text. This distinctive capability helps redirect traffic to your website, capture newsletter subscriptions, secure bookings, and showcase your products while sharing valuable industry content from the internet.

Beyond its primary function, Sniply delivers fundamental URL-shortening services such as QR code or custom code generation, UTM parameter support, comprehensive analytics, and custom domain integration. Although its analytics aren’t as extensive as other link shortener tools, Sniply monitors conversions from initial click-through to purchase, providing clear insight into how these CTAs impact your revenue.

Why you’ll love Sniply:

• Incorporate branded CTAs on any webpage you share
• Select from multiple CTA formats: button, form, image, or text
• Tailor CTA design to align with your brand identity
• Conduct A/B testing on different CTAs
• Monitor CTA performance metrics

In summary:

Sniply goes beyond basic link shortening by transforming every shared link into a potential conversion tool. It’s especially valuable for marketers who regularly distribute content from external websites.

Pricing:

No free plan is available. Paid plans begin at $9/month, including 250 short links monthly and five total CTAs.

Link Squeeze

Best link shortener for e-Commerce!

Link Squeeze empowers e-commerce businesses to track the revenue generated from shared links while seamlessly retargeting potential customers across multiple channels. With this powerful short URL generator, you can pinpoint which marketing strategies and campaigns drive the highest sales.

Also, you can create short URLs for checkout, cart, and discount links, simplifying the buying journey for your customers. This ensures a frictionless path to purchase and boosting conversions with minimal effort.

Why you’ll love Link Squeeze:

• Gain insights into profitable content by linking clicks directly to sales.
• Integrate retargeting pixels for platforms like TikTok, Meta, and Pinterest.
• Enhance the shopping experience with checkout, cart, and discount short links.

The takeaway:

For e-commerce brands looking to maximize revenue tracking and streamline customer engagement, Link Squeeze is one of the best URL shorteners available.

Pricing:

A free plan allows up to 100 short links, while paid plans start at $10/month for unlimited short links and custom domains.

Rebrandly

Best paid link shortener tool for brand-oriented links!

Rebrandly has carved a niche as one of the best URL shorteners for branded links. It offers robust branding capabilities at a more competitive price than many alternatives. More than just using a custom domain, this short link generator lets you personalize every aspect of your URLs to align seamlessly with your brand identity.

Rebrandly’s ability to enhance user experience through smart redirection rules sets it apart from other URL shorteners. You can direct traffic based on parameters like location, language, and device, ensuring your audience a more tailored browsing experience.

A standout feature of this short URL generator is the ability to modify the destination URL even after a short link has been created. If a webpage goes offline or changes, you can update the link without breaking all previously shared URLs.

Further, Rebrandly provides in-depth audience insights, offering valuable data on user behavior, clicks, and conversions.

Why You’ll Love Rebrandly:

• User-friendly dashboard for managing branded short links
• Extensive customization options for creating short URLs
• Ability to edit destination URLs post-creation
• Smart redirection based on visitor attributes
• Comprehensive analytics for tracking performance

The Takeaway:

Rebrandly excels in branding, analytics, and flexibility, making it one of the best link shorteners for businesses and marketers.

Pricing of this brilliant link generator:

The free plan includes 10 branded links per month, while paid plans start at $13/month for 250 branded links.

Buffer

One of the best URL shorteners for social media

Buffer is a powerful social media management tool designed to help users create, schedule, and analyze posts across multiple platforms. One of its standout features is its built-in short URL generator, which effortlessly converts lengthy links into concise, shareable short links even on the free plan.

When drafting a post, simply insert your original link, and Buffer will automatically transform it into a buff.ly link—no extra step of manual shortening of URLs.

Also, Buffer streamlines social media tracking by automatically adding UTM parameters to every link, making it easier to monitor traffic and engagement.

Why Buffer Stands Out:

• Automatically shortens URLs while drafting social media posts
• Provides click tracking and engagement insights within Buffer’s analytics
• Supports Bitly integration for custom-branded links
• Effortlessly adds UTM parameters for tracking campaign performance

The Bottom Line:

Buffer simplifies the process with its seamless short link generator for those frequently sharing content on social media, making link management a breeze.

Pricing:

The buff.ly link shortener is available across all Buffer plans, including the free version. For those who want to use the Bitly integration for branded links, Buffer’s paid plans start at $6 per month per social channel.

What are The Benefits of Link Shortener Tools

One significant benefit of using a link shortener is the ease of sharing. Instead of dealing with lengthy, complex URLs prone to typos, you can create a short, memorable link that directs users to the right destination effortlessly. This is especially useful for advertising campaigns, business cards, print materials, podcast interviews, or any scenario where clickable hyperlinks aren’t an option. Many URL shorteners also generate QR codes, making it even more convenient for users to access your content.

Social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter) automatically shorten links using their own services, and iMessage hides URLs behind preview cards. Still, there are still many reasons to use a short link generator.

Beyond just trimming downlinks, the best URL shorteners offer additional features that enhance usability and tracking.

A top-tier URL shortener goes beyond basic shortening and offers:

• Advanced Analytics and Click-Track Monitoring: Standard links don’t give you insight into who’s clicking, where they’re from, or what device they’re using. A dedicated link shortener allows you to track engagement, monitor traffic sources, and analyze performance. Free versions generally offer basic analytics, while premium services provide deep insights, even letting you redirect users based on their location or device type.
• Customizable Short URLs: The best link shorteners enable customization, making your links more recognizable and relevant. Free tools might only let you modify the last part of the link (e.g., tinyurl.com/my-promo), whereas premium services allow branded domains (e.g., mybrand.co/sale), boosting credibility and click-through rates.
• Standalone Applications: Some short URL generators are integrated into larger platforms, like Ow.ly within Hootsuite or built-in shortening tools within newsletter services. However, for a truly flexible experience, standalone short link generators provide the most control, making them ideal for businesses and marketers.
• Pricing and Value: Different link generator tools offer varying levels of service, from free basic plans to feature-rich paid options. The best link shortener for you depends on your budget and needs. Some free tools create a short URL to offer excellent functionality, while premium apps provide comprehensive analytics and branding opportunities.

At their core, URL shorteners do more than just shrink links; they enhance shareability, trackability, and brand recognition.

Whether you need a short URL generator for social media, marketing, or business use, choosing the right one can significantly improve your digital strategy.

Final Words on Best URL Shorteners

When shortening URLs, your audience doesn’t mind how you do it as long as the result is a clear, concise link. Every tool takes a lengthy URL and converts it into a shareable format. However, the ones that have made this list stand out as the best URL shorteners due to their ease of use, innovative features, and overall effectiveness.

Try these top short URL generators, and stick with the one that aligns best with your requirements. Whether you need a short link generator for marketing campaigns, social media, or personal use, the right tool will help you optimize your link-sharing strategy.