Many marketing tools and applications exist to help you and your team produce great content. One of those essential tools is a link shortener.
The challenge? Finding the right one to use. Try googling the term “link shorteners,” and you’ll find yourself staring at millions of hits.
But don’t despair. We made your job easier by examining the best link shorteners, explaining their purpose, and weighing their advantages and disadvantages so you can make the right choice for your team.
Why link shorteners?
Because many URL links are long-winded.
Put another way, quality content consists of well-thought-out, well-designed, and well-written information that
solves a reader’s problem, answers their questions, and looks clean and organized.
Longer, wordier blog post and article URLs are necessary for SEO purposes. But those lengthy URLs can also generate a host of problems when shared in emails, on websites, or through social media. Short links are also viewed as more trustworthy and less “spammy.”
Enter link shortener tools, which can help you clean up those lengthy, alphanumeric web addresses. More advanced link management platforms also provide link tracking, QR code generators, and branded links.
Let’s take a closer look at four of the higher-rated URL shorteners.
1. Bitly: Ranked 4.7 out of 5 stars
Bitly tends to be the first tool marketing experts think of in their search for an ideal URL shortener. Around since 2008, Bitly is super-easy to use and provides marketers with many features.
Pros: Bitly quickly allows you to create custom and encrypted short links, redirect links, and review data and analytics based on clicks and organic shares. It also integrates well with other tools and apps, such as social media and digital marketing dashboards, including HubSpot and Marketo. Additionally, the link platform successfully partners with Google Analytics and Marketo Engage, which is part of Adobe.
Cons: Bitly’s free plan is somewhat anemic. It allows you five short links, two QR codes, and access to only two custom landing pages a month. Some users find even the higher-price tiers limiting, requiring other tools to generate more insights.
Best for: Small to medium-sized businesses and smaller marketing teams that require powerful analytics along with link shortening abilities. If you need something more robust, like link management, data and analytics, or more, a paid plan is necessary.
Pricing plans:
- Core: $10 a month for 100 links
- Growth: $29 a month for 500 links
- Premium: $199 a month for 3,000 links
- Custom/Enterprise: Bitly offers a customized plan complete with advanced analytics, integrations, and security. Contact the company for a quote.
2. TinyURL: Ranked 4.5 out of 5 stars
Similar to Bitly, TinyURL has been around for a couple of decades. However, this link shortener platform isn’t a Bitly alternative. Rather, TinyURL is well-regarded for its simplicity, quickness, ease of use, and short learning curve.
Pros: Here’s how easy TinyURL is to use: Visit the website, enter your long link into the indicated box, and click the “Shorten URL” button. That’s it. You can also create custom links without an account (though creating an account helps you keep track of your full link history). If you need more, like browser extensions or a preview of custom links, TinyURL’s paid plans offer those features.
Cons: TinyURL offers limited tools, even with its payment plans. Collaboration features are limited, the platform doesn’t provide a basic user interface, and it offers limited analytics and tracking. Furthermore, TinyURL doesn’t link directly with other marketing platforms and requires a manual process to do so.
Best for: This no-frills tool is perfect for individual users or small businesses that require link-shortening simplicity.
Pricing:
- Free: 30 branded links, with a link shortener limit of 100 (must open an account to take advantage)
- Pro: $9.99 a month for 500 links with unlimited trackable clicks and 10,000 branded links
- Bulk 100K: $99 a month for 100,000 links and up to 100,000 clicks
- Enterprise: If you need more custom solutions and customer support, TinyURL provides tailor-made plans that offer more features. Contact TinyURL support for more information.
3. Rebrandly: Ranked 4.48 stars out of 5
The aptly named Rebrandly has a great reputation for its branded links and other powerful features, giving you a high level of control over your company’s image, SEO, and marketing efforts.
Pros: Rebrandly offers integration with Urchin Tracking Module (UTM), allowing you to track your digital campaign’s effectiveness. This URL shortener platform provides custom domains to assist with link branding, while comprehensive link analytics generate valuable information about click-throughs, audience engagement, conversions, and more. An added plus is that Rebrandly works well with several marketing platforms and partners nicely with Google Analytics, Zapier, and various social media platforms.
Cons: Many of Rebrandly’s more robust features are restricted to higher-priced plans. Some users have also complained about a l
ack of reporting features, while others cite a poor user interface and customer service issues.
Best for: Teams requiring custom, branded links and marketing platform integration to increase their visibility and image.
Pricing:
- Free: 10 links, 10 QR codes, and one custom domain per month
- Essentials: $13 for 250 links, 250 QR codes, and two custom domains per month
- Professional: $32 for 1,500 links, 1,500 QR codes, and three custom domains per month
- Growth: $99 for 3,500 links, 3,500 QR codes, and 10 custom domains per month
- Enterprise: If you require dedicated support, additional links, unlimited domains, and other advanced options, Rebrandly can customize a program tailored to your needs.
4. Short.io: Ranked 4.2 stars out of 5
Short.io is a multipurpose URL shortener noted for simplifying links while boosting brand recognition. The software is also applauded for its dynamic tracking abilities and superior domain customization.
Pros: Short.io offers multiple features, including custom short links, API accessibility (a must for developers), in-depth analytics, and collaboration tools. The platform provides you with plenty of data, including location, audience engagement, devices used, and clicks and shares. Another benefit is that Short.io plays nicely with other software, like Google Analytics, Zapier, and Slack.
Cons: Short.io requires a complicated setup and a difficult learning curve, especially for those who haven’t used link shortener platforms before. Despite its robust features, poor ease-of-use dragged down Short.io’s ranking. Some users also complain about slow loading times when filtering link searches and a lack of customizable features compared with other platforms.
Best for: Developers and marketing teams looking for advanced targeting analytics and in-depth data.
Pricing:
- Free: 1,000 branded links and five custom domains per month
- Hobby: $5 for 2,500 branded links and seven custom domains per month
- Pro: $18 for unlimited branded links and 10 custom domains per month
- Team: $48 for unlimited branded links and 50 custom domains per month
- Enterprise: $148 for unlimited branded links and custom domains per month
All paid tiers offer free trials.
Selecting the Best Link Shortener
Finding the right link shorteners depends on your content team’s needs. TinyURL is a straightforward tool, while its cousins Bitly, Rebrandly, and Short.io provide robust features to aid with marketing and branding. When researching link management tools, consider ease of setup, required data needs, QR code requirements, and needed integrations with other platforms.
In addition to link shorteners, high-quality content and data-driven SEO strategies help drive audience engagement and search engine page rankings. ClearVoice’s group of experienced, proven content producers, editors, and strategists can help enhance your brand, increase domain authority, and generate quality leads for conversions. Get in touch to learn more about how ClearVoice can be a viable partner in your marketing strategies.
