Bitly vs Shortlink
Bitly
bitly.comShortlink
github.comSide by side
| Figure | Bitly | Shortlink |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $10/mo | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| iOS | Yes | — |
| Android | Yes | — |
| API | Yes | Yes |
| Self-hosted | — | Yes |
| Plans published | 5 | 2 |
| Spec score · URL shorteners | 9.5 (#1) | 8.4 (#51) |
| Spec score · Custom Url Shortener Software | 9.5 (#1) | 8.0 (#18) |
| Analytics | Bitly provides link performance data, including location and device insights, in a unified dashboard. | Analytics include click totals, unique visitors, time charts, countries, referrers, device, browser, operating system, and a live activity feed. |
| API access | Yes | Yes |
| Branded links | Users can create vanity URLs with a custom domain and back-half. | It supports custom domains, random or custom slugs, expiration, pausing, tags, search, password protection, and UTM building. |
| Bulk link creation | Yes | Yes |
| Custom domains | Yes | Yes |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Geo targeting | Yes | Yes |
| Integrations | Bitly says it connects with more than 60 marketplace integrations, including Canva, Claude, and HubSpot. | The deployment uses Cloudflare Workers, KV, R2, and D1 or Postgres; Workers AI can optionally suggest slugs and social-card text. |
| Product | Bitly lets businesses create, share, and track short links and QR Codes. | Shortlink is an open-source, self-hosted URL shortener and link-management platform that runs on Cloudflare Workers. |
| QR Codes | Bitly creates customizable dynamic QR Codes that can be updated and downloaded as PNG, JPEG, or SVG files. | Its QR studio supports frames, shapes, colors, gradients, logos, saved presets, and PNG, SVG, or JPEG export. |
| Security | Bitly says all links are encrypted with HTTPS and recommends strong passwords and two-factor authentication. | The project describes a self-hosted human check using invisible proof-of-work and optional mini-game CAPTCHA, with no third-party service. |
Plans
Bitly
- FreeFree
- Core$10 a month
- GrowthPrice not published
- Premium$300 a month
- EnterprisePriced on request
In their own words
Bitly
Bitly turns long web addresses into short links that redirect to the original destination, and provides tools to create, share, and track links and QR Codes. Users can make branded links with custom domains and back-halves, change destinations, schedule expiration, and route visitors by country, region, device, or platform. Analytics include geography, referrers, device tracking, campaign performance, and UTMs in a dashboard. Dynamic QR Codes can be customized, updated, and downloaded as PNG, JPEG, or SVG files. Bitly is available on the web, through browser extensions, and in Android and iOS apps; it also offers API access. The service lists more than 60 marketplace integrations, including Canva, HubSpot, Shopify, and Claude. The Free plan allows 5 links and 2 QR Codes per month, plus 3 custom back-halves; free links have unlimited clicks and never expire. The plan needs no credit card. Core costs $10 a month on an annual plan and includes 100 links, 5 QR Codes, and 5 redirects per month. Paid subscriptions renew monthly or annually according to the payment plan.