Free URL shortener
Shorten long URLs for free.
Paste any long link and get a clean, short URL in seconds — free, no signup needed. Every link comes with a QR code and real-time click analytics, so you can share confidently and see exactly what works.
Shorten as many links as you like without an account. Sign up free to keep them in a dashboard, edit destinations, and track clicks over time.
- Unlimited short links on the free plan
- QR code generated for every link
- Real-time click and traffic analytics
- Custom aliases for readable links
- No credit card and no trial countdown
- Links stay live as long as you keep them active
Fast and simple
Drop in a long URL and get a short link instantly — no setup, no clutter, no forced tutorial. Add a custom alias when you want a readable, on-brand slug instead of a random code.
Analytics included
Track total clicks, locations, devices, browsers, and referrers for every link. Most free shorteners charge for this or hide it behind a trial — here it is part of the free plan.
QR codes free
Each short link comes with a scannable QR code you can use on print, packaging, and slides — no extra tools, no separate subscription, no watermark.
How to shorten a URL for free
No account, no email, no credit card. From paste to shareable link takes about ten seconds.
Paste your long URL
Drop any link into the box above — a product page, campaign landing page, document, form, or article. It works with any valid http or https URL.
Add a custom alias (optional)
Leave it blank for a random short code, or type your own slug so the link reads clearly in a post, email, or printed piece.
Copy, share, and track
Copy the short link or grab its QR code and share it anywhere. Clicks start recording immediately, and a free account keeps the full history.
What 'free' actually includes
Most shorteners advertise a free tier and then meter the part you actually need. Here is what the free plan covers versus the typical free tier elsewhere.
| Typical free tier | Shortly free plan | |
|---|---|---|
| Shorten without an account | Sometimes | Yes |
| Click analytics | Usually paid | Yes |
| QR code for every link | Usually paid | Yes |
| Custom alias | Limited | Yes |
| Monthly link cap | Often 10–50 | Unlimited |
| Links disabled after trial | Common | No |
| Credit card to start | Sometimes | No |
| Custom domain | Paid | Paid |
Where a free short link earns its keep
Social posts
Fit a clean link into a character-limited post and find out which platform actually sent the traffic.
Email campaigns
Replace long tracking URLs that break across lines or trip spam filters with a tidy, trustworthy link.
SMS and chat
Keep messages short and readable, and avoid the truncation that makes long URLs unclickable.
Product listings
Point buyers at manuals, reorder pages, or support docs from marketplaces that limit link formats.
Slides and handouts
Give an audience a link short enough to type from a screen, with a QR code for anyone with a phone out.
Team sharing
Turn unwieldy internal document URLs into links colleagues can paste into a ticket or read aloud on a call.
Why shorten a URL at all?
The obvious reason is length. Campaign URLs carrying UTM parameters, session identifiers, and tracking tokens routinely run past two hundred characters. They wrap badly in email, get truncated in SMS, and look untrustworthy in a social post.
The less obvious reason is measurement. A raw link tells you nothing once it leaves your hands. A short link sits in the middle of the journey and records every click, so you can compare channels, posts, and placements against each other instead of guessing.
The third reason is control. A short link can be paused, repointed, or expired after it is published. If a destination moves or a campaign ends, you fix the link once rather than chasing every place you shared it.
Are free short links safe to use?
Short links hide the destination, which is exactly why they are sometimes abused. Shortly runs security checks on destinations at creation time and blocks links flagged as malicious, so the service is not a convenient front for phishing.
For your own links, the practical safety advice is straightforward: use a custom alias that hints at the destination, so recipients have some idea where they are going before they click. Readable links get clicked more often than random codes for the same reason.
If a link needs to reach only a specific audience, add a password or an expiry date instead of relying on the URL being hard to guess.
Free URL shortener FAQ
Is this URL shortener really free?
Yes. You can shorten links, generate QR codes, track clicks, and password-protect links for free with no credit card. Paid plans add extras like custom domains.
Do I need an account to shorten a link?
No. You can create a link right from this page. A free account adds a dashboard so you can manage links, edit destinations, and view analytics over time.
Do free short links expire?
No. Your short links keep working as long as you keep them active. You decide whether to pause or delete a link — we do not switch off working links to upsell you.
Is there a limit on how many links I can create?
The free plan does not cap the number of short links you create. Fair-use protections apply to block automated abuse.
Can I customize the short link?
Yes. Set a custom alias so the link reads the way you want. On paid plans you can also use your own domain for fully branded links.
Can I see who clicked my link?
You see aggregate analytics — click counts, approximate location, device type, browser, and referrer. You do not see personally identifying details about individual visitors.
Can I change where a short link points after sharing it?
Yes, from your dashboard. The short URL stays the same while the destination updates, which is useful when a page moves or a campaign changes mid-flight.
What happens if I delete a link?
The short URL stops resolving and anyone who clicks it is sent to an explanatory page instead. Deletion is permanent, so pause a link first if you are unsure.
Start free
Create your first short link in seconds.
No credit card, no catch. Shorten a URL above, grab the QR code, and sign up free when you want to keep the history and track clicks over time.