Google URL Shortener Alternatives

Google Link Shortener (Goo.gl) was one of the internet’s most popular URL shortener tools, with many features. However, back in 2018, it was shut down after 9 years and millions of short links. In this blog post, we’ll explore five alternatives to Google Link Shortener that you can use to shorten your links.

T.LY URL Shortener

T.LY URL Shortener is a relatively new link shortener that has been around since 2018. T.LY offers some of the shortest URLs compared to other options because the domain is only 3 characters. T.LY allows users to shorten links, a free browser extension, and track stats for free. Paid plans allow users to unlock additional analytics, custom domains, OneLinks, QR code generators, and many other advanced features. T.LY is the most affordable option compared to other solutions.

Bitly

Bitly is one of the most popular link shorteners on the market and has been around since 2008. It gained popularity when Twitter implemented it as the default URL shortener when Twitter was primarily used over SMS, and there were limits on the number of characters a tweet could be. A longer URL would significantly limit the length of the tweet. It offers a free plan with essential features and paid plans with more advanced features, but it is much more expensive than some of the alternatives. Bitly also has a great feature that lets you see how many people have clicked on your shortened links.

Rebrandly

Rebrandly is another popular link shortener. It offers a free plan and paid plans with more advanced features. Rebrandly also allows you to customize your links so that they include your brand name instead of the Rebrandly domain name. This is a great way to increase brand awareness and build trust with your audience.

TinyURL

TinyURL is one of the oldest link shorteners out there. Created back in 2002, it now has billions of short links. Unfortunately, the domain is longer than other solutions, and most of the short URL combinations are already used. If you create a URL today, it will be over 20 characters long. It’s simple to use and offers a basic set of features.

Polr

Polr is an open-source link shortener that you can host on your own server. This means you’ll have complete control over your data and brand identity. Polr also offers click-tracking and rudimentary analytics to track your shortened links’ performance. The downside to hosting your own URL shortener is you are required to scale and manage your own servers. If the service goes down, you are responsible for managing it.

Cutt.ly

Cuttly is an all-in-one link management platform that provides various features to handle, analyze, and maximize the potential of your links. Its capabilities extend beyond basic URL shortening to include advanced link analytics, customizable QR codes, and the creation of link-in-bio microsites. Cuttly also enables branded short links with your own custom domain, making it a comprehensive tool for individuals and businesses looking to improve their online presence and marketing efforts.

Short.io

Short.io is a white-label URL shortener allowing users to create and share branded short URLs using their domain. It provides advanced features such as detailed statistics on link performance, an API for developers, the ability to use multiple custom domains within one account, and team collaboration with role assignments. It also offers functionalities like A/B testing, application building using Short.io’s API, and UTM tags for tracking traffic sources. Short.io is designed to simplify business workflows by automating manual processes through integrations, aiding in engaging new audiences and increasing brand recognition.

BL.INK

BL.INK is an enterprise URL shortener facilitating collaboration, compliance, and creativity through its link management platform. It provides branded short links, QR codes, analytics, and team collaboration features and integrates with SMS, social media platforms, and more. BL.INK aims to create a reliable link of record to manage, monitor, and analyze every touch across a global audience, ensuring accuracy and providing valuable insights on link performance. It amplifies social value by delivering control, flexibility, and data protection. BL.INK also caters to large-scale campaigns through Blaze’s feature, designed for creating millions of branded short links daily with geographic redundancy, high resilience, scalability, and a pay-per-use billing model.

There are many great link shorteners, each with its features and pricing plans. In this blog post, we explored eight alternatives to Google Link Shortener that you can use to shorten your links. T.LY, Bitly, Rebrandly, TinyURL, and Polr are all great options that offer different features at different price points. So, take some time to explore each one and find the best fit for your needs!