Tim Leland
Replacing Bitly with T.LY
Bitly offers a great free option but comes with many limitations. When looking for a new URL shortener, consider T.LY as the best free Bitly alternative.
What you can't do with Bitly's free plan
- Change a short link's destination after creating it
- Use your own custom domain for branded short links
Bitly does support custom keywords (back-halves) on its free plan. As of October 26, 2026, that plan includes 5 new short links and 3 custom back-halves per month. Destination edits start on Core, and branded links with your own domain start on Growth. Check Bitly's pricing page for current limits.
What makes a great URL shortener?
URL shorteners make sharing long links more reasonable. Let's assume you need to share a website on a business card, in a ad, or in another circumstance where a long URL isn't ideal. A short URL occupies less room, is more manageable, and keeps your content clean.
Another utilization case for short URLs is to make a variety of social links so you can easily follow source traffic. For instance, you may make one short URL to use on Twitter, an alternate one for Facebook, and a third to be utilized in an email campaign.
T.LY fits these requirements and more! You can easily add your own custom domain and create your own branded short links. A simple interface allows you to create and manage all your short links. With the Link Shortener Extension, you can shorten any link in 1 easy click. On your phone or tablet, use the T.LY mobile app for iPhone and iPad or Android to check links and activity.
