How do I shorten a URL for free?

How do I shorten a URL for free?

I remember back in 2018  when Google first announced they were shutting down their URL Shortener service. So many people have relied on the service for an easy/free way to create short links. That is where the idea for T.LY came from. T.LY is the best link management service to track, brand, and share short URLs. It offers the ability to create the shortest URLs compared to alternatives. Many of the features are provided for free and require no account.

T.LY Website

The easiest way to generate a short link for free is to visit T.LY and paste in your long link. Next, click Shorten. This will create a short URL that will automatically copy to your clipboard.

T.LY Homepage

T.LY Analytics

In my opinion, tracking clicks is one of the top reasons to use a URL shortener when you share a link online. This will help you understand where your visitors are coming from and what links are most popular.  To view the stats of a short URL, add a + sign to the end. By understanding your URL shortener analytics, you can make sure your marketing campaigns are as effective as possible.

T.LY analytics

T.LY QR Code Builder

You also can generate a QR code for the short link using T.LY’s QR code generator. You can customize the code and add an image to the QR code. You can choose between a JPEG, PNG, SVG, or WEBP file type when exporting your new QR code.

QR Code Generator

T.LY URL Shortener Extension

In just a few clicks, you can have the T.LY extension added to your browser’s toolbar so that all of those long URLs are easily replaced with short ones! The extension icon will automatically create, shorten and copy any URL you currently visit in your browser. You can also right-click on any link and make a short URL. Along with short links, a QR code is also generated, which might come in handy if you need to share the link on printed materials.

Link Shortener Extension


Author Tim Leland

Tim Leland

Tim Leland brings over 20 years of software development experience to the table, creating products used by millions around the globe. In 2019, he founded T.LY with a vision to build the world’s shortest URL shortener—and since then, the platform’s popularity has soared. Under Tim’s leadership, T.LY has evolved into a top-tier solution recognized for its reliability and ease of use, now serving millions of satisfied users worldwide.

Ready to improve how you manage links?

T.LY URL Shortener makes long links look cleaner and easier to share! Add your own Custom Domains to personalize your brand. Create Smart Links to customize a URL's destination. Generate QR codes to promote your business.

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About T.LY
T.LY is the best link management service to track, brand, and share short URLs and QR codes. Install our free Browser Extension with over 450,000 users from the extension store to automatically shorten links in one easy click! We support Chrome, Firefox, Edge and Opera.