ShortLink vs Bitly vs TinyURL — Best Free Alternative in 2026
Bitly is famous, TinyURL is old — but both have trade-offs for modern teams. This honest comparison shows where ShortLink wins on free limits, QR codes and analytics.
| Feature | ShortLink | Bitly (Free) | TinyURL (Free) |
|---|---|---|---|
| No signup required | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
| Unlimited free links | ✅ Yes | ❌ 10/month | ✅ Yes |
| Custom aliases (vanity URLs) | ✅ Free | ❌ Paid plan | ✅ Free |
| Free QR code generator | ✅ Yes, 300px PNG | ❌ Paid plan | ❌ No |
| Free API access | ✅ Yes | ❌ Very limited | ⚠️ Basic |
| Click analytics | ✅ By day/device/country | ✅ Basic | ⚠️ Minimal |
| Links never expire | ✅ Yes (or set expiry) | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Bot filtering | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
Comparison based on publicly listed features as of 2026. Trademarks belong to their respective owners.
When to choose each
Choose ShortLink if you want:
- Unlimited free links without signup — ideal for creators, small businesses and developers.
- Free custom aliases and QR codes in one place.
- Privacy-friendly analytics (hashed IPs, no fingerprinting) at
/stats/[code]. - Modern stack — 308 redirects, edge-ready, open API.
Try it: shorten a URL or generate a QR code now.
Choose Bitly if you want:
- Maximum brand recognition —
bit.lyis trusted everywhere. - Enterprise integrations (Salesforce, HubSpot) and team collaboration — but expect $8–$399/month tiers.
- Advanced features like A/B testing (Enterprise $199+) — overkill for most.
Choose TinyURL if you want:
- The simplest no-signup experience and the oldest domain (2002).
- Basic shortening with no QR or analytics needs.
Why ShortLink is the best free Bitly alternative
Bitly's free tier throttling (10 links/month) pushes you to paid quickly. TinyURL lacks QR and analytics that modern campaigns need. ShortLink gives you the TinyURL-style free-no-signup experience plus Bitly-style (and more) features: unlimited links, free vanity URLs, instant QR codes via QR generator and full analytics — all free. Plus features like 308 redirects, bot filtering and dashboard management when you need it.
FAQ
Is ShortLink really free?
Yes — unlimited links, aliases and QR codes. No tiers, no limits. Self-hostable via our open codebase.
Can I migrate from Bitly/TinyURL?
Shorten your long URLs again in ShortLink — we don't import external short codes, but you can recreate aliases instantly.
Do you support custom domains?
Custom aliases are free now; custom domains (e.g. go.yourbrand.com) are on the roadmap. See branded links guide.
Ready to switch?
Shorten a URL free →