Best URL Shorteners to Create Short Links in 2024
You can use the tools listed and explained in this article to create short URL links to ensure they are easy to remember, shareable, have better search engine visibility, and help you get the expected results from your link marketing campaigns.
Do you know browsers have URL limits? Google Chrome does not display a URL if it exceeds 2 MB, Mozilla Firefox sets this limit to 65,536 characters, Edge has a limit of 2083 characters, and Safari limits URLs to 80000 characters. The point we are trying to make here is that a URL should be concise enough for the browsers to display them correctly without errors. However, if you have a long and complex URL, the best URL shortener can do the trick for you to make your URL perfectly short and sweet for the browser.
However, is correct URL display the only benefit you derive from short URLs? Certainly not. Concise and professional URLs created using the top link shortener serve more than one purpose. For example, they make content sharing easier, help maintain brand consistency, and make integration with various marketing tools easy.
And, not to forget, shorter URLs perform better in SERPs (Search Engine Result Pages). In SEO (Search Engine Optimization) terms, a URL should be between 50 and 60 characters for better visibility.
So, as the importance of short URLs is clear, it is apt to discuss in detail tools to shorten URLs. When selecting software to create concise URLs, you should look for some common features. Let us look at those features in the following section before proceeding further.
Factors to Consider when Choosing a URL Shortener
Below is what you should look for to ensure you choose the right URL link shortener for your needs.
- It should offer insightful analytics related to various metrics, such as click-through rates (CTRs), traffic sources, audience engagement, etc.
- You should be able to personalize links with your relevant keywords or brand name
- The URL shortener should offer adequate security measures to monitor spam and detect malware
- It should let you preview the destination webpage before it gets loaded to save time and enhance user experience
- The tool should seamlessly integrate with social media platforms and APIs
- It should provide a stable infrastructure with adequate URL reliability and uptime
- The tool should be cost-effective, and its benefits should match the price you pay
- You should be able to manage URLs effortlessly with a link-shortener tool
After learning what makes a good tool to shorten URLs, the next question is where to find tools with all or most of the above qualities. Well, these tools are available right here, in the following section of this article.
List of the Best URL Link Shorteners
You can choose from the following tools to shorten URLs. They have almost all the qualities desired in any shortener for URLs.
1. Rebrandly
Let us introduce you to Rebrandly. It is among the best URL shorteners to create branded short URLs and QR codes. A user-friendly interface, an option to customize the links, broken link notification (a feature that identifies and notifies you of any invalid or broken links), and the following features justify Rebrandly’s position on our list.
Key features of Rebrandly
- There is a UTM builder you can use to track and analyze your online marketing campaigns
- It lets you reach and convert potential customers who have visited your website earlier but left without a purchase. In short, it allows link retargeting
- Rebrandly boasts channel attribution capabilities
Also know: Best Chrome Extension for YouTube
2. Bitly
You cannot go wrong with Bitly if you are searching for the best all-around link shortener. This software helps you establish stronger digital connections with URL shortening, QR codes, and landing pages to engage and communicate rightly with your audience. URL redirects, an option to create custom links with your brand, multiple links shortening in bulk to build rapid-fire connections, and offers the following delightful features.
Key features of Bitly
- It helps you identify what works with your audience by revealing click statistics, real-time data from clicks, campaign performance comparison across offline and online channels, and demographic insights with location and device data
- Bitly allows you to add UTM parameters to your links for better marketing campaign tracking and improved customer targeting
- It lets you connect to other tools via integrations to ensure optimized workflow
3. Flashylink
Flashylink is another fast and secure free URL shortener you can try to shorten a long link effortlessly. Moreover, it allows you to create easily shareable and trackable QR codes.
Furthermore, this easy-to-use tool lets you track the number of clicks your shortened URL got and offers the following notable features.
Key features of Flashylink
- It detects all spammy links and links that are viruses and malware
- Flashylink boasts compatibility with all devices (smartphones, tablets, and desktops)
- It supports data encryption and HTTPS protocol
4. Dub
Next, we have Dub on our list of the best tools to shorten URLs. It is an open-source link management infrastructure for marketing teams. With this tool, you can create branded links, generate QR codes, use device targeting, geo-targeting, link cloaking, expiration dates, and password protection to personalize your short links and make the most of the following features.
Key features of Dub
- It offers useful insights, such as the number of click events over time, aggregated data for different facets (top views), and real-time events stream view
- Dub is an AI-powered URL that allows you to ask AI to query your analytics with natural language
- This tool boasts Zapier integration to automatically retrieve, create, delete, and update links according to your actions in any other applications
- It makes team collaboration easier by allowing you to invite your teammates to collaborate on your links
5. TinyURL
There is no way we can skip TinyURL when preparing a list of the best URL link shorteners. It boasts full-scale link management with an ability to create customized branded links and the following remarkable features.
Key features of TinyURL
- You can track link performance in real-time with detailed insights on how much traffic comes from specific device types and regions, frequency of clicks, referrer, and more
- It lets you shorten URLs in bulk
- You can purchase your custom domains on TinyURL
Also know: How to Fix The Requested URL Was Rejected Error (FIXED)
6. Sniply
Adding a call to action to links helps drive more conversions. If you agree, you can choose Sniply. This one of the best short link generators lets you overlay your own custom message, including a call-to-action button with every link. Moreover, below are a few other features that make Sniply a likable tool.
Key features of Sniply
- It boasts powerful link management to help you optimize your link marketing campaigns
- Sniply tracks crucial metrics, such as link clicks, time spent on a page, and interactions with your call-to-action, so you can take measures to keep your audience engaged
- It offers seamless integration with the marketing and analytics tools you use and boasts a comprehensive Sniply API to let you build a custom workflow
7. BL.INK
Here is another link shortener to shorten URLs in the blink of an eye. In addition to shortening links, BL.INK boasts impeccable analytics and integrations for successful link marketing campaigns. Let us look at a few of its key features.
Key features of BL.INK
- It offers 307 redirects with comprehensive link management
- BL.INK shows real-time information about click count totals, export click counts, QR code scans, private analytics, city-level location, and downloadable click details
- It boasts seamless integration with the latest technologies, either natively or through an open API
- BL.INK offers domain management with an option to purchase domains, use third-party domains, SSL certificates, custom 404 redirects, custom home page redirects, ccTLD support, and nTLD support
Concluding Thoughts
Long and complex URLs are no good. They are tough to remember, difficult to share, not very visible on search engines, and do not drive the results you expect from your link marketing campaigns. Hence, you may use the best URL shorteners listed and explained above to shorten URL links. However, if you have any questions or confusion about this article, you can leave us a reply in the comments section.
