The best free link shortener in 2026, and what the free plans leave out
Bitly, TinyURL and Google's goo.gl, compared on what you actually get for free: how many links, whether you can change them later, and whether there is an ad in the way.
Utilica4 min read
Most link shorteners are free to try and limited in ways you only notice later. Before you pick one, decide what you need, because the best free shortener depends on whether you will ever want to change the link after sharing it.
The three questions that matter
- Can I change where the link goes later? If the link is printed, in a bio or in old posts, this is the big one. On many free plans, the answer is no.
- Is there an ad or a waiting page between the click and my site? Some free shorteners pay for themselves this way.
- Will it keep working? A shortener that shuts down, or switches off free links, breaks every place you shared them.
Is Bitly free?
Bitly has a free plan, but it is small. On its pricing page in October 2026, the free plan includes:
- 5 short links a month
- 2 QR codes a month
- 3 custom endings a month (the part after the slash)
- No link redirects, which means you cannot change where a link goes after you make it
Paid plans start with Core at $10 a month, billed yearly. Bitly is reliable and well known, so it is a fine choice for a handful of links you never need to edit. The free plan is not built for much more.
Is TinyURL free and safe?
Yes. TinyURL has been around since 2002 and still lets you shorten a link for free, without an account. Its paid plans add things like branded domains, analytics and the ability to edit links. Its limits change from time to time, so check its pricing page for what the free plan includes today.
TinyURL is safe in the sense that it is a long-running, legitimate service. Like any shortener, though, it cannot tell you whether the page someone else shortened is safe. More on that below.
Is Bitly or TinyURL better?
| Bitly (free) | TinyURL (free) | |
|---|---|---|
| Account needed | Yes | No, for a basic link |
| Links | 5 a month | Check current limits |
| Change the destination later | No | Paid plans |
| Click counts | Yes | Paid plans |
| QR codes | 2 a month | Yes |
| Best for | A few links you want counted | One quick link with no sign-up |
For one quick link, TinyURL is simpler. For a few links you want to count, Bitly's free plan is fine. For a link you will print or leave in your bio, you want something that lets you edit it, which usually means paying, or using a service that includes it for free.
Does Google still have a URL shortener?
No. Google stopped letting anyone make new goo.gl links in 2019. In 2025 it switched off old goo.gl links that had seen no recent activity, and kept the ones still in use working. If you have old goo.gl links, check them now. We wrote up what happened to goo.gl and what to use instead.
Is there a free alternative to Bitly?
Yes. Look for one that gives you, for free, the thing Bitly's free plan leaves out: changing the link after you share it.
Utilica's free plan includes three short links that:
- Go straight to your page, with no ad or waiting screen in between.
- Can be pointed somewhere new whenever you like, so a link in a printed flyer or an old post never goes stale.
- Never expire, and keep working if you stop paying for anything.
- Count clicks, privately.
Pro raises that to 25 links and Business makes them unlimited. The same links power Utilica's dynamic QR codes, so a code and a link can share one destination.
FeatureShort links with no ads in the way.Clean short links that go straight to your page. Three are always free, and they keep working.utilica.app/features/short-linksWhich URL shortener is safe?
Any well-known shortener is safe to use for your own links. The safety question is really about other people's short links, because a short link hides where it goes.
- Preview before you tap. On a phone, press and hold a link to see where it leads.
- Be wary of short links in unexpected messages, especially ones about your bank, a delivery or an account problem.
- Prefer shorteners that screen links. Utilica checks destinations against known phishing and malware lists before redirecting.
How do I shorten a URL for a link?
- Copy the long address from your browser's address bar.
- Paste it into the shortener and press Shorten.
- Copy the short link and share it.
If the link will be printed, said out loud or kept for months, also give it a readable ending, like /menu or /book, so people can type it, and make sure you can change its destination later.
The bottom line
- One-off link, no account: TinyURL.
- A few links with click counts: Bitly's free plan.
- Links you will print, put in your bio, or want to change later, free: a shortener that includes editing on its free plan, like Utilica.
