Shortly
Shortly: A capable free shortener for marketers who need targeting, analytics, and link organization. Ranked #96 of 154 in URL Shorteners by our editors (3.0/10); pricing: Free plan; best for free marketers needing targeting and link organization.
At a glance
- Editor score3.0 / 10
- PricingFree plan
- Best forFree marketers needing targeting and link organization
- Free planYes
- Paid fromFree
- Custom domainsYes
- Facts checked20 Sep 2026
Where it wins
- Free Starter plan includes custom domains and QR codes
- Real-time analytics cover country, device, browser, and referrer
- Folders, tags, UTM presets, A/B variants, and bio pages organize campaigns
Where it doesn't
- Premium is coming soon without a published price
- Web-only access limits platform flexibility
- No verified API or integrations are presented
Our verdict on Shortly
Shortly is a web-based URL-shortening platform for marketers, teams, product groups, and growth teams. It creates short links with custom aliases, custom domains, QR codes, password protection, expiration controls, and real-time click analytics. Its audience is especially well served when link presentation, campaign targeting, and organized link management matter more than a broad developer ecosystem.
The free Starter plan is the currently priced offering and includes a public shortener page, an admin dashboard, basic analytics, MongoDB-backed redirects, and QR codes on every link. The feature set extends beyond basic redirection: Shortly supports custom domains, traffic breakdowns by country, device, browser, and referrer, plus folders, tags, and UTM presets. Premium is listed as coming soon and adds advanced analytics, higher usage limits, custom domains, team collaboration, and priority support. That makes the free tier the clearest entry point, while the paid path is not yet defined by a published price.
Shortly’s strongest distinction is the breadth of campaign controls in a free URL shortener. Password protection, link expiry, weighted A/B destination variants, link-in-bio pages, and safe-link checks give marketers more ways to manage and direct traffic. The trade-off is a narrower platform fit: Shortly is web-only, with no verified API or integrations presented. Choose it for free branded links, QR codes, analytics, and organized campaign workflows. Consider an alternative if API access, connected marketing tools, or a wider platform ecosystem is central to your requirements.
Your product? Our editors can test Shortly in depth and publish a review, labelled as paid · from $149/mo →
Shortly pricing
All 2 Shortly plans and prices →
Shortly fact sheet
| Free plan | Yes |
|---|---|
| Paid from | Free |
| Custom domains | Yes |
| Analytics retention | Not verified |
| API access | Not verified |
| Team seats | Not verified |
| Bulk link creation | Not verified |
| Geo targeting | Not verified |
| Deployment | Cloud |
| Platforms | Web |
| Built for | Small business, Mid-market (editorial estimate) |
| Pricing | Free plan (source) |
| Website | tryshortly.com |
| Facts checked | 20 Sep 2026 |
Alternatives to Shortly
- BitlyAn all-round link shortener with routing, analytics, bulk tools, and API access.9.3
- T.LYA broad link-management toolkit with web, mobile, browser, and API access.9.1
- Tiny.ccA capable URL shortener for teams needing branded links, analytics, routing, and API access.9.0
See all Shortly alternatives →
Also Ranked In
Shortly is ranked in 2 of our directories.
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Featured on iTechGuides
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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
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