v.gd review
A practical free shortener for permanent links, custom aliases, and lightweight API workflows.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
v.gd is a free URL shortener for general web users and developers who need compact links without a paid plan. It works through the web and an API, supporting standard URL shortening, custom aliases, lowercase formats, and lowercase-pronounceable links. Its permanent links suit published content and long-lived references, while the service’s usage limits and restrictions apply to how it is used.
The feature set covers several practical sharing and integration needs. Users can optionally enable click statistics with referrer, browser, country, and time-based reporting. Preview pages let visitors see an intermediate page before following a shortened link, and QR code generation extends the same links to printed or mobile-facing materials. For applications, the URL creation API returns plain text, XML, or JSON, while the lookup API retrieves destination URLs. This makes v.gd more capable than a basic browser-only shortener while keeping its focus narrow.
The main trade-off is permanence: creators cannot edit or delete shortened links after creation. That is useful when stable references matter, but it reduces control if a destination changes or a link needs to be withdrawn. v.gd also does not support custom domains, and its free-only model is better suited to straightforward individual or developer workflows than to teams seeking tiered administration. Users who need simple permanent links, custom aliases, optional statistics, QR codes, or API access should consider v.gd. Those needing editable links, branded domains, or broader targeting and bulk workflows should choose another shortener.
v.gd pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Custom aliases, lowercase formats, and pronounceable links
- Optional click statistics with referrer, browser, country, and time reports
- Web, QR code, preview-page, and plain text/XML/JSON API support
- Where it doesn't
- No custom domain support
- Permanent links cannot be edited or deleted by creators
- Limited targeting and bulk-link workflows
v.gd fact sheet, pricing and score →
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