Best URL Shorteners 2022

Admittedly, it's not always the best characteristic to be short. If you’ve ever tried to play basketball in a sea of tall people while being short, you’ll know exactly what I mean.

However, if you’re a URL, you want to be shorter, because shorter means better - all the time.

This explains why aURL shortener tool is so useful. They help shorten lengthy website addresses into a few short characters with just one click.

And quite unlike trying to reach a basketball hoop when you’re short, URL shorteners can be accessed by anyone with an Internet connection. This essentially covers just about everyone.

Let’s take a dive into the most important things to know about URL shorteners, and how you can use them.

What Are URL Shorteners?

URLs are links that redirect you to another website. URL shorteners are sites that allow you to create unique URLs that are short and sweet. They simplify lengthy, loaded URLs to look more elegant.

These new URLs usually include the site’s address, combined with a few letters that are random. These random letters are needed to create a unique URL. As long as the URL is shorter than what it is originally and more memorable, it's good to go.

That’s not all - you can further customize the shortened URL with some of your own words. Amazing!

Why Is Using URL Shorteners Better?

URL shorteners are useful for a whole host of reasons. Here are a few of them:

Long, Bloated Links Can Look Suspicious

If you’re trying to create a link to a page that already has a long URL name, or you make use of UTM parameters for performance-tracking purposes, you might be left with a URL that is rather lengthy.

The problem with URLs that are oversized is that it looks a little out of place, regardless of where you are want to use them - in social media posts, text messages, or emails.

Moreover, long URLs just look suspicious - not a good look for a marketing campaign. Somehow, we instinctively link long URLs with suspect websites. Perhaps it’s because actual suspect websites don’t spend time to shorten their URLs - further incentive to switch things up!

A shorter URL just looks neater, tidier, and, well, friendlier. And that’s always preferable to messy and ominous, don’t you agree?

Customized URL Shorteners Allows You Brand Your Links

If you want to create brand awareness, a customized URL can be extremely helpful. This is because URL shorteners often give you the ability to create custom links, making it easier to further incorporate your brand into the URL itself. TakeHootsuite’s URL shortener, for example. It allows you to create your own customized link in just a few short steps.

This is especially useful if you’re using a free web hosting service, or if you've got an ISP that isn’t all that attractive. URL shorteners are a great way for you to put your brand at the forefront whenever you’re sharing URLs.

A Link Shortener Allows You To Track Your Performance

When it comes to running a business, few things are as important as the ability to track performance. The great thing about link-shortening websites is that many of them allow you to track indicators and review statistics about the people that visit your link, as well as when, and where. This information allows you to see how well your marketing campaign is actually doing.

For easy tracking of source traffic, consider creating different URLs with different UTM parameters and combining that with other analytical tools, like Google Analytics, for example. Remember, the more informed you are about the performance of your links, the better.

A Short URL Allows You To Make The Most of Character Limits On Social Media

As we all know, Twitter has always had a strict limit on characters - 280, to be precise. Therefore, it’s vital to be able to keep Twitter posts as concise as possible - you don’t want your character limits to be used up by lengthy URLs. Shortened URLs allow you greater freedom to write about the things that you want.

Even on other social media platforms like Instagram or Facebook, where there are no character limits, it is still ideal to keep posts as short and simple as possible. People aren’t usually interested in reading lengthy essays on social media. A short URL helps to keep things readable for everyone.

A Shorter URL Is Easier To Remember

Shorter links also serve another benefit that is easy to overlook - they’re just easier for people to remember.

For example, let’s say an online publication wants to collect Google Form submissions. In that case, directing users to an extravagantly long URL isn't likely to be appealing - or memorable. A customized shortlink, however, is more memorable.

To figure out whether your URL is too long or not, just imagine printing them on a business card or a 1-page ad. If they fit nicely in those settings, then they’re probably a good length. If your URL takes up too much space, then it is likely to be too long and forgettable.

How Does A URL Shortener Work?

URL shorteners are shortened URLs that can redirect users to longer, complete URL.

How URLs work is that when entered, they send an HTTP request, which allows web servers to redirect towards a specific webpage. Regardless of whether your URLs the full version or the shortened one, they are simply starting at different points, but ultimately get you to the same address.

13 URL Shorteners

For some reason, Google closed down its URL shortener service in 2019. However, there are lots of other alternatives out there that do the job just as well. Let’s look at 10 of them that work excellently.

One bit of advice: look up URL shorteners that have built-in analytics or that gives you the option to create customized links Also, URL shorteners that have been around and have gained a good reputation are also likely to be far more dependable and less likely to be closed.

1. Ow.ly

Ow.ly is a URL shortener that is integrated right here into Hootsuite. Even better, Ow.ly is available across all the different plans, including the free one Ow.ly outshines its competition by giving users the ability to look at your URL performance indicators together with your social analytics. This allows you to view your performance across different indicators.

2. T.co

Twitter is arguably the top social media site where URLs are used (since you can’t write long posts on that platform). Twitter also has a URL shortener that is in-built, T.co, which reduces your URLs to just 23 characters automatically, saving you space to write on other subjects.

Regardless of the link, if you share it on Twitter, it will be magically changed into a T.co URL. This allows Twitter to keep track of performance indicators and reduces the chance that spam websites will be linked.

3. Bitly

Bit.ly is great if you love to compare your performance data. It allows you to look at your link’s performance across different metrics on a dashboard, including data on demographics and sources of referrals.

If you opt for the free version, it allows you to view your analytics and offers customization for just one individual. If you can upgrade to its Basic or its Enterprise plans, you get additional benefits, such as QR codes, branded links, and richer data. You can also register multiple users.

4. TinyURL

This site is designed in a relatively simple manner, but it gets the job done. (Not to mention it has an adorable name). You can customize your URLs without even having to log in, which makes it a really good option if you’re rushing to share your favorite latest podcast.

It has an additional feature that is kind of neat: you can add the TinyURL icon to your toolbar, which makes it really easy to find when you’re working on your computer.

5. Rebrandly

Rebrandly allows you to create your own branded shortlink with a custom domain, even if you just use the free version.

Let’s look at an example of why short URLs are better than long ones. SarahHendersonsFlowerKingdom.com might be an interesting URL, but when sharing it on social media, it is a mouthful. Instead, a shortened, branded URL, like sh.flower allows you to keep your brand name in the URL, without the URL taking up too much space.

Also, Rebrandly also features tools such as performance optimization and traffic-tracking in their packages, beginning from $29 per month.

6. Hyperlink

Hyperlink allows you to be notified in real-time when someone clicks on your links. This means that you’ll be able to monitor in great detail how much traffic your links generate. You can decide whether you want to receive summaries every hour, every day, or every week.

This platform also provides you details per-click, allowing you to get useful information such as the location, the device, and referral information of every visitor to your link.

Hyperlink has a Chrome extension version that you can install on your computer. Alternatively, they also have apps for Android or iOS which complement the Chrome version perfectly.

You can customize domains with the paid versions, which begins from $39/month.

7. Tiny.cc

The great thing about Tiny.CC is their simple, clean interface which is really user-friendly. You can also customize your URLs after registering for an account, and you can also easily track the stats for the URL.

8. Bit.do

Bit.Do has all that you need from a link shortener website. You can customize your links, track traffic statistics, and even create QR codes.

You can also create short and branded domains on Bit.Do, but it is priced a little highly at $85/month. If you’re on a tight budget, you might want to go for an alternative service that offers the same services for less.

9. ClickMeter

ClickMeter has an excellently designed dashboard that makes trafficking your performance easy. ClickMeter’s dashboard allows you to track your conversion rate as well as your clicks and views.

Affordably priced beginning at $29/month, it has quickly become very popular with companies looking for a URL shortener service that offers robust services at a low rate.

10. Shorte.st

When it comes to gaining insight into your online performance, data is incredibly valuable. In fact, data is so valuable that a stranger would even pay to have yours! With Shorte.ST, other companies are willing to pay you to shorten your URLs with them.

URL shortener sites that pay clients to shorten links with them aren’t new, but Shorte.ST is among the ones that pay a premium price, with rates that vary according to your audience’s location. (For US traffic, Shorte.ST pays $14.04 CPM, for example)

Getting paid to do something you want to get done anyways is always a good day. In addition, Shorte.ST offers you a dashboard for you to review your performance.

11. Cut.ly

When it comes to gaining insight into your online performance, data is incredibly valuable. In fact, data is so valuable that a stranger would even pay to have yours! With Shorte.ST, other companies are willing to pay you to shorten your URLs with them.

URL shortener sites that pay clients to shorten links with them aren’t new, but Shorte.ST is among the ones that pay a premium price, with rates that vary according to your audience’s location. (For US traffic, Shorte.ST pays $14.04 CPM, for example)

Getting paid to do something you want to get done anyways is always a good day. In addition, Shorte.ST offers you a dashboard for you to review your performance.

12. Clkim

Clkim has a smart redirecting system that redirects users to the right version of your site based on certain indicators. In other words, the URL redirects a userbased on where the user is located or the operating system of their mobile device, ensuring that they get the best user experience.

Clkim also allows you to do A/B tests to test the landing site has the best conversion. In addition, Clkim gives you the option of retargeting services based on users who have visited your website through the shortlist.

The bottom line

Whatever your URL needs, there's a website out there just for you. Try a few of them out (or all of them), and decide the best one for yourself. Hootsuite allows you to generate greater traffic to your webpage and saves you time. A dashboard allows you to shorten links, manage your profiles on your social media, measure performance, and so much more. Try Hootsuite for free today!