Updated January 2026
Best Bitly Alternatives in 2026
Bitly used to be the go-to link shortener. Then they raised prices. A lot.
Their free plan now gives you just 10 links per month. Even their Core plan at $10/month only gives you 100 links. Want more? Growth is $29/mo.
I tested 10+ alternatives to find ones that actually work without breaking the bank. Here's what I found.
TL;DR - Quick Picks
- Best free option: TinyURL (no signup) or Short.io (1K links/mo)
- Best for developers: Dub.co (open source, great API)
- Best value: TrimLink ($5/mo for custom domains)
- Best for privacy: TrimLink (no visitor tracking)
- Best for enterprise: BL.INK (if budget isn't an issue)
Why People Are Leaving Bitly
Let's be real about why you're here:
- Price hikes: Free went from 1,000 links to 10. Core is $10/mo for just 100 links.
- Feature restrictions: Want analytics? Custom domains? QR codes? Pay up.
- Enterprise focus: Bitly clearly wants big companies now, not small teams or individuals.
The good news? There are solid alternatives that give you more for less.
Quick Comparison
| Tool | Pricing | Free Links | Custom Domain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bitly | Core $10/mo | 100/month | Paid only |
| 🔗 TinyURL | Free (Pro $16/mo) | Unlimited | Pro only |
| 🚀 Dub.co | Free (Pro $30/mo) | 25/month | 1 on free |
| ⚡ Short.io | Free (Pro $18/mo) | 1,000/month | 1 on free |
| 🏷️ Rebrandly | Free (Essential $14/mo) | 10 total | 1 on free |
| TrimLink.co | Free (Starter $5/mo) | 25/month | 1 on free |
| 🔵 BL.INK | From $48/mo | No free plan | Unlimited |
Detailed Reviews
1. 🔗 TinyURL
Best for: Quick one-off links
Pros
- Dead simple
- No signup needed
- Been around forever
Cons
- Only 250 links on Pro
- Analytics are basic
- No team features
2. 🚀 Dub.co
Best for: Developers & startups
Pros
- Beautiful UI
- Open source
- Developer-friendly API
Cons
- Gets expensive fast
- Free tier is limited
- Newer company
3. ⚡ Short.io
Best for: Marketing teams
Pros
- Unlimited branded links on Pro
- Good analytics
- Team features
Cons
- UI feels dated
- Can be slow
- Support is hit or miss
4. 🏷️ Rebrandly
Best for: Brand-focused companies
Pros
- Strong branding focus
- Nice dashboard
- Good integrations
Cons
- Only 250 links on Essential
- Pro jumps to $39/mo
- Gets pricey fast
5. TrimLink.co
Best for: Privacy-conscious marketers
Pros
- Cheapest paid plan
- Privacy-first (no visitor tracking)
- Free smart UTM builder
Cons
- Newer platform
- Smaller community
- Less integrations (for now)
6. 🔵 BL.INK
Best for: Enterprise teams
Pros
- Enterprise features
- Great for large teams
- Strong security
Cons
- No free tier
- Expensive
- Overkill for small teams
7. 📊 T2M
Best for: Budget users
Pros
- Cheap
- Simple
- Gets the job done
Cons
- Basic features
- Not many integrations
- UI is meh
8. 🦉 Ow.ly (Hootsuite)
Best for: Hootsuite users only
Pros
- Integrated with Hootsuite
- Auto-shortens posts
Cons
- Need Hootsuite subscription
- Can't use standalone
- Expensive
Common Questions
What's the best free alternative to Bitly?
Depends on what you need. TinyURL is dead simple - no signup, just paste and go. Short.io gives you 1,000 links per month with a custom domain. If you want analytics too, TrimLink or Dub.co are solid picks with free tiers.
Why did Bitly get so expensive?
Bitly pivoted to enterprise. They want big companies paying thousands per year, not small teams on $10/month plans. Fair enough - but it left a lot of us looking for alternatives.
Do I really need a URL shortener in 2026?
If you share links on social media, track marketing campaigns, or want custom branded links - yes. Short links look cleaner, get more clicks, and give you data on who's clicking. If you just need to share a link once with a friend, probably not.
What about privacy? Do these tools track my visitors?
Most URL shorteners collect visitor data - location, device, browser. If that bothers you, TrimLink is built privacy-first. It tracks clicks (so you know your campaigns work) but doesn't track the humans clicking them. No cookies, no fingerprinting.
The Verdict
There's no single "best" alternative - it depends on what you need:
- Just need short links? TinyURL. Free, simple, works.
- Building a startup? Dub.co. Open source, developer-friendly, scales well.
- Want the cheapest paid option? TrimLink at $5/mo or T2M at $5/mo.
- Care about privacy? TrimLink. No visitor tracking, GDPR-friendly.
- Big enterprise team? BL.INK or just stay with Bitly if budget allows.
Bitly is still a good product - it's just not worth it for most people anymore. Pick an alternative that fits your needs and budget.
Try TrimLink Free
25 free links per month, custom domain included, privacy-first analytics.
Starter is just $5/month - that's 50% less than Bitly Core.