Best Bitly Alternatives in 2025 (Free and Paid)
· Comparisons · 6 min read
Looking for a Bitly alternative? Compare the top free and paid URL shorteners in 2025 — features, pricing, and who each one is best for.
Bitly is the most recognised name in URL shortening, but its free plan became significantly more restrictive in recent years — capping the number of links, hiding analytics behind a paywall, and removing custom aliases from free accounts. If you are looking for a Bitly alternative that gives you more for free, here are the best options in 2025.
Why People Look for Bitly Alternatives
- Bitly's free plan limits you to 10 links per month.
- Click analytics are restricted on the free tier.
- Custom aliases require a paid plan.
- Paid plans start at $8–$35/month, which is expensive for personal or small-business use.
Top Bitly Alternatives in 2025
Alias (alias.live) — Best Free Option
Alias is a fully featured URL shortener with no link creation limits on the free plan. It includes custom aliases, click analytics, QR code generation, link expiry, and password protection — all free. It is built for speed on Cloudflare's global network, so redirects are near-instant anywhere in the world.
TinyURL — Simple and Free
TinyURL is one of the oldest URL shorteners. The free plan has no link limits and supports basic custom aliases. Analytics and link management require a paid plan. Good for occasional link shortening when you do not need tracking.
Rebrandly — Best for Custom Domains
Rebrandly focuses on branded short links using your own custom domain (e.g. go.yourbrand.com). The free plan allows 10 links and 1 custom domain. Paid plans start around $13/month. Best for businesses that need fully white-labelled short links.
Short.io — Best for Teams
Short.io offers custom domains, team management, link retargeting, and detailed analytics. The free plan is limited to one domain and basic features. Paid plans start at $20/month. Best for marketing teams managing large link libraries.
T2M — Good Lifetime Deal Option
T2M offers a lifetime plan (pay once, use forever) which appeals to users who want to avoid recurring subscriptions. Analytics, custom domains, and QR codes are included. Free plan is very limited.
Feature Comparison
- Alias: unlimited free links, custom aliases, analytics, QR codes, expiry, password protection.
- Bitly: 10 links/month free, custom aliases and analytics require paid plans ($8–$35/month).
- TinyURL: unlimited links, basic custom aliases free, analytics paid.
- Rebrandly: 10 links/month free, best for custom branded domains.
- Short.io: limited free tier, best for team use with custom domains.
Which Should You Choose?
If you want the most features for free with no monthly link cap, Alias is the strongest Bitly alternative in 2025. If you need your own custom domain (e.g. go.yourbrand.com) for white-labelled links, look at Rebrandly or Short.io. If you just need occasional link shortening with no tracking, TinyURL is the simplest option.