Alias is a free URL shortener with click analytics, custom aliases, link expiry, QR code generation, bulk CSV shortening, link-in-bio pages, a browser extension, and an official TypeScript SDK.

Is Alias free to use?

Yes. Alias offers a free plan with no credit card required. You can shorten links, track clicks, build a link-in-bio page, and use the API at no cost.

Can I create custom short links with Alias?

Yes. Alias lets you set custom aliases for your links, replacing random slugs with branded, memorable short paths such as alias.live/your-brand.

Does Alias track who clicks my links?

Yes. Alias tracks every click with detailed analytics including country, device type, browser, and referrer. This data is available in your dashboard.

Can I shorten multiple URLs at once?

Yes. The Bulk Shortening tool lets you shorten up to 50 URLs in one request. Upload a CSV file or paste a list, then download the results with short URLs and any errors as a CSV.

Does Alias have link-in-bio pages?

Yes. Every Alias account can create a Linktree-style page at alias.live/p/yourname. Add up to 20 links, pick from 6 gradient colour themes, and track clicks on each button individually.

Is there an official SDK or API?

Yes. Alias provides a REST API and an official TypeScript/JavaScript SDK (npm install aliaslive-sdk). The SDK supports ESM and CommonJS, has full type safety, and covers shortening, bulk shortening, and link management with zero runtime dependencies.

Is there a browser extension?

Yes. Alias has a free extension for Chrome and Edge. Right-click any page or link to shorten it instantly. Works in guest mode with no setup, or connect your account for custom slugs saved to your dashboard.

Can I set an expiry date on a short link?

Yes. Alias lets you set an expiration date on any link. Once expired, the link stops redirecting — ideal for time-sensitive campaigns.

How fast are Alias redirects?

Alias redirects are processed in under 50 milliseconds on average, ensuring a seamless experience for anyone clicking your links.

How to Shorten a YouTube Link (And Why You Should)

January 28, 2025 · Guides · 4 min read

YouTube URLs are long and unwieldy. Learn how to create a short, trackable YouTube link in seconds — perfect for bios, descriptions, and social posts.

A standard YouTube video URL looks like youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ. A YouTube channel URL can be even longer. These links are clunky in bios, descriptions, and social posts — and they give away nothing about the content. Shortening them takes five seconds and makes a noticeable difference.

Why Shorten a YouTube Link?

Instagram and TikTok bio links need to be short and memorable.
YouTube descriptions truncate long links before the "Show more" fold — a short link is fully visible.
Social posts look cleaner with a branded short link instead of a raw youtube.com URL.
Click tracking tells you exactly how many people clicked through to your video from each platform.
A custom alias (alias.live/my-new-video) is shareable verbally in podcasts or videos.

How to Shorten a YouTube Link with Alias

Copy your YouTube video or channel URL from the browser address bar.
Go to alias.live and paste the URL into the shortener.
Set a custom alias — e.g. alias.live/latest-video or alias.live/my-channel.
Click Shorten. Your short link is ready to copy and share.

You do not need to sign up to shorten a YouTube link. Create a free account to get custom aliases and click tracking.

Does YouTube Have Its Own Short URL?

YouTube used to offer youtu.be short links for videos — and these still work. However, youtu.be links are not customisable, do not give you click analytics, and do not work for channel or playlist URLs. A URL shortener like Alias gives you control over the slug and a full analytics dashboard.

Best Custom Aliases for YouTube Links

alias.live/watch — for a hero video you want people to see first.
alias.live/subscribe — links directly to your channel subscription page.
alias.live/latest — update this link whenever you publish a new video so your bio always points to the newest content.
alias.live/playlist-name — for linking to a specific playlist.
alias.live/channel — clean and simple for a channel homepage.

Track How Many People Watched

YouTube Studio shows you views from within YouTube. An Alias short link shows you how many external clicks drove people to your video — broken down by platform, country, and device. Together, these give you a complete picture of where your audience comes from.

Shorten your YouTube link for free