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.

URL Shortener API & TypeScript SDK: Integrate Link Shortening into Any App

May 13, 2026 · Developers · 6 min read

Learn how to use the Alias REST API and official TypeScript SDK (aliaslive-sdk) to shorten URLs, manage links, and fetch analytics programmatically.

Need to create short links from your app, automate link generation in a script, or build a custom dashboard? The Alias REST API and official TypeScript SDK make integration straightforward — with full type safety, zero runtime dependencies, and support for both ESM and CommonJS.

Getting Started: Install the SDK

Install the package from npm: npm install aliaslive-sdk. Generate an API key from your Alias account settings under API Keys.

Shortening a URL

Import AliasClient and call shorten() with the destination URL. The result includes the slug, the full short URL, and the original destination.

import { AliasClient } from "aliaslive-sdk";
const alias = new AliasClient({ apiKey: "alias_xxxx" });
const { shortUrl } = await alias.shorten("https://example.com");
Optional: pass a slug, password, or expiresAt in the second argument.

Bulk Shortening via SDK

Use bulkShorten() to shorten up to 50 URLs in one API call. Each item has its own error field so a single failure does not block the rest.

Pass an array of { destination, slug? } objects.
Returns an array of { destination, slug, shortUrl, error? }.
Maximum 50 items per call.
Failed items include an error string; successful items include the shortUrl.

Managing Links

The links namespace on AliasClient covers listing, deleting, and fetching analytics for any of your links.

alias.links.list(page, limit) — paginated list of all your links.
alias.links.delete(slug) — delete a link by slug.
alias.links.analytics(slug, { days: 30 }) — click stats including country, device, browser, and referrer breakdowns.

Error Handling

The SDK throws an AliasHttpError on non-2xx responses. It exposes status (HTTP status code), code (e.g. CONFLICT, UNAUTHORIZED), and message — so you can handle specific cases like a slug already being taken.

Using the REST API Directly

All endpoints accept an X-Api-Key header for authentication. The base URL is https://aliasurlshortener.com/api/v1. Core endpoints include POST /customShort to create a link, POST /links/bulk for batch creation, GET /links for list, DELETE /links/:slug to remove, and GET /links/:slug/analytics for stats.

CommonJS Support

The SDK ships dual ESM and CJS builds. In a CommonJS project, use: const { AliasClient } = require("aliaslive-sdk");

Get your free API key