# Best URL Shortener - Page 10 *By [Alanna Iwuh](https://research.g2.com/insights/author/alanna-iwuh)* A URL shortener is a website that creates abbreviated versions of web addresses, called shortlinks. A shortlink redirects anyone who clicks on it to the original longform web address. Some URL shorteners allow users to create custom branded or vanity links. These tools are often used by marketers to make a longer URL more visually appealing within collateral or messaging. Shortlinks are especially prevalent on social media sites where character limits are imposed, or in mobile messaging where screen space is limited. To qualify for inclusion in the URL shortener category, a product must: - Create shortened versions of links that redirect to the original long URL - Provide analytics tools to track metrics such as link clicks ## G2 Grid® for URL Shortener ![G2 Grid® for URL Shortener plotting products by satisfaction and market presence](https://www.g2.com/categories/url-shortener/grids.png?focus%5B%5D=1622&focus%5B%5D=55775&focus%5B%5D=20778&focus%5B%5D=1387815&focus%5B%5D=1214188&focus%5B%5D=85388&focus%5B%5D=88013&focus%5B%5D=88525) Highlighted products: Bitly, GoLinks, Rebrandly, CutMe Short, Dub, TinyURL, BL.INK, and T2M URL Shortener. Underlying data: [Grid® JSON](https://www.g2.com/categories/url-shortener/grids.json?focus%5B%5D=bitly&focus%5B%5D=golinks&focus%5B%5D=rebrandly&focus%5B%5D=cutme-short&focus%5B%5D=dub&focus%5B%5D=tinyurl&focus%5B%5D=bl-ink&focus%5B%5D=t2m-url-shortener) ## How Many URL Shortener Products Does G2 Track? **Total Products under this Category:** 184 ### Category Stats (Jul 2026) - **Average Rating**: 4.42/5 (↑0.01 vs Jun 2026) The average rating of products in this category, based on all submitted ratings - **Top Trending Product**: Uplifter all-in-one campaign analytics (+1.75%) - Among all products in this category, Uplifter all-in-one campaign analytics recorded the largest rating increase compared to last month *Last updated: July 13, 2026* ## How Does G2 Rank URL Shortener Products? **Why You Can Trust G2's Software Rankings:** - 30 Analysts and Data Experts - 3,500+ Authentic Reviews - 184+ Products - Unbiased Rankings G2's software rankings are built on verified user reviews, rigorous moderation, and a consistent research methodology maintained by a team of analysts and data experts. Each product is measured using the same transparent criteria, with no paid placement or vendor influence. While reviews reflect real user experiences, which can be subjective, they offer valuable insight into how software performs in the hands of professionals. Together, these inputs power the G2 Score, a standardized way to compare tools within every category. ## Which URL Shortener Is Best for Your Use Case? - **Leader:** [Bitly](https://www.g2.com/products/bitly/reviews) - **Highest Performer:** [CutMe Short](https://www.g2.com/products/cutme-short/reviews) - **Easiest to Use:** [Bitly](https://www.g2.com/products/bitly/reviews) - **Top Trending:** [Dub](https://www.g2.com/products/dub/reviews) - **Best Free Software:** [Bitly](https://www.g2.com/products/bitly/reviews) --- **Sponsored** ### Linkly Linkly is a URL shortener and link tracking platform that helps marketers create branded short links, track clicks with real-time analytics, and route visitors to different destinations based on their location, device, or other conditions. It combines the functionality of a custom URL shortener with advanced link management features including retargeting pixels, geo-targeting, dynamic QR codes, and smart redirects. Linkly is designed for marketing teams, affiliate marketers, agencies, podcasters, app developers, and e-commerce businesses who need a link shortener with detailed analytics and campaign tracking capabilities. When a user shortens a URL with Linkly, every click on that short link is tracked with data including the visitor's country, city, device type, operating system, browser, and referring website. Short links can be created using a custom branded domain, so instead of a generic shortened URL, users can create links like yourbrand.com/offer. Links can also be configured with smart redirect rules that automatically send visitors to different URLs based on geographic location or device, making it possible to run global campaigns with a single short link. Linkly also supports link rotators for A/B testing, expiring links for time-sensitive promotions, and link cloaking for affiliate marketers. Key features include: - \*\*Custom URL shortener with branded domains\*\* — Users can connect their own domain to create branded short links. There are no limits on the number of custom domains, and every shortened URL includes full click tracking and analytics. - \*\*Retargeting pixel support\*\* — Meta Pixel, Google Ads, TikTok Pixel, LinkedIn Insight Tag, and custom tracking scripts can be added to any shortened link, allowing users to build retargeting audiences from link clicks without needing access to the destination website's code. - \*\*Dynamic QR codes\*\* — QR codes can be generated for any short link with custom logos, colors, and shapes. The destination URL can be changed at any time without reprinting the code, and every scan is tracked with the same analytics as link clicks. - \*\*Geo and device redirects\*\* — Short links can detect a visitor's country or device and redirect them to a location-specific or platform-specific URL automatically. - \*\*API and integrations\*\* — A REST API allows programmatic URL shortening and analytics retrieval. Integrations include Zapier, Google Sheets, and MCP support for AI assistants. Linkly includes all features on every plan, including its free tier. Pricing scales based on click volume rather than feature access — there are no additional charges for custom domains, retargeting pixels, team members, or analytics. The free URL shortener plan supports 500 tracked clicks per month. Paid plans start at $39 per month for 25,000 monthly clicks and scale up to unlimited click plans for high-volume users. Annual billing is available at a reduced rate. Over 320,000 organizations use Linkly for URL shortening, link tracking, and link management. [Visit website](https://www.g2.com/external_clickthroughs/record?secure%5Bad_program%5D=ppc&secure%5Bad_slot%5D=category_product_list&secure%5Bcategory_id%5D=1659&secure%5Bchosen_at%5D=2026-07-14T08%3A29%3A14Z&secure%5Bdisplayable_resource_id%5D=1659&secure%5Bdisplayable_resource_type%5D=Category&secure%5Bmedium%5D=sponsored&secure%5Bplacement_reason%5D=page_category&secure%5Bplacement_resource_ids%5D%5B%5D=1659&secure%5Bprioritized%5D=false&secure%5Bproduct_id%5D=104203&secure%5Bresource_id%5D=1659&secure%5Bresource_type%5D=Category&secure%5Bsource_type%5D=category_page&secure%5Bsource_url%5D=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.g2.com%2Fcategories%2Furl-shortener%3Fpage%3D2&secure%5Btoken%5D=4d09b80402a71d27e68c2ac105074ce245261200f141a0e3d871ab4e8c422d51&secure%5Burl%5D=https%3A%2F%2Flinklyhq.com%3Futm_source%3Dg2&secure%5Burl_type%5D=custom_url) --- ## What Is URL Shortener ? [Marketing Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/marketing) ## What Software Categories Are Similar to URL Shortener ? - [Content Analytics Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/content-analytics) - [Smart Link Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/smart-link) - [QR Code Generator Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/qr-code-generator)