Bitly raised prices and removed features from its free plan. Here are the best alternatives — compared honestly on the features that actually matter.
Comparing: Brevly, Dub, Short.io, Rebrandly, TinyURL
Bitly's free plan was cut to 10 links per month in 2023. Analytics require a paid plan. Password-protected links have never been available at any plan level. And pricing jumped significantly with the 2024 rebrand — Growth now starts at $29/month with no trial. That's pushed a lot of teams to look for alternatives.
10 links per month with no analytics. Useless for anyone doing real link management.
Not available at any price point. If you need to gate a link, Bitly simply can't help.
Enterprise features require a sales call. No public pricing above $29/month.
URL shortener with password protection & link expiry
Includes
Verdict: Best pick if you need to share sensitive content or gated links. The only shortener with built-in password protection at a transparent price.
Try Brevly free →Open-source URL shortener with an API-first approach
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Missing
Verdict: Great if you're building on top of a shortener via API. Lacks password protection and link expiry.
Branded link management for teams with multiple domains
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Missing
Verdict: Good for teams managing links across multiple branded domains. No password protection or expiry.
Brand-focused link management with custom domains
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Missing
Verdict: Solid for brand-focused link management. Feature-limited free plan and no password protection.
Basic URL shortening, no account required
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Missing
Verdict: Fine for one-off shortening with no tracking needs. Not suitable for professional link management.
The features that matter most for link management.
| Feature | Brevly | Dub | Short.io | Rebrandly | TinyURL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Password-protected links | |||||
| Link expiry dates | |||||
| Real-time click analytics | |||||
| Custom domains | |||||
| QR code generation | |||||
| Free plan available | |||||
| API access | |||||
| Link-in-bio pages |
If You need password-protected or expiring links: choose Brevly — the only shortener with both features at a transparent price.
If You're building a product on top of a shortener via API: choose Dub — open source, API-first, and developer-friendly.
If Your team manages links across multiple branded domains: choose Short.io — best multi-domain team collaboration.
If Brand consistency is your top priority: choose Rebrandly — deep branded link customization.
If You just need a quick short link with no tracking: choose TinyURL — no signup, instant, free.
Password-protected links, link expiry, and real-time analytics. Free to start.
Start free — no credit card →