Published on Apr 30, 2025 5 min read

The 7 Best URL Shorteners

URL shorteners enable you to create easily tracked and managed small, shareable URLs. Perfect for social networking, emails, and digital marketing, these solutions streamline long URLs. Short links increase engagement, whether you're a business owner or a casual user. By using a URL shortener with analytics, you can gain a comprehensive understanding of link performance. Some tools even provide branded links to boost credibility and awareness.

Whether your needs involve tracking clicks or managing custom links, the right URL shortener depends on these factors. Here, we explore the 7 greatest link-shortening tools for 2025. Each tool offers unique features designed to enhance link management. This guide will help you identify the best URL shortener for marketing, whether for personal or commercial use.

7 Best URL Shorteners

Here are the seven best URL shorteners for enhancing branding and marketing.

Bitly – The Most Popular URL Shortener

Bitly is one of the most frequently used URL shorteners, known for its robust analytics, reliability, and ease of use. Companies, marketers, and individuals rely on Bitly to efficiently create and monitor short links. Bitly allows you to customize URLs, enhancing brand-friendliness and recognition. While it offers a free plan with basic tracking, premium plans provide advanced insights, including audience demographics and device usage. The intuitive dashboard enables real-time tracking of link performance. Bitly integrates with CRM systems, email marketing tools, and social networking sites. For those needing a URL shortener with analytics to enhance engagement and optimize campaigns, Bitly is a great option. It also offers API access for developers to scale short link management, and its strong security measures prevent phishing and spam.

TinyURL – Simple and Fast URL Shortener

The straightforward TinyURL tool allows quick link shortening. As one of the oldest and most reliable link shorteners, TinyURL is ideal for rapid, hassle-free use since no registration is required. Despite its simplicity, TinyURL offers personalized short links, enabling users to create unique and meaningful URLs. It’s perfect for personal use, blogs, and forums where long URLs can be awkward. Unlike other providers, TinyURL ensures links remain active indefinitely, with no expiration date. Even without advanced metrics, TinyURL remains a superb free custom URL shortener for those seeking a simple solution. It is ideal for daily use, being quick and lightweight.

Rebrandly – Best for Custom Branded Links

Rebrandly is designed for businesses looking to create custom-branded short links. It allows users to use their domain name for shortened URLs, enhancing brand identity. Branded links increase trust as users are more likely to click on a familiar domain. Rebrandly also offers deep link tracking, allowing marketers to optimize campaigns and understand engagement trends. With integration into popular marketing systems, Rebrandly is an excellent fit for companies and influencers. It supports multiple team members, ensuring seamless collaboration. Features like link retargeting enable businesses to boost conversions from their initial short links.

BL.INK – A Versatile URL Shortener for Businesses

BL.INK is a robust URL shortener tailored for businesses. It provides in-depth analytics and audience insights, offering more than just link shortening. This tool allows for dynamic links, letting URLs vary based on time, location, or device, which is very useful for targeted marketing campaigns. BL.INK integrates with Google Analytics for precise tracking. Whether running a small or large business, BL.INK is a reliable and flexible URL shortener for business marketing. The platform ensures strong security, protecting links from unauthorized activities, making it a great tool for businesses needing advanced link management.

T2M – Unlimited Short Links for Businesses

T2M offers unlimited branded short links without expiration, making it perfect for businesses running multiple campaigns. Unlike many other services, T2M does not limit the number of shortened URLs. It also provides comprehensive analytics covering geographic location, referrer data, and device tracking. T2M stands out by allowing businesses to create QR codes linked to short URLs. For those needing a URL shortener with QR code support, T2M is among the best choices. The platform also offers password-protected links, ensuring secure access to shared URLs. T2M is well-suited for businesses seeking long-term link management.

Short.io – Custom Domain URL Shortener

Short.io specializes in creating short links with custom domains, making it a great tool for businesses aiming to maintain brand consistency. Users can track clicks, geotarget visitors, and even set temporary promo expiration dates. The solution also offers API access, enabling developers to automate link management. Short.io is an excellent team-friendly URL shortener, facilitating team collaboration. The technology ensures all links are trackable and branded, allowing businesses to accurately assess traffic. Short.io is favored by companies for its ability to integrate with external services, making it a reliable, scalable, and customizable URL shortener.

Ow.ly – Hootsuite's Integrated URL Shortener

Ow.ly is an integrated feature of Hootsuite, one of the most popular social media management tools. Users can shorten and track URLs directly from their Hootsuite dashboard, with Ow.ly offering click tracking and performance analysis tailored for social media marketers. If you’re already using Hootsuite, this URL shortener for social media is a convenient choice. Ow.ly enhances security by protecting URLs from spam and viruses. Companies relying on social media sharing will find this tool particularly useful. It ensures a seamless experience by enabling tracking and scheduling posts. Brands looking to maximize their presence on platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn will find this shortener ideal. Hootsuite is a powerful marketing tool as it allows you to analyze link performance.

Conclusion

Your objectives will determine which URL shortener is right for you. Some programs offer advanced tracking and data, while others focus on branding. For general use, Bitly and TinyURL are excellent choices. For branded links, consider Rebrandly and Short.io. T2M and BL.INK offer outstanding commercial solutions. Social media professionals may prefer Ow.ly. The best URL shortener for marketing enhances brand visibility, link tracking, and engagement. Short links allow businesses to accurately evaluate performance and improve the clickability of their content. Using the best link-shortening tools will help you broaden your reach in 2025 and simplify link management.