Comparison
Short.io vs Bitly
A feature-by-feature comparison of Short.io and Bitly — plus a free alternative that beats both.
How do Short.io and Bitly compare, and is there a better option? The table below puts both side by side against urlik — a free, all-in-one link toolset.
17/17
urlik
features free6/17
Short.io
features free4 paid1 limited6 missing
3/17
Bitly
features free4 paid1 limited9 missing
| Feature | urlik | Short.io | Bitly |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Limited | Limited |
| Use without sign-up | Yes | No | No |
| Custom alias | Yes | Yes | Paid |
| QR codes | Yes | Yes | Paid |
| Click analytics | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Password-protected links | Yes | Paid | No |
| Link expiry / self-destruct | Yes | Paid | No |
| A/B link rotation | Yes | Paid | No |
| Retargeting pixels | Yes | Paid | No |
| UTM builder | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Link-in-bio page | Yes | No | Paid |
| Temporary email | Yes | No | No |
| Encrypted file transfer | Yes | No | No |
| Video downloader | Yes | No | No |
| Developer API | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Custom domain | Yes | Yes | Paid |
| Pay with crypto | Yes | No | No |
Comparison based on publicly available information as of publication. Trademarks belong to their owners: Short.io, Bitly.
Verdict
Short.io or Bitly — or something better?
Both Short.io and Bitly do link shortening well, but each is a single-purpose paid tool. urlik gives you shortening with analytics, QR codes, temporary email, encrypted file sharing, payment links and a link-in-bio page — free, no sign-up, in 8 languages.
What this page answers
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