Short.io
A thousand branded links, QR codes and real analytics before the pricing page becomes relevant.
Technical Profile & Specs
verified 2026-08-10
- Cost
- $0 / forever (Free tier / Free tool)
- License
- proprietary, free
- Hosting Model
- Hosted (their cloud)
- Platforms
- webextensionthey host it
- Installation
- Hosted signup, then connect a custom domain
- Operational Setup
- There is no installation hurdle, but the free account has a lifetime ceiling of 1,000 branded links, one user, 10 MB storage and only the first 50,000 clicks per month visible in analytics.
- Where Your Data Lives
- Links, custom-domain configuration, QR assets and click/conversion analytics live in Short.io's cloud; links can be exported through support, but the internal storage format is not disclosed.
- The Catch / Trade-off
- Short.io's free plan is generous, but the lifetime link ceiling and smaller campaign, governance, integration, and enterprise-support surface make it less durable than paid Bitly.
Replaces 1 paid app
up to $35/mo ($420/yr) in subscriptions
Short.io FAQ
Common questions
Is Short.io free and open source?+
Short.io is a free tool that runs on hosted. A thousand branded links, QR codes and real analytics before the pricing page becomes relevant.
What paid software does Short.io replace?+
Short.io serves as a free replacement for 1 paid SaaS application: Bitly, saving up to $35/month ($420/year) in subscription bills.
How do you install and set up Short.io?+
Installation: Hosted signup, then connect a custom domain. Setup notes: There is no installation hurdle, but the free account has a lifetime ceiling of 1,000 branded links, one user, 10 MB storage and only the first 50,000 clicks per month visible in analytics.
What is the catch or trade-off with Short.io?+
Short.io's free plan is generous, but the lifetime link ceiling and smaller campaign, governance, integration, and enterprise-support surface make it less durable than paid Bitly.