ShortenURL FAQ
Answers to common questions about URL shortening, link tracking, QR codes, and pricing.
General
What is a URL shortener?
A URL shortener converts a long web address into a compact short link that is easier to share. Short links are cleaner, more memorable, and prevent broken links when URLs are copied or typed manually. They also enable click tracking and analytics that long URLs cannot provide on their own.
What is ShortenURL?
ShortenURL is a link management platform that lets you shorten URLs, generate QR codes, and track link performance. It is built for small businesses, marketers, and creators who want to measure how their shared links perform. You can start for free or upgrade to Pro for features like custom slugs and unlimited click tracking.
Why do people use short links?
Short links make URLs cleaner for sharing on social media, email newsletters, SMS, and printed materials. They reduce character count, improve the appearance of shared content, and allow you to track how many people clicked your link. Marketers commonly use short links to monitor campaign performance across different channels.
Who should use ShortenURL?
ShortenURL is designed for small business owners, social media managers, content creators, and marketing teams. If you share links online or in print and want to understand how those links perform, ShortenURL gives you the tools to do that without technical complexity.
How does ShortenURL work?
Paste a long URL into ShortenURL and the platform generates a short link under the shortenurl.io domain. When someone clicks your short link, they are instantly redirected to your original URL while ShortenURL records the click in your analytics dashboard.
Link Shortening
How do short links work?
A short link is a redirect. When clicked, your browser sends a request to the ShortenURL server, which looks up the original URL and responds with an HTTP redirect to your destination. This happens in milliseconds, so visitors arrive almost instantly without any noticeable delay.
How many links can I create?
The free plan allows you to create 1 short link. The Pro plan supports up to 200 active short links. If you manage multiple campaigns or marketing channels, Pro gives you the capacity to run them all from a single account.
What happens when I reach the click limit on the free plan?
Free plan links automatically stop recording new clicks after 100 tracked clicks. Your link will continue to redirect visitors, but no further analytics will be captured. Upgrading to Pro removes this limit entirely and gives you unlimited click tracking on all your links.
Do short links expire?
Short links on ShortenURL do not expire by default. Your links remain active as long as your account is in good standing. If you close your account, your short links will no longer function.
How do custom slugs work?
A custom slug replaces the randomly generated characters in your short link with a meaningful word or phrase — for example, shortenurl.io/summer-sale instead of shortenurl.io/x7k2p. Custom slugs are available on the Pro plan and make your links more recognizable and easier to remember.
How do I share a short link?
Once your short link is created, you can copy it and share it anywhere — social media posts, email newsletters, text messages, website buttons, or printed materials. If you generate a QR code for the link, you can share the QR image in visual content as well.
Analytics
How does link tracking work?
Every time someone clicks your short link, ShortenURL records the event. The platform logs click counts and activity over time, which you can review at any time from your dashboard. All data is stored securely and associated with your specific link.
What analytics data does ShortenURL provide?
ShortenURL provides click counts and performance trends for each of your short links. You can view total clicks, track activity over time, and compare performance across multiple links. Analytics are available to both free and Pro plan users.
How do I monitor a link's performance?
Log in to your ShortenURL dashboard and go to the Links section. Select any link to open its analytics page, which shows click counts and activity over time. This lets you quickly see which links are performing well and which may need to be reshared.
How do I track marketing campaign links?
Create a dedicated short link for each campaign and share it exclusively through that channel. Each link has its own analytics, so you can compare performance across email, social media, and other distribution channels side by side. Pro users can add a custom slug to make each campaign link clearly identifiable.
How do I interpret my click data?
Click data shows how many times your link was clicked and when. A spike in clicks usually indicates a successful post or campaign. Consistently low numbers may suggest the link needs to be reshared or repositioned. Use this data to adjust your strategy and improve the performance of future campaigns.
QR Codes
How do I generate a QR code for my link?
After shortening a URL, ShortenURL automatically generates a QR code for that link. You can download the QR code from your dashboard and use it in printed materials, presentations, product packaging, or digital content.
How does a QR code connect to my shortened URL?
The QR code encodes your short link URL. When someone scans the QR code with their phone camera, it opens a browser and redirects them through your short link to the original destination — exactly the same process as clicking the short link directly.
Are QR code scans tracked in analytics?
Yes. QR code scans trigger the same redirect as a regular click, so each scan is counted as a click in your link analytics. You can track total engagements from both direct clicks and QR code scans in a single dashboard view.
How can I use QR codes in marketing?
QR codes bridge offline and online marketing. Place them on business cards, flyers, restaurant menus, product packaging, or event banners. When customers scan the code, they are taken directly to a landing page or promotion. Because scans are tracked, you can measure the performance of your offline campaigns.
Pricing
What does the free plan include?
The free plan includes 1 short link with up to 100 tracked clicks, QR code generation, and basic analytics access. It is designed for individuals or businesses that want to try link tracking before committing to a paid plan. No credit card is required to sign up.
What does the Pro plan include?
The Pro plan includes up to 200 short links, unlimited click tracking, QR code generation, full analytics, custom slugs, and priority support. It is built for businesses and marketers who actively manage multiple campaigns. Pro is priced at $9 per month or $72 per year.
How does annual billing work?
When you choose annual billing, you pay $72 upfront for 12 months of Pro access instead of $9 per month. This saves you $36 compared to paying monthly ($108 per year). Your subscription renews automatically each year unless you cancel.
What is the difference between the free and Pro plans?
The free plan limits you to 1 link and 100 tracked clicks with no custom slugs. The Pro plan gives you 200 links, unlimited click tracking, custom slugs, and priority support. Pro is recommended for anyone managing active marketing campaigns or needing reliable analytics at scale.
Is ShortenURL a good Bitly alternative?
ShortenURL offers the same core features as Bitly — link shortening, click analytics, and QR codes — at a more accessible price. The Pro plan starts at $9/month with no complex pricing tiers. If you need a simple, focused alternative to Bitly for small business use, ShortenURL is worth considering.
Can I upgrade or downgrade my plan at any time?
Yes, you can upgrade to Pro at any time from your account settings. If you cancel Pro, your plan remains active until the end of the current billing period. Downgrades take effect at the start of the next billing cycle.
Still have questions about plans and pricing? View pricing plans