Review Summary
Review SummaryBitly has been around since 2008; they were one of the first link shortening tools on the market. That said, their age shows.
Their platform is not super user-friendly or modern, their pricing tiers restrict important features (like custom domains and link tracking history), and their link tracking does not update in real time.
Newer tools, like Dub Links (what we use), provide a much more modern, user-friendly experience.
Bitly Alternatives
Bitly AlternativesNot sure if Bitly is the right fit for you? Check out these alternatives:
Dub LinksBestBest for modern link attribution, a true industry disrupter
Best for modern link attribution, a true industry disrupter
What is Bitly?
What is Bitly?Bitly is a link shortening and link management platform. It is used by creators and marketers to shorten links. It was established in 2008, making it one of the original link shorteners on the market.
If you're not on a paid tier, heads up, they're running ads against your links. I can't tell you how many links I've clicked on from huge YouTubers or brands, only to get redirected to a spammy ad before my destination 😅
Who is Bitly For?
Who is Bitly For?Creators
CreatorsIf you’re sharing content on any social platform, using link tracking will give you better insight into what is performing well. Many creators have turned to Bitly, sharing the bit.ly domain all around.
The gripe we have with this is that Bitly built their brand around encouraging users to share links using their bit.ly domain because it benefitted… well... them 🤷♂️ They inadvertently convinced creators who didn’t know any better to build Bitly’s brand, which is why you’ve probably heard of the tool in the first place.
What you want to do when setting up your short links is use your own custom domain (this way you are building your own brand and establishing trust with your links). But Bitly’s free plan doesn’t allow for custom domains (and this is where most creators start). Our preferred tool, Dub, allows for custom domains on their free tier, encouraging best practices from the start.
The other problem with using the bit.ly domain? You need to compete for an available URL with the rest of the world. From the audience's perspective, you never really know what you are opening when you click on a bit.ly link (spam, malware, NSFW).
Marketers
MarketersMarketers use link shorteners to track the performance of ads or campaigns over time. While Bitly provided a "good enough" service over the years, newer tools have come on the market that are infinitely better. Take Dub for example; it offers marketers full lead acquisition and conversion data so marketers can gain deeper insights into analytics and performance.
Bitly Key Features
Bitly Key FeaturesLink Shortening
Link ShorteningLike any link shortening tool, Bitly condenses long URLs with UTM data into shorter links. This is useful for posting on social channels.
Click Tracking & Analytics
Click Tracking & AnalyticsMarketers can track the performance of their campaigns to understand what messaging is working with their audience. That said, a lot of users find Bitly's analytics quite cumbersome to use. The user experience is not the most thoughtful, especially when compared to Dub Links.
QR Code Generation
QR Code GenerationQR Codes are gaining popularity recently, especially as YouTube watch time on TV is increasing. Bitly allows marketers to generate QR codes and track the performance of campaigns.
Link Management
Link ManagementBitly provides a centralized place to manage links, although their interface is quite dated and kludgy compared to Dub.
Bitly Pricing
Bitly Pricing- Free: $0/m. Skip the free tier; it's limited to 5 links per month, and you cannot have your own custom domain.
- Core Tier: $10/m. Skip this tier also; you still can't have your own custom domain, and you only get 30 days' worth of click data.
- Growth Tier: $29/m. Most popular tier as it allows for branded links. Although you only get 4 months' worth of click data, so it's still not great.
- Premium: $199/m. Best tier for professionals, although it's very pricey compared to Dub Links, which offers similar features and a better experience for a much lower price.
Final Verdict
Final VerdictIs Bitly worth it? Not anymore. They've been around for a long time, and with that, they have gained a large part of the market share. But they are nowhere near "the best," and more and more creators and teams are switching away.
Screenshots
Screenshots
Bitly
Bitly's analytics dashboard
Categories
CategoriesBitly fits into multiple categories based on what it actually helps you do. Each category highlights a different strength and the efficiency points it earned, helping you compare tools not just by features, but by how well they actually perform.
Keep exploring the best software across categories, or explore Bitly alternatives
