This is one of our top picks in the category so we recommend it over others (you're on the right page), read below to learn why we love and recommend it! ⤵
This is one of the better tools in its category, see below if this tool is right for you! ⤵
Bitly 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 (what we use), provide a much more modern, user-friendly experience.
We believe there are better options available in this category, read below to learn what they do well, and what they could do better. ⤵
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 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 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.
Like any link shortening tool, Bitly condenses long URLs with UTM data into shorter links. This is useful for posting on social channels.
Marketers 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.
QR 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.
Bitly provides a centralized place to manage links, although their interface is quite dated and kludgy compared to Dub.
Is 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.
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We've tracked and verified the above companies are using this software in their team's stack.
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