Bitly is a URL shortening and link management software. It enables businesses and individuals to create, share, and track shortened links. This tool provides valuable insights into audience engagement and behavior, helping users optimize their online presence. Bitly's features include customizable branded links, real-time analytics, and integration with various digital platforms. It is a powerful tool for enhancing digital marketing strategies by improving link visibility and tracking performance.

  • 01Pros and cons from reviewers
  • 02Main features
  • 03What is Bitly?
  • 04How Bitly compare to similar software?
  • 05Who is Bitly best for according to our reviewers?
  • 06Bitly Reviews

Pros from reviewers

  • User-friendly interface: Bitly is praised for its user-friendly interface, making it easy for users to navigate and utilize its features

  • Superior branding: Bitly allows users to replace the bit.ly in their links with their company's name, creating a unique link experience and providing superior branding

  • Advanced link tracking: Bitly offers advanced link tracking features, enabling users to monitor the number of clicks and saves they get, and assess the performance of their links

  • Simplifies QR codes: Bitly simplifies the process of creating QR codes by shortening links with random characters, making them easier to scan.

  • Powerful tools available for free: Bitly offers a range of useful tools such as UTM link features, a WordPress plugin, and link tracking features, all available even on free accounts

Cons from reviewers

  • Limited free features: Bitly's free account does not allow users to use their custom domain, limiting the branding potential of the shortened links

  • Security concerns: Bitly's shortened links can sometimes lead to distrust and refusal to click, as users may not know what the link is for, especially if it is given without any context

  • Poor customer service: Bitly's customer service has been described as unhelpful and slow to respond, causing frustration and inconvenience for users.

  • Hidden renewal clause: Bitly's purchase order contains a clause hidden in a linked document stating that users need to give a 90-day notice if they don't want the contract to automatically renew, causing unexpected legal issues

  • Case sensitivity: Bitly's shortened links are case sensitive, which can lead to issues when users need to type them into their devices, especially if this is not made clear when setting up the links

Main features

Starting Price

$8

/ month

Free Plan

Yes

Link shortening

Team collaboration

Link customization

Tracking and analytics

Multi-channel distribution

What is Bitly?

Bitly is a leading URL shortening tool that allows users to convert long, complex URLs into short, shareable links. It's not just a URL shortener, but also offers customization features for users to add a personal touch to their links. Bitly also provides comprehensive tracking of link metrics, enabling users to monitor audience engagement and refine their strategies based on valuable insights. Additionally, it supports collaboration and third-party app integration, making it an ideal tool for businesses and social media strategists. Bitly is a powerful tool that helps users understand their audience better and ensure their content has the desired impact.

Who is Bitly best for according to our reviewers?

  • Social Media Managers: These professionals can use Bitly to create shorter, more streamlined links for their social media posts, making them more appealing and less prone to errors when shared

  • Marketers: Bitly is a key tool for marketers who need to shorten long links in various contexts, such as Youtube descriptions, or provide easy-to-type links for training materials or key online information

  • Business Owners: Bitly is useful for business owners who want to create a unique link experience for their business, replacing bit.ly with their company's name for secure connections and easy redirection

  • Product Distributors: These users value Bitly's campaign management feature and link analytics, which allow them to monitor the number of clicks and saves they get, helping them distribute more links for their products.

  • Academics: Those who study links, either as a hobby or professionally, find Bitly invaluable for dealing with unusually long links or needing detailed analytics on link performance, crucial for reporting academic post performance

  • Bitly Reviews

    4.4

    Bitly rating

    5.0

    Ease of use

    4.5

    Customer service

    4.7

    Value for money

    4.6

    Likelihood to recommend

    4.6

    Features

    12 Bitly Reviews

    4.4 (12 reviews)
    • Sarah G

      Brevity at its Best with Bitly

      I find Bitly to be an excellent software tool that is simple and helpful. It's a key tool for me as a savvy marketer. I use Bitly in various contexts, such as shortening long links in Youtube descriptions, which otherwise take up too much space. It also improves the user experience. I've also used it in the classroom for teaching and training, providing students with a Bitly link on the whiteboard for key online information or training review. It simplifies things for both my clients and me. However, the links seem to be case sensitive, which isn't made clear when setting up the links. This can be an issue when creating links that people need to type into their devices. Despite this, Bitly is very simple to use and it works. Plus, it's free for most of the basic stuff. The only downside is that using "Bitly" may not always be the best branding option for my link needs, but the paid version allows me to create branded links.

      June 22, 2024

    • Cheryl Brown

      Effortless Link Shortening for Years with Bitly

      I've been using Bitly for years as my preferred link shortener. My experience has been positive as it reliably shortens and personalizes my long links, conveniently collecting them all in one place for easy future access. However, the changing policy and charges for additional features can be a downside. I chose Bitly because it provides shorter links for future references.

      June 17, 2024

    • Abigail Miller

      Unlocking Success with Bitly

      I am very satisfied with Bitly as it has helped me distribute more links for my product, especially through its campaign management feature. I value the link analytics feature as it enables me to monitor the number of clicks and saves I get. However, I think the low monthly link limits for free accounts should be raised. I selected Bitly because I like its features and the design of its page.

      June 11, 2024

    • Elizabeth

      Bitly: A Must-Have Tool for Online Operators

      My experience with Bitly has been positive and I would recommend it to everyone. It's straightforward, time-saving, and user-friendly with superb tracking features. It offers thorough data analysis for assessing the performance of all your links. The only drawback is that the custom domain feature isn't included in the free plan. I transitioned to Bitly from TinyURL due to its superior functionality, particularly in reporting.

      June 4, 2024

    • Frances Davis

      Highly Recommended: A Glowing Review of Bitly

      Absolutely love Bitly! After reading other reviews, I can confidently say this software is fantastic. I highly recommend you give it a try. I'm certain this company's innovative strategies will be recognized and appreciated. I'm even considering reprinting my business cards to include my Bitly link. I'm more than happy to invest in this company and will always recommend Bitly!

      May 26, 2024

    • Jose D

      Outstanding for Link Sharing

      I appreciate how Bitly simplifies QR codes by shortening links with random characters, making them easier to scan. However, I find it inconvenient that I can't include multiple accounts in an organization without selecting the enterprise option. I primarily switched to Bitly for the superior branding it provides.

      May 18, 2024

    • Briar

      Bitly: A Game-Changer for Social Media Campaigns

      I've been using Bitly for my social media campaigns and it has significantly improved my workflow. The ability to customize URLs is a game-changer

      May 11, 2024

    • Dennis C

      Bitly: Simplistic and Effective with Powerful Analytics

      I've been using Bitly for years and it continues to impress me with its simplicity and effectiveness. The analytics feature is incredibly useful for tracking engagement.

      May 4, 2024

    • Ronald J

      Expressing Love for Bitly's Utility and Efficiency

      I absolutely adore Bitly! It's incredibly useful and perfectly suits my needs!

      April 27, 2024

    • Bowie G

      Reliable URL Shortening Software for a Streamlined Experience

      I use Bitly not only to shorten my URLs, but also to create a unique link experience for my business. I can replace bit.ly with my company's name for secure connections. Redirecting a URL is simple with Bitly and I am very satisfied with it. When developing a brand through social media, it's important for me to have all my links of the same length and comparable. Shorter links look better in Instagram and Twitter bios, making them more streamlined. Sharing a long URL can lead to errors and potential sharers might get annoyed and give up before sharing my link. Bitly makes replicating links easier. However, Bitly does have some security issues. Sometimes, I don't know what a link is for and if someone gives it to me without any context, I might block it or distrust it and refuse to click on it.

      April 23, 2024

    • Debra Martinez

      Bitly: A User's Perspective on its Features and Customer Support

      I've been using Bitly and I must say, it's a pretty solid product! I'm particularly impressed by their first line customer care. As a paid member, I appreciate the personal touch they give by taking the time to respond to my queries, usually within a couple of days. One feature that stands out is the bulk uploading of links. It's a unique process where I get to add UTMs to each link if I'm redirecting to the same link. It's a bit time-consuming, but it's a great way to customize and track my links effectively. I've also had the chance to interact with Bitly's second line support and they've been incredibly helpful. They usually get back to me within 2-3 days, sometimes up to 5 days, but the wait is worth it because they always provide comprehensive solutions. Bitly is perfect for me when I'm creating ad hoc links here and there, especially when using the free account. I'm giving it a solid four stars for this reason. If you're considering a paid account and expecting top-notch support, Bitly is definitely worth a shot!

      April 16, 2024

    • Aaron

      Efficient and Insightful Analytics Feature

      it's user-friendly and efficient. The analytics feature is particularly useful, providing me with valuable insights into click-through rates

      April 13, 2024