Bitly is one of the most recognised names in URL shortening. But over the years its free plan has become increasingly restricted. If you're considering Bitly — or already using it and hitting limitations — here's an honest breakdown of what the free tier gives you and what alternatives exist.
What does Bitly's free plan include?
As of 2026, Bitly's free plan allows:
- 10 short links per month — one of the lowest free limits in the industry.
- Basic click analytics — total click counts only, no geo or device breakdown.
- No custom aliases — you get random slugs like
bit.ly/3xKp9mN. - No link expiration — expiry dates require a paid plan.
- No API access — the REST API is gated behind paid plans.
What do Bitly's paid plans cost?
Bitly's Core plan (the first paid tier) starts at around $8–$10/month and adds custom back-halves (aliases) and slightly higher link limits. Full analytics, API access, and team features require higher-priced plans which can reach $200+/month for large teams.
Who is Bitly's free plan suitable for?
Bitly's free tier makes sense if you need to shorten fewer than 10 links per month and don't care about branded links or analytics. For anyone doing regular content sharing, email marketing, or any kind of link management, the limits are quickly outgrown.
Shortfy as a free Bitly alternative
Shortfy is built to be a more generous free alternative. Key differences on the free plan:
- 50 links per month vs Bitly's 10 — 5× more on the free tier.
- Click analytics with 30-day charts — included on the free plan.
- QR code generation — every link gets a downloadable QR code.
- REST API — available on the free plan (rate limited).
- Custom aliases — available on Pro from $9/month.
- Geo & device analytics — included on Pro.
Side-by-side comparison
| Feature | Shortfy Free | Bitly Free |
|---|---|---|
| Links per month | 50 | 10 |
| Click analytics | Yes | Basic |
| QR code generation | Yes | Yes |
| Custom aliases | Pro plan | No |
| Link expiration | Pro plan | No |
| REST API | Yes | No |
| Starting price | Free | Free (limited) |
The bottom line
Bitly's brand recognition is strong, but its free plan has been cut back significantly over the years. If you need more than 10 links a month, access to click analytics, or API integration without paying, a newer alternative like Shortfy will give you substantially more on the free tier.
Create a free Shortfy account to get started with 50 links per month, analytics, QR codes, and API access — all free.