Free URL shortener with no ads

Why an ad on a redirect matters

An interstitial delays the page the person asked for, which lowers the share who arrive. It also tells them the link came from a free tool. Messaging apps and some browsers are quicker to flag domains that monetise redirects. For a personal link none of this matters much. For a link to a product page it does.

The ad-free free plans, ranked by what else you get

1. ReSlug. No ads on any plan. 500 active links, custom domain, QR codes, bio page, 30 days of analytics.
2. Short.io. Clean redirects, five domains, 1,000 links (lifetime), API access.
3. Dub. Clean, fast edge redirects. Three domains and an API, 25 links/mo.
4. Cuttly. No interstitial. Free links carry a Cutt.ly branded label inside the dashboard, which visitors do not see. 30 links/mo, one domain, bio page.
5. Linkly. No ads. 100 links/mo, one domain, 500 clicks/mo before links pause.
6. TinyURL. No ads, no account needed. An optional preview page exists and is off by default. No analytics.
7. Rebrandly. No ads on the redirect. QR codes and the link gallery carry a Rebrandly watermark. 10 links/mo.

The one that shows ads

Bitly's free plan is the exception. The pricing page labels it "With Ads", and it allows 5 links/mo with 2/mo QR codes and no analytics history. Removing the ads means the Core plan at $10 a month, which is billed yearly as a single payment and still excludes a custom domain.

Branding is not the same as ads

Two tools mark free output without putting anything in front of the visitor. Cuttly labels free links as Cutt.ly branded in its dashboard. Rebrandly watermarks free QR codes and link galleries. Neither interrupts the redirect. The watermark matters only if you print the QR code or embed the gallery. Details are in the catches entry.