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

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.

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.

  • 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

  • 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

Main features

Starting Price

$8

/ month

Free Plan

Yes

User permissions

Team collaboration

Tracking and analytics

Multi-channel distribution

Click analytics

Who is Bitly best for according to our reviewers?

  • 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

  • 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

  • Bitly Reviews

    4.2

    Bitly rating

    5.0

    Ease of use

    4.5

    Customer service

    4.7

    Value for money

    4.6

    Likelihood to recommend

    4.6

    Features

    24 Bitly Reviews

    4.2 (24 reviews)
    Leave a review
    • Jessica R

      Effortless Link Sharing and Detailed Analytics: A Bitly Review

      Bitly has made link sharing much easier and more efficient for me. It's simple to use and the analytics are very detailed

      September 17, 2024

    • Jordan Martinez

      Impressed by Bitly's Innovative and Secure Services

      I truly believe Bitly is an innovative company. They generously offer free services and ensure a secure user experience with comprehensive terms and conditions. I'm genuinely impressed!

      September 9, 2024

    • Grace E

      Efficient Email Campaigns with Bitly: Tracking Engagement Made Easy

      I've been using Bitly in my email campaigns and it has helped me keep my messages clean and concise. Plus, the tracking feature allows me to see how many people are actually engaging with my content

      August 31, 2024

    • Unity

      Link Shortening and Productivity Boost with Bitly!

      As a person who studies links, either as a hobby or professionally, I find Bitly to be an invaluable tool. It's one of the easiest apps I can recommend. If you're dealing with unusually long links or need detailed analytics on your links, I believe there's no better tool. I've used Bitly extensively for academic work and it's been crucial for reporting the performance of my academic posts to my board. The ability to track link performance based on time and geographical locations has allowed me to optimize the posts I publish. The seamless integration with Buffer also lets me publish and shorten links simultaneously. I can't think of any weaknesses with this app. I chose Bitly over TinyURL because it offers advanced link tracking features that I felt were lacking in TinyURL.

      August 24, 2024

    • Gary Garcia

      Bitly: More Than Just a URL Shortener

      Bitly has been a great tool for our team. It's not just a URL shortener, it's a powerful marketing tool that helps us understand our audience better

      August 20, 2024

    • Rose M

      Exceeding Expectations: A Stellar Review of Bitly

      If I could give more than 5 stars, I absolutely would! Bitly has completely transformed my phone experience, ensuring that all my apps connect to the right sites. I've reached out to Bitly support for some minor queries and they've been nothing but helpful. I can't imagine my digital life without Bitly now. I strongly recommend installing it and embracing the change it brings. It's an absolute gem!

      August 11, 2024

    • Nola M

      My Experience with Bitly: A Review on Customer Service and Software Performance

      I've had the opportunity to use Bitly and it's been quite an interesting experience. I remember creating a QR code and placing it on a variety of products. There was a moment when it seemed to disappear from the system, but the customer service was quick to acknowledge the issue. They assured me they would notify me as soon as it was resolved. I appreciated their prompt response and their commitment to resolving the issue. In my experience, their customer service has always been there to assist, even if it takes a bit of time. It's like the software itself - it may have its quirks, but it always manages to deliver in the end. I believe the management is doing their best and with a bit more time, they'll be able to perfect their service. I'm excited to see how Bitly will grow and improve in the future. I'm confident that with their dedication to improvement, they'll continue to thrive.

      August 6, 2024

    • Judy C

      Effective Tool, Questionable Sales Approach

      I recall when Twitter made bit.ly popular. It's unfortunate that such a cool brand has resorted to questionable sales tactics. I value its scalability, having created hundreds of thousands of custom links through our app. I don't use the analytics, but they seem sufficient. The user interface is a bit outdated, but I only use their API. I initially paid bit.ly $4000 for an annual license and signed the purchase order. Everything was fine for 9 months. However, hidden in their purchase order was a link to a 4-page Google document. In the fine print of this document was a clause stating that I needed to give them a 90-day notice if I didn't want the contract to automatically renew. As soon as the 90-day window was up, I received an email referring to this as a "legal matter" for not giving them the notice. I informed them that I wouldn't renew. A week later, I received an email saying they had worked. I want you to speak in the first person.

      July 30, 2024

    • Jarrett M

      Exploring Bitly: A User's Experience with QR Code Generation

      I've been using Bitly to generate QR codes for my brochures and I must say, the initial experience was fantastic! There was a minor hiccup where the QR codes were blocked by Bitly for a few weeks, but I took it as an opportunity to reach out to their customer service. I was impressed by their prompt response to my first complaint, assuring me that the links were working fine. I've sent a few more queries and I'm eagerly awaiting their response. I'm confident they'll sort it out soon. I would definitely recommend using Bitly for printed documents, it's been quite a journey so far!

      July 23, 2024

    • Rachel Rodriguez

      Bitly: Unbeatable URL Shortening Service, Even for Free Accounts

      I used to utilize a different URL shortening service until I came across Bitly and registered an account. I had experienced some technical issues with the previous service and decided to give Bitly a shot. I was pleasantly surprised to find it extremely user-friendly. Over the past two years, Bitly has become even more user-friendly and powerful. I am completely satisfied with Bitly and am grateful to the team for providing such an outstanding service. I especially adore Bitly for its useful tools like UTM link features, the official WordPress plugin, and link tracking features, all of which are available even on free accounts. The only downside is that I can't use my custom domain with a free account. I switched to Bitly because it's much more user-friendly and feature-rich compared to TinyURL.

      July 14, 2024

    • Roger N

      Bitly: The Ultimate URL Shortening Tool

      I've been using Bitly for a while now and I must say, it's an excellent tool for shortening URLs

      July 9, 2024

    • Patrick Miller

      Bitly: A Valuable Tool for Digital Marketers

      As a digital marketer, Bitly has been invaluable in tracking the performance of our links. It's easy to use and the data it provides is extremely helpful in our decision-making process

      July 1, 2024

    • 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