A url shortener is a digital tool that creates shorter, simpler URLs for webpages. Shorter links take up less space on web pages and are easier to memorize, type out or share—especially when social media platforms have character limits.
These tools are typically web apps that shrink long Uniform Resource Locators (URLs) into shorter strings. Users insert a long link into a shortening tool’s main field, and the tool spits out a new, shorter URL that still redirects to the original page. Some url shorteners are more capable than others—for example, Bitly offers premium plans starting at $9.99 per month that let you create branded links and track clicks on those links.
Some url shorteners are also simple to use, and the best ones can integrate with other tools in your workflow. For example, Hootsuite’s url shortener can turn any link into a vanity link in just a few clicks and add it to your queue for posting on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.
The top-rated url shorteners include Bitly, TinyURL, and Rebrandly. All of these tools have free accounts that offer a basic level of functionality, while more advanced options such as branded domains and tracking are available with paid plans. Zapier’s url shortener is another easy option, and it’s integrated with all of the other Zaps—automated workflows—that you can build on Zapier to save posts, create products, and more. Just create a Zap that triggers when you upload a new post or product, then select the url to shorten and choose your settings to generate the new shortened link. url shortener