Instant shortening
Paste any long URL and get a tidy short link in one click.
Why it helps: long links break across lines in chats, emails and texts. Short ones stay clickable and look trustworthy.
Short links that work harder.
Turn long, messy URLs into clean, trackable short links — with your own custom back-half and click stats.
0 clicks
Shorten a link in 3 simple steps
No account needed to get your first short link.
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1
Paste your URL
Drop any long link into the box above — nothing to install.
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2
Customize (optional)
Add your own back-half code for a branded, memorable link.
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3
Share & track
Copy your short link or QR code, then watch the clicks roll in.
Everything you need to share links with confidence
Built to make every link cleaner, smarter and easier to manage.
Custom back-half
Choose your own code, like /summer-sale, instead of random letters.
Why it helps: branded, readable links are more memorable and get clicked more often than cryptic ones.
Click tracking
Every link counts its clicks so you can see what's getting attention.
Why it helps: you learn which links and channels actually drive traffic — no guessing.
Personal dashboard
All your links in one place — view, copy, edit or delete any of them.
Why it helps: manage campaigns and links from a single screen instead of losing track of them.
Editable destinations
Change where a short link points without changing the link itself.
Why it helps: fix a typo or update a campaign after sharing — the link you posted keeps working.
Secure accounts
Email + password sign-in with hashed passwords and private sessions.
Why it helps: your links stay yours — only you can see and manage the links in your account.
QR codes included
Every short link comes with a downloadable QR code — ready for print, packaging or slides.
Why it helps: people scan instead of typing, so your link works offline and on any phone.
Free REST API
Shorten links from your own code with a simple, key-free endpoint. Read the API docs.
Why it helps: automate short links from your app, bot or workflow — no dashboard needed.
Frequently asked questions
What is a URL shortener?
A URL shortener is a tool that turns a long web address into a short, easy-to-share link. When someone opens the short link, they're instantly redirected to the original long URL. Read more about how short links work.
How do I shorten a URL for free?
Paste your long URL into the box at the top of this page and click Shorten. You'll get a short link you can copy and share right away — no signup needed.
Can I create a custom short link?
Yes. When shortening, enter your own custom code (the "back-half") — 4 to 30 letters, numbers or dashes — to make a branded, memorable link like theurlshortner.com/my-sale. See our guide on creating a custom short link.
Can I track how many people click my link?
Yes. Every short link counts its clicks. Create a free account to see all your links and their click counts in one dashboard. Learn how our URL shortener with click tracking works.
Do short links expire?
By default, no — your short links stay active and keep redirecting. You can optionally set an expiration (1 hour, 24 hours, 7 days or 30 days) when you create a link, after which it stops redirecting.
Can I password-protect a short link?
Yes. When shortening, turn on Password protect and set a password. Visitors must enter it before they're forwarded to your destination, and the destination stays hidden until they do.
Is TheURLShortner free to use?
Yes, TheURLShortner is completely free to shorten URLs, track clicks, protect links with a password and set expirations. See our URL shortener with no signup guide.
Start shortening — free, no signup
Create clean, trackable short links in seconds. Make a free account to manage them all in one dashboard.