Best Bitly Alternative
Unlimited links, deeper analytics, and A/B testing at a fraction of the cost
Last updated: July 2026
Unlimited links, deep analytics, A/B testing, QR codes, and deep links for 18 native apps, from $12/mo ($9 annual).
Bitly is the most recognized URL shortener, used since 2008. But rising prices, limited analytics on lower tiers, and per-link caps are pushing teams to modern alternatives like Flyn.
Why Look for a Bitly Alternative?
Many teams start with Bitly because it is the most recognized name in URL shortening. But as link volumes grow and campaign complexity increases, Bitly's per-link caps and tiered feature gates become painful. Marketing teams creating 500+ links per month face $29-$199/month bills, and still miss features like A/B testing, deep links, and granular geo analytics that modern campaigns demand. The switch to a platform with unlimited links and deeper capabilities at a fraction of the cost is becoming the default move for growth teams in 2026.
Bitly at a Glance
Bitly homepage (bitly.com), screenshot captured April 2026
Bitly: Pros & Cons
What Bitly Does Well
- Most recognized short link brand
- Extensive integrations ecosystem
- Strong QR code features
- Reliable uptime track record
Where Bitly Falls Short
- Expensive per-link pricing model
- Advanced analytics locked to Premium ($199/mo)
- No A/B testing on any plan
- No geo-routing or password protection on any plan
Pricing Comparison
Flyn Plans
Bitly Plans
Feature Comparison: Flyn vs Bitly
| Feature | Flyn | Bitly |
|---|---|---|
| Core | ||
| Link shortening | ||
| Custom branded domains | 3 on Pro | 1 on Growth ($29/mo) |
| Unlimited links | ||
| QR code generation | ||
| Analytics | ||
| Real-time click analytics | Premium only | |
| City-level geo data | Premium only | |
| Device & browser breakdown | Premium only | |
| Referrer analysis | ||
| Period-over-period trends | ||
| Human vs bot click breakdown | Not shown | |
| AI Assistants referrer channel | ||
| Click-to-conversion tracking | Included on Pro | |
| Advanced | ||
| A/B split testing | ||
| Password-protected links | ||
| Link expiration | Growth+ ($29/mo) | |
| Geo-routing | ||
| Device targeting | ||
| Deep links (native apps) | 18 platforms | Premium ($199/mo) |
| Link cloaking | ||
| Custom OG metadata | ||
| Retargeting pixels on links | ||
| Developer | ||
| REST API | ||
| Webhooks | Enterprise only | |
| Chrome extension | ||
| Marketing | ||
| UTM builder | ||
| Bulk link creation | Growth+ ($29/mo) | |
| Collaboration | ||
| Team workspaces | $4/seat add-on | |
Why Teams Are Switching from Bitly to Flyn
Bitly dominated URL shortening for over a decade, but the landscape has shifted. Their pricing now starts at $10/month for just 100 links, and you still do not get a custom domain until the $29/month Growth plan. Advanced features like A/B testing and password protection are simply not available, while deep links require the $199/month Premium plan. Flyn was built for teams that outgrew Bitly: unlimited links on Pro, 3 custom domains, real-time analytics, A/B testing, and a full developer API, all at $9/month billed annually.
Pricing: Flyn Saves Teams up to 95%
Bitly's Growth plan at $29/month gives you 500 links and 1 custom domain. Flyn Pro at $9/month (annual) gives you unlimited links and 3 custom domains. That is about 69% cheaper than Growth while getting significantly more, and up to 95% cheaper than Bitly's Premium plan at $199/month, which still caps you at 3,000 links, a limit Flyn eliminates entirely. For teams creating hundreds of links monthly, the savings compound quickly.
Quick Switch
Upload your Bitly export or link list and Flyn previews every link for free, no card needed. Importing needs a paid plan. Start free →
Analytics: Flyn Goes Deeper
Bitly restricts real-time analytics and city-level geo data to their most expensive plans. Flyn Pro includes everything: real-time click streams, period-over-period trend comparisons, auto-granularity (hourly, daily, weekly), city-level geographic breakdowns, device and browser segmentation, and referrer analysis. Every click on every link is tracked, no "tracked click" limits or analytics tiers.
Features Bitly Does Not Offer
Flyn includes features that Bitly simply lacks across all their plans: A/B split testing to optimize landing pages, password-protected links for sensitive content, auto-expiring links for time-limited campaigns, geo-routing to send users to region-specific destinations, device targeting for platform-specific redirects, deep links that open content directly in 18 native apps, link cloaking for branded URLs, custom OG metadata for social sharing control, and webhook events for real-time integrations.
Migration from Bitly Is Painless
Export your links from Bitly as CSV (Bitly includes data export on Growth and above) and upload the file to Flyn's importer, which detects the columns and previews every link for free before anything is created. Destinations carry over, and back-halves carry over where they are free. If you use a custom domain, add it in Flyn before you import so those links are recreated on it, then point its CNAME record to Flyn: they keep working once the domain is verified in Flyn and its DNS points to Flyn. Links on bit.ly stay with Bitly and get new Flyn links, mapped old to new in the import report. Historical analytics from Bitly are not portable, but all future click data flows into Flyn's richer analytics from day one.
How Bitly Compares to the Other Alternatives
Bitly is not the only option, and the best Bitly alternative depends on what you actually need. Here is how the main contenders compare on entry price, free plan, and who each one fits. Flyn is our pick for most teams on flat-rate value, but we call the honest trade-offs.
| Tool | Cheapest paid plan | Free plan | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| FlynOur pick | $9/mo (annual) | 25 links/mo on flyn.to | Best all-round value: unlimited links, A/B testing, deep links, and GDPR-safe analytics at one flat, transparent rate (about 8 EUR / 7 GBP). |
| Bitly | $10/mo | 5 links/mo | The most recognized brand with the widest integrations, but per-link caps and analytics gated to the $199/mo Premium tier. |
| Dub | $90/mo | Not on pricing page | Best for teams running an affiliate or creator partner program and paying partners, if the $90/mo entry tier and per-plan link caps suit you. |
| Short.io | $5/mo | 1,000 links | Generous free tier for custom domains, but analytics run on tracked-click limits rather than truly unlimited. |
| Rebrandly | $11/mo | 10 links/mo | Strong branded-domain management and a domain marketplace, but priced per link so it gets expensive at volume. |
Prices verified July 2026, entry = cheapest paid tier. Link caps and analytics limits are the details that bite at scale, so match the plan to your real monthly link volume, not the headline price.
How to Migrate from Bitly to Flyn
Export your links from Bitly as CSV (Bitly includes data export on Growth and above)
Create a Flyn account at flyn.to/signup (the import preview is free; importing links and custom domains need a paid plan)
Using your own domain? Add it in Flyn under Settings, Domains before you import, so links on it are recreated there with the same back-halves
Upload the file under Links, Import links: Flyn detects the columns and previews every link for free before anything is created
Add the DNS records Flyn shows under Settings, Domains (a TXT record to prove ownership, then a CNAME to cname.flyn.to, or an A record to 76.76.21.21 for a root domain) and click Verify, so the links imported onto your domain keep working. Links on bit.ly stay with Bitly and get new Flyn links, mapped old to new in the import report
Check a few links once DNS updates, which usually takes minutes but can take up to 48 hours
What carries over: destinations, titles and tags from your file, and back-halves where they are free. Links on your own domain keep working once they are imported onto it, the domain is verified in Flyn and its DNS points to Flyn. Links on Bitly's shared domains get new Flyn links, mapped old to new in the import report. Click history does not transfer.
Full step-by-step Bitly to Flyn migration guideThe Verdict
Bitly works for basic shortening, but its per-link pricing, limited analytics, and missing advanced features make it expensive for what you get. Flyn delivers 5x more features at up to 95% less cost. Pricing is flat and transparent, $12/month or $9/month billed annually (about 8 EUR / 7 GBP), no per-link fees and no surprise tier jumps, and analytics are GDPR-safe with no raw IP storage plus one-click data export. The import preview is free.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Flyn a free Bitly alternative?
Yes. Flyn offers a free plan with 25 links per month and basic analytics, more generous than Bitly's free tier of 5 links with no custom domains. Flyn Pro at $9/month (annual) includes unlimited links, 3 custom domains, A/B testing, and deep analytics.
Can I keep my Bitly short links when switching to Flyn?
Links on your own custom domain (like go.yourcompany.com), yes: add the domain in Flyn, import your links onto it with the same back-halves, then point its CNAME to cname.flyn.to and verify the domain in Flyn. Any link on that domain you did not import stops resolving once DNS moves, so import them all first. Links on the bit.ly domain stay with Bitly since you don't control that domain; the importer gives each one a new Flyn link and a report that maps old to new.
Does Flyn have better analytics than Bitly?
Significantly. Flyn provides real-time click streams, city-level geo data, period-over-period trends, device/browser breakdowns, and referrer analysis on Pro. Bitly restricts most of these to their $199/month Premium plan. Flyn Pro also carries the story past the click: turn on conversion tracking, add one small tag to your site, and each link reports the signups and sales it produced, with conversion rate and total value. Bitly stops at the click on every plan.
How much cheaper is Flyn compared to Bitly?
Flyn Pro costs $12/month, or $9/month billed annually, for unlimited links and 3 custom domains. Bitly's comparable Growth plan costs $29/month for 500 links and 1 custom domain. That is about 69% less than Growth, and up to 95% less than Bitly Premium ($199/mo), with significantly more features.
Does Flyn support A/B testing?
Yes. Flyn Pro includes A/B split testing with a whole-number weight typed next to each destination, set any ratio from 1/99 to 99/1. Bitly does not offer A/B testing on any plan.
Is Flyn GDPR compliant?
Yes. Flyn analytics never persist raw IP addresses and provide full data export and account deletion workflows for compliance. Bitly's data handling is less transparent in this regard.
Ready to switch from Bitly?
Start with a free account, no credit card required, and preview your import before you pay for anything.