Migrate from Linkly to Flyn
Get your links out of Linkly, preview them in Flyn for free, and move your branded domain's DNS
Last updated: September 2026
Previewing is free on every plan. Importing needs Pro, Lifetime or Team.
Already have a Flyn account? Open the importer
Pre-Migration Checklist
Complete these steps before starting the migration to ensure a smooth transition.
- 1Get a CSV of your links from Linkly (API or support request) and verify it lists links, not clicks
- 2Note any geo or device redirect rules and rotators to recreate
- 3Document your custom domain DNS settings (screenshot recommended)
- 4If your links use your own branded domain, add it in Flyn (Settings > Domains) before you import
- 5Check your Flyn plan: previewing an import is free, creating the links needs Pro, Lifetime or Team
- 6Lower your DNS TTL to 60 seconds a day ahead to minimize switch-over time
Step 1: Export from Linkly
First, get your existing links out of Linkly so you can import them into Flyn.
Log in to Linkly
Sign in at linklyhq.com and open your Links.
Open your links list
Find the links you want to move.
Get a list of your links
Linkly documents exports of click data (Traffic report > Export), not of your link list. To get your links, use the Linkly API (Pro plan and above) or ask Linkly support, then save each short link and destination as a CSV. Do not upload a click export: every row in it is a click, not a link.
Note any redirect rules
If links use geo or device redirect rules or rotators, note them so you can recreate them in Flyn routing.
Step 2: Import into Flyn
Upload your export and Flyn detects the format, maps the columns (you can change any of them), and previews every link before anything is created. Previewing is free; importing needs Pro, Lifetime or Team.
Using your own branded domain? Add it in Settings > Domains before you import (Step 3 lists the DNS records), so the preview can match those links to it. Want to look first? Drop the file on the migration page: it is read in your browser and nothing is uploaded.
Create a Flyn account
Sign up at flyn.to/signup, no credit card required. Uploading and previewing an import is free on every plan; creating the links needs Pro, Lifetime or Team.
Open Links > Import links
In the Flyn dashboard, open the Links page and choose Import links, or go straight to flyn.to/links/import.
Upload your Linkly list
Drag and drop the file onto the importer, click to browse, or paste the rows (CSV, TSV and plain text all work). Flyn has no fixed template for this export, so it finds the destination and short link columns from their contents, whatever the headers are called. You can change any column mapping in the Review step.
Preview, then import
The preview shows what will happen to every link before anything is created. Links on your own branded domain can keep their back-halves when that domain is added in Flyn first. Links on Linkly's own domains cannot move, so each gets a new Flyn link on flyn.co (or a domain you pick in the preview). Choose whether to reuse old back-halves on flyn.co where they are free, and whether a taken back-half is skipped or renamed; existing links are never overwritten. Then start the import and download the report that maps each old short link to its new one.
Step 3: Domain & DNS Migration
Only links on your own branded domain can keep working after the move. Add the domain in Flyn and import its links before you switch DNS, so the links are already there when traffic arrives. Links on domains Linkly owns stay with Linkly, and printed QR codes that encode those links keep pointing there.
Add your domain in Flyn first
In Flyn, go to Settings > Domains > Add Domain and enter your branded short domain (for example go.yourcompany.com). Custom domains are included on Pro, Lifetime and Team, up to 3 per account. Do this before you import, so the preview matches your links to the domain.
Add the TXT record and click Verify
At your DNS provider, add the TXT record Flyn shows: _flyn on your root domain (_flyn.yourcompany.com, even when the short domain is go.yourcompany.com; many DNS panels want just _flyn as the name) with the flyn-verify value. Click Verify. This proves you own the domain and does not change where your links point.
Point the domain at Flyn
After your links are imported, replace the CNAME that points your domain at Linkly: use a CNAME to cname.flyn.to for a subdomain, or an A record to 76.76.21.21 for a root domain. Keep the hostname the same.
Verify again and test
DNS changes usually apply within minutes but can take up to 48 hours. Click Verify again: Flyn marks the domain Active once it finds the TXT record and the record pointing at Flyn. Then open a few old short links to confirm they redirect.
DNS Record Summary
| Field | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| Type | CNAME | CNAME (subdomain) or A (root domain) |
| Host | go (or your subdomain) | go (no change), or @ for a root domain |
| Target | Your Linkly target | cname.flyn.to or 76.76.21.21 |
| Ownership (TXT) | None | _flyn.yourcompany.com with the flyn-verify= value from Settings > Domains |
What Transfers
Here is what carries over from Linkly to Flyn and what needs to be reconfigured. A back-half can be reused when it uses only letters, numbers, hyphens and underscores and is not reserved for Flyn's own pages; the preview flags the rest, and those links get a new random back-half.
| Item | Transfers | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Destination URLs | All destinations are preserved | |
| Custom back-halves / slugs | On your domain | Kept on your own branded domain when it is added in Flyn before you import. Back-halves from Linkly's own domains can be reused on flyn.co (or a domain you pick in the preview) when they are free |
| Custom domains | Add it in Flyn before importing, then point its CNAME to cname.flyn.to (root domain: A record 76.76.21.21) and click Verify | |
| Geo and device redirect rules | Recreate | iOS, Android, Windows and Mac rules map to the same four Flyn device fields; Linux and city rules have no Flyn equivalent (routing is by country) |
| Retargeting pixels | Recreate | Configs do not auto-transfer, but Flyn Pro natively fires retargeting pixels on links (Meta, Google Ads, TikTok and 10 more), so re-add them in Flyn |
| Click analytics | History stays in Linkly, and Flyn clicks are unlimited and unmetered | |
| QR codes | Regenerate | Regenerate free in Flyn, with no watermark |
Post-Migration Verification
After completing the migration, work through this checklist to verify everything is working.
- Verify 5-10 sample short links resolve correctly
- Recreate geo and device routing rules in Flyn and test them
- Confirm your custom domain shows a green checkmark in Flyn
- Check that new clicks appear in Flyn analytics
- Regenerate any QR codes you need (now without a watermark)
- Keep your Linkly account active for 30 days as a safety net
Troubleshooting
Common issues and how to resolve them.
Links return 404 after migration
Allow up to 48 hours for DNS. Verify the CNAME points to cname.flyn.to and clear your cache. If you imported before adding the domain in Flyn, those links were created on flyn.co: add the domain and run the import again.
Geo or device routing stopped working
Redirect rules do not transfer in a CSV. Recreate them in Flyn link settings under routing (geo and device targeting).
Retargeting pixels are gone
Re-add your retargeting pixels in Flyn Pro (Meta, Google Ads, TikTok and 10 more) and attach them to your links. Prefer cookieless? Use the UTM builder to build audiences from tagged traffic.
Analytics show zero clicks
Historical Linkly analytics do not transfer. Flyn counts from the moment traffic reaches Flyn.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to migrate from Linkly to Flyn?
Linkly has no link export, so most of the time goes into getting your links out through its API or support. In Flyn, the importer creates links in batches of 100 with a progress bar, so most imports take minutes. Accounts in their first week may have a daily limit on new links; if an import reaches it, the importer stops and lets you download the remaining rows as a file to import once 24 hours have passed. If you move a branded domain, DNS changes usually apply within minutes but can take up to 48 hours.
Why move off Linkly?
Linkly meters tracked clicks on every plan, so your bill grows with traffic. Flyn Pro is $9 per month billed annually ($12 monthly) for unlimited clicks, so a viral link never raises your cost.
Do my geo and device redirect rules transfer?
Recreate them in Flyn link settings. Linkly iOS, Android, Windows and Mac rules map one to one to the Flyn device fields of the same names, and country rules map to Flyn country rules. Linux and city-level rules have no Flyn equivalent, so those visitors fall through to your Flyn country rules, A/B split or default destination. It is a quick per-link setup.
Do my retargeting pixels transfer?
The pixel configs do not carry over in the import, but Flyn Pro natively supports retargeting pixels on links (Meta, Google Ads, TikTok and 10 more), so just re-add them in Flyn. You can also use the built-in UTM builder for a cookieless approach.
Do my Linkly analytics transfer?
No, history stays in Linkly. New clicks track in Flyn, with no monthly click ceiling.
Is there a limit on how many links I can import?
Previewing an import is free on every plan, and on the free plan you can still create 25 links a month by hand. Importing needs Pro, Lifetime or Team, with no cap on how many links you import. Accounts less than 7 days old may have a daily limit on new links, an abuse safeguard; if an import reaches it, the importer stops cleanly and lets you download the rows that were not imported, to import once 24 hours have passed. The REST API takes one destination per request (Create Many only copies a single destination) and is rate limited, so the importer is the way to move a whole account.
Ready to Migrate from Linkly?
Create a free Flyn account and preview your Linkly import at no cost. No credit card required to sign up. Importing needs Pro, Lifetime or Team, and most imports take minutes. Accounts in their first week may have a daily limit on new links; if an import reaches it, the importer stops and lets you download the remaining rows as a file to import once 24 hours have passed.
Already have a Flyn account? Open the importer