Migrate from PicSee to Flyn
Export your PicSee links, 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.
- 1Export your PicSee links (Link History > Export, 1,000 per export) and save them as CSV
- 2Note the custom social preview (title, description, image) for any links that use one
- 3Document your branded 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 PicSee
First, get your existing links out of PicSee so you can import them into Flyn.
Log in to PicSee
Sign in at picsee.io and open Link History.
Filter your links
If you have more than 1,000 links, use search to narrow the list first; each export holds at most 1,000.
Export your links
Choose Export at the top right. Each export holds your latest 1,000 links (from Links and Starred), so large accounts need several filtered exports. Export is a Premium feature, and links created through the API (API Record) are not included. If you get an Excel file, save it as CSV before uploading.
Note your custom previews
PicSee lets you set a custom social preview (title, description, image) per link. Note these so you can recreate them as custom OG metadata in Flyn.
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 PicSee export
Drag and drop the file onto the importer, click to browse, or paste the rows (CSV, TSV and plain text all work). Flyn recognizes the column names PicSee documents for its export (shortened URL and destination URL). PicSee does not publish a sample file, so check the suggested mapping. 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 PicSee's own domain 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.
Set custom previews where needed
For links that relied on PicSee previews, set the custom OG title, description, and image on the link in Flyn so shares render the way you want.
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 PicSee owns stay with PicSee, 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 for your PicSee branded short domain (BSD): 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. With Flyn, a custom domain is included on Pro, not a paid add-on.
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 PicSee 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 PicSee 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 slugs | On your domain | Kept on your own branded domain when it is added in Flyn before you import. Back-halves from PicSee's own domain can be reused on flyn.co (or a domain you pick in the preview) when they are free |
| Branded domain | Add it in Flyn before importing, then point the CNAME to cname.flyn.to and click Verify (included on Flyn Pro, not an add-on) | |
| Custom social previews | Recreate | Set custom OG title, description, and image per link in Flyn |
| Facebook pixel / GTM | Recreate | Re-add your Meta pixel or Google Tag Manager container in Flyn Pro, which supports 13 pixel and tag types |
| Click analytics | History stays in PicSee, new clicks track in Flyn | |
| QR codes | Regenerate | Regenerate free in Flyn |
Post-Migration Verification
After completing the migration, work through this checklist to verify everything is working.
- Verify 5-10 sample short links resolve correctly
- Set custom OG metadata on links that relied on PicSee previews and test a share
- Confirm your custom domain shows a green checkmark in Flyn
- Check that new clicks appear in Flyn analytics
- Regenerate any QR codes you need
- Keep your PicSee 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.
Shared links show the wrong preview
Set the custom OG title, description, and image on the link in Flyn, then re-scrape the URL with the Facebook Sharing Debugger so platforms refresh the cached preview.
Analytics show zero clicks
Historical PicSee analytics do not transfer. Flyn counts from the moment traffic reaches Flyn.
My branded domain will not verify
Confirm the TXT record at _flyn.yourdomain.com and a CNAME to cname.flyn.to, and remove any old PicSee BSD record on that hostname. Then click Verify again; DNS changes can take up to 48 hours.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to migrate from PicSee to Flyn?
Each PicSee export holds 1,000 links, so large accounts spend most of the time exporting in batches. 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.
Do my custom social previews transfer?
Recreate them in Flyn: set the custom OG title, description, and image per link. Flyn supports the same per-link preview control PicSee is known for.
Does my branded domain move over?
Yes. Add it in Flyn, import your links onto it, then point the CNAME to cname.flyn.to and click Verify. On Flyn a custom domain is included on Pro, not a paid add-on like PicSee BSD.
Do my PicSee analytics transfer?
No, history stays in PicSee. New clicks track in Flyn with real-time, geo, and device data.
Is Flyn cheaper than PicSee?
For a full feature set, usually yes. Flyn Pro is $9 per month billed annually ($12 monthly) with the domain and API included. On PicSee, a branded domain and a usable API are paid add-ons on top of the membership tier.
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 PicSee?
Create a free Flyn account and preview your PicSee 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