Migrate from Short.io to Flyn
Transfer your Short.io links and custom domains to Flyn with a CSV export and a DNS update
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.
- 1Ask Short.io support to enable export, then export links from each domain separately
- 2Note all custom domains connected to Short.io
- 3Screenshot DNS settings for each domain
- 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
- 6Coordinate with team on migration timing
Step 1: Export from Short.io
First, get your existing links out of Short.io so you can import them into Flyn.
Ask Short.io to turn on export
Short.io export is off by default. Ask Short.io support to enable it for your account first.
Export all links of a domain
In Short.io, open Domain settings and click the Export links icon next to the domain. Short.io emails you a Download Export link.
Or export selected links
Under Branded links, select the links you want and click the Export icon; the CSV downloads straight away. This file may include fewer columns than the full domain export.
Repeat for each domain
Exports are per domain, so export every domain you use. You can also list links through the Short.io API (GET /api/links, one domain at a time).
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 the Short.io CSV
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 Short.io documents for its export (original URL, short URL, path, title, tags). Short.io 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. 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. Import each domain's file in turn.
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 Short.io owns stay with Short.io, 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 to cname.short.io: 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 | cname.short.io | 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 Short.io 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 original URLs preserved | |
| Slugs (paths) | On your domain | Kept on your own branded domain when it is added in Flyn before you import. Otherwise they can be reused on flyn.co (or a domain you pick in the preview) when they are free |
| Tags | Mapped from the tags column; Flyn detects the separator | |
| Custom domains | Add it in Flyn before importing, then switch the CNAME from cname.short.io to cname.flyn.to (root domain: A record 76.76.21.21) and click Verify | |
| Click statistics | Historical stats remain in Short.io | |
| QR codes | Regenerate | Printed QR codes that encode your own domain follow it to Flyn. New QR codes are free in Flyn |
| Expiration rules | Recreate link expiration settings in Flyn |
Post-Migration Verification
After completing the migration, work through this checklist to verify everything is working.
- Test a sample of short links from each migrated domain
- Confirm domains are verified in Flyn
- Check that Flyn analytics are recording new clicks
- Reconfigure link expiration rules if needed
- Update API integrations from Short.io to Flyn
Troubleshooting
Common issues and how to resolve them.
No export option in Short.io
Short.io keeps export turned off until you ask. Contact Short.io support to enable it, then export from Domain settings.
Export only includes links for one domain
Short.io exports are per-domain. Switch to each domain in the dashboard and export separately, then import each CSV into Flyn.
CNAME conflict with existing A record
A CNAME and A record cannot coexist on the same hostname. Remove the A record before adding the CNAME pointing to cname.flyn.to.
Imported links missing tags
Check that the Short.io CSV includes a tags column and that it is mapped to Tags in the Review step. If tags were not exported, add a tags column to the file before importing, or tag links in Flyn afterwards.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I migrate from Short.io to Flyn?
Ask Short.io support to enable export, export each domain as CSV, add your custom domain in Flyn, and import the files (previewing is free, importing needs Pro, Lifetime or Team). Then point the domain's CNAME from cname.short.io to cname.flyn.to and click Verify.
Does Short.io offer bulk export?
Yes, once Short.io support enables it: CSV export per domain from the dashboard, and link listing through the Short.io API.
Will my Short.io API integrations break?
You will need to update API calls to use Flyn's REST API. The endpoints differ; Flyn's API creates, lists, updates and deletes links and returns click stats, and API keys need a paid plan. Check flyn.to/docs for API documentation.
Can I migrate multiple Short.io domains?
Yes. Export links from each domain separately, add each domain in Flyn (Pro includes 3), import each CSV, and point each domain's CNAME to cname.flyn.to and verify it.
Is Flyn cheaper than Short.io?
Flyn Pro at $9/month (annual) includes unlimited links and 3 custom domains. Short.io's Hobby plan costs $5/month with 2,500 links and 100K tracked clicks, their Pro plan is $18/month with unlimited links and clicks, and their Team plan is $48/month. Flyn offers unlimited links and unlimited tracked clicks at $9/month billed annually ($12 monthly).
Ready to Migrate from Short.io?
Create a free Flyn account and preview your Short.io 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