Migrate from TinyURL to Flyn
Move beyond TinyURL's limitations with Flyn's custom domains, analytics, and unlimited links
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.
- 1List every TinyURL link you still use and the destination it points to
- 2For large accounts, check whether your TinyURL plan includes API access
- 3Decide on a custom domain for your Flyn branded links
- 4Note the aliases you want to keep; the import preview checks each one for you
- 5Check your Flyn plan: previewing an import is free, creating the links needs Pro, Lifetime or Team
Step 1: Export from TinyURL
First, get your existing links out of TinyURL so you can import them into Flyn.
Know that TinyURL has no export file
We found no link export in TinyURL's help center or plan table (checked September 2026), so you build the file yourself.
Collect your links
Copy your links and destinations from the TinyURL dashboard into a spreadsheet. For many links, TinyURL API v2 can list them: GET /urls/available returns your aliases, and GET /alias/{domain}/{alias} returns each destination (one call per link). We could not confirm which TinyURL plans include API access.
Build a CSV
Put one destination URL per row. Add a second column with the TinyURL link (tinyurl.com/your-alias) if you want the import report to map old to new, and a tags column if you like. Flyn finds the URL columns from their contents; name the tags column tags, or pick it in the Review step.
Or paste a list
For a short list, skip the file and paste the destination URLs straight into the importer, one per line.
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 CSV
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 tinyurl.com 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 TinyURL owns stay with TinyURL, and printed QR codes that encode those links keep pointing there.
Register a custom domain (if needed)
Most TinyURL free users do not have a custom domain. Buy one from any registrar if you want branded short links; custom domains are included on Flyn Pro, Lifetime and Team.
Add your domain in Flyn
In Settings > Domains > Add Domain, enter your short domain (for example go.yourdomain.com). Flyn shows the records to add.
Add the DNS records
Add the TXT record _flyn.yourdomain.com with the flyn-verify value Flyn shows, plus a CNAME from your subdomain to cname.flyn.to (or an A record to 76.76.21.21 for a root domain). If this domain already serves TinyURL branded links, import those links onto it in Flyn before you change the record.
Verify and start using branded links
Click Verify. DNS changes usually apply within minutes but can take up to 48 hours. Once the domain is active, you can pick it when you create links. Existing tinyurl.com links remain active on TinyURL.
DNS Record Summary
| Field | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| Type | CNAME or A | CNAME (subdomain) or A (root domain) |
| Host | go (or your subdomain) | go (no change), or @ for a root domain |
| Target | Your TinyURL domain record, if you have one | 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 TinyURL 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 | From the file you build (dashboard copy or API) | |
| Custom aliases | Partial | Kept on your own branded domain when it is added in Flyn first; tinyurl.com aliases can be reused on flyn.co (or a domain you pick in the preview) when they are free |
| Tags | If in file | Add a tags column to your CSV and Flyn maps it |
| 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 | |
| Click analytics | TinyURL analytics do not export | |
| tinyurl.com links | tinyurl.com is owned by TinyURL, so those links stay there. Each gets a new Flyn link, and the import report maps old to new |
Post-Migration Verification
After completing the migration, work through this checklist to verify everything is working.
- Verify imported links resolve to correct destinations
- Set up your custom domain and confirm DNS verification
- Test branded short links with the new domain
- Update any places where you shared tinyurl.com links with new Flyn links (the import report lists old and new)
- Explore Flyn features not available in TinyURL (A/B testing, deep links, geo-routing)
Troubleshooting
Common issues and how to resolve them.
Cannot export links from TinyURL
We found no export in any TinyURL plan. Copy links from the dashboard or pull them with TinyURL API v2, then paste or upload them into Flyn.
Old tinyurl.com links not redirecting to Flyn
Links on the tinyurl.com domain are controlled by TinyURL and cannot be redirected to Flyn. You need to share new Flyn links going forward.
Custom aliases already taken in Flyn
The preview checks every back-half before anything is created. On Flyn's shared default domain, common aliases are often taken: choose "Give that link a random back-half" or "Skip that link". With a custom domain, availability is separate, since each domain has its own namespace.
No analytics data after switching
TinyURL analytics (if available) do not transfer. Flyn starts tracking from the moment links are created. Check back after a few clicks to see data populate.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I migrate free TinyURL links to Flyn?
You can recreate them in Flyn. TinyURL has no export file, so copy your destination URLs from the dashboard (or use the TinyURL API), then paste or upload them. Previewing is free; creating the links in one import needs Pro, Lifetime or Team, and on the free plan you can create 25 links a month by hand.
Will my tinyurl.com short links still work?
Yes. Existing tinyurl.com links continue working through TinyURL. They cannot be redirected to Flyn since tinyurl.com is TinyURL's domain.
Why switch from TinyURL to Flyn?
TinyURL lacks custom domains on its free plan, offers minimal analytics, and has no A/B testing, deep links, or geo-routing. Flyn provides all of these plus unlimited links on Pro.
Does TinyURL offer an API for export?
TinyURL API v2 can list your links, but the list does not include destinations, so you need one more call per link to fetch each destination. We could not confirm which TinyURL plans include API access.
How much does Flyn cost compared to TinyURL?
Flyn Pro costs $9/month (annual) with unlimited links, 3 custom domains, and A/B testing. TinyURL Pro costs $16/month ($13/month annual) for 250 links a month.
Ready to Migrate from TinyURL?
Create a free Flyn account and preview your TinyURL 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