Bitly alternatives: 6 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave Bitly: free plan is very limited and shows ads, and monthly volume caps on paid plans. We ranked 6 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Bitly, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. Rebrandly currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#	App	Pricing	Open source	Platforms	Verified facts	Score
1	Short.io	Free plan + paid	No	Web, iOS, Android +1	5 of 5	62.6

1. Short.ioTop pick
Best for: Small businesses that want branded short links on their own domains without paying much
Free plan + paidWeb, iOS, Android, Browser extension
62.6
score / 100
Why switch from Bitly
Cheaper branded links with a free tier that includes custom domains.
Pros
Custom domains on the free plan
Low-cost entry paid plan
Deep links, targeting and A/B redirects
Cons
Interface is functional rather than polished
Advanced security features only on higher tiers
Tracked-click caps on lower plans
Visit Short.io Details and reviews
How this score is calculated
Editorial fit ×0.387
Reviews ×0.363
Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
Freshness ×0.1585
Votes ×0.150
0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula
Is Short.io a good Bitly alternative?
Verified facts
5 of 5 verified
Free plan
5 custom domains, 1,000 branded links
Checked Oct 25, 2026short.io(opens source in a new tab)
Hobby plan
$5/month
Checked Oct 25, 2026short.io(opens source in a new tab)
Pro plan
$18/month
Checked Oct 25, 2026short.io(opens source in a new tab)
Team plan
$48/month
Checked Oct 25, 2026short.io(opens source in a new tab)
Users
1.2 million+
Checked Oct 25, 2026short.io(opens source in a new tab)

The best Bitly alternative for…

The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.

Best Bitly alternative for most people

Rebrandly

Stronger focus on branded domains, with a more generous entry plan.

Best Bitly alternative for a free option

YOURLS

Free and self-hosted on your own domain if you want full control.

Best Bitly alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

Short.io

Cheaper branded links with a free tier that includes custom domains.

Best Bitly alternative for open source

Dub

Modern, open-source link platform with conversion tracking and a generous free plan.

Best Bitly alternative for self-hosting

Dub

Modern, open-source link platform with conversion tracking and a generous free plan.

Best Bitly alternative for iPhone and Android

Short.io

Cheaper branded links with a free tier that includes custom domains.

Best Bitly alternative for working in the browser

TinyURL

Quick, no-fuss short links for people who don't need marketing analytics.

Bitly alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to Bitly?

Rebrandly ranks first right now. Stronger focus on branded domains, with a more generous entry plan. Short.io and Dub follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to Bitly?

Yes. Rebrandly (free plan + paid), Short.io (free plan + paid), Dub (free plan + paid) and YOURLS (open source) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to Bitly?

Yes: Dub and YOURLS. Dub and YOURLS can also be self-hosted.

Why do people switch from Bitly?

The complaints we hear most: free plan is very limited and shows ads; monthly volume caps on paid plans; costs climb steeply for higher tiers.

How is this list ranked?

Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces Bitly, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.