Bitly is the name everyone knows, but its free plan is tighter than most people expect: a small monthly cap on links, limited analytics history, and the better features locked behind a paid subscription. If you just want to shorten links, track clicks, and share them, you shouldn't have to pay a monthly fee. That's exactly why lynkily exists.
Why look for a Bitly alternative?
- Link limits. Bitly's free tier caps how many links you can create each month.
- Shallow analytics. Detailed click data and longer history need a paid plan.
- Feature gates. Custom back-halves, branded domains, and bulk tools cost extra.
- Upsell pressure. You're nudged toward an upgrade constantly.
lynkily vs Bitly at a glance
lynkily is a free URL shortener that bundles the things Bitly splits across paid tiers:
- ✅ Unlimited short links — no monthly cap.
- ✅ Unlimited QR codes for every link, free.
- ✅ Real-time analytics — clicks, devices, locations and referrers.
- ✅ Link-in-bio pages built in (a free Linktree-style page too).
- ✅ Password protection & link expiry for campaigns.
How to switch in under a minute
- Open the link creator and paste your long URL.
- Grab your short link and the auto-generated QR code.
- Share it, then watch the clicks roll in on your dashboard.
There's no credit card and nothing to install. If you've outgrown Bitly's free plan — or you just don't want to pay for link shortening — lynkily covers the same jobs without the paywall.
Ready to try it? Shorten your first link free → or see exactly what's included on the pricing page (spoiler: it's free).