Bitly is the best-known link shortener, but in 2026 it's also one of the most expensive for what most people actually need. The free plan now allows only 5 links per month (and shows an ad before your link resolves), while the first genuinely useful paid plan costs around $35/month. If you just want short links, QR codes, and analytics, you can pay a lot less.
Why people find Bitly too expensive
- Tiny free plan: 5 links/month plus ads on your links erodes trust.
- Big jump to paid: the practical marketer tier is ~$35/month for 500 links.
- Premium cliff: advanced analytics sit on a ~$300/month plan.
- Pay-for-extras: link-in-bio and longer analytics history are gated.
The cheaper alternative: lynkily
lynkily bundles short links, QR codes, link-in-bio, and analytics in one tool — with a free plan that's actually usable and paid plans that start at $5/month.
| What you get | lynkily | Bitly | Linkly |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free plan | 50 links/mo, no ads | 5 links/mo + ads on links | 100 links but 500 clicks/mo cap |
| Cheapest paid plan | $5/mo (Starter) | ~$35/mo (Growth) | ~$15/mo (Starter) |
| Full analytics from | $5/mo | ~$35/mo | paid tiers |
| Link-in-bio page | ✅ included | Limited / paid | ❌ none |
| QR codes | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| UTM campaign builder | ✅ from $5/mo | ✅ (paid) | ✅ |
What you give up by switching (almost nothing)
For everyday link shortening, QR codes, UTM campaigns, and a link-in-bio page, lynkily covers the same jobs. Bitly's edge is mainly enterprise scale and 800+ integrations — if you don't need those, you're paying for them anyway.
How to switch in a minute
- Open the link creator and paste your URL.
- Grab your short link and its QR code.
- Add UTM tags or a branded domain if you need them.
See the full breakdown on the pricing page, or read our free Bitly alternative guide.