Shorten.REST vs. Bitly
Bitly is a quick and easy link generator that does nothing more than create short links. Their plans, especially anything less than a custom enterprise plan, have many faults, including:
bitly has no UTM Builder until enterprise plan
How can you track performance with no setup to measure link variables?
bitly has extremely limited branding for all plans
Links generated using Bitly's free plan still have bit.ly in it, which isn't always trustworthy to users, and they know to be wary of those kinds of links.
bitly has Severely limited link analytics
Until you reach an enterprise-level custom plan, you can't perform operating system or location based tracking.
bitly has api limitations
You won't get full API access until reaching an enterprise-level plan. On top of this, API calls are slower than Shorten.REST's.
Shorten.REST vs. Bitly: A Quick Comparison
| Feature Comparison | Shorten.REST | Bitly |
|---|---|---|
| Free Plan | $0 | $0 |
| Number of Clicks/Month | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Number of Branded Links/Month | Unlimited | N/A |
| Number of Custom Domains | 1 | N/A |
| Operating System Based Link Tracking | Included | N/A |
| Location-Based Link Tracking | Included | N/A |
| Deep Links | Unlimited | N/A |
| UTM Builder | Included | N/A |
| SSL Certificate | Included | N/A |
| Guaranteed Uptime | 99.99% | N/A |
| Webhooks | Included | N/A |
| Startup vs. Basic | $95/Month | $35/Month |
| Number of Clicks/Month | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Number of Branded Links/Month | Unlimited | 1,500 |
| Number of Custom Domains | 3 | 1 |
| Operating System Based Link Tracking | Included | N/A |
| Location-Based Link Tracking | Included | N/A |
| Deep Links | Unlimited | N/A |
| UTM Builder | Included | N/A |
| SSL Certificate | Included | N/A |
| Guaranteed Uptime | 99.99% | N/A |
| Webhooks | Included | N/A |
| Business vs. Custom | $295/Month | Call for Quote |
| Number of Clicks/Month | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Number of Branded Links/Month | Unlimited | 3,000+ |
| Number of Custom Domains | 10 | 1 |
| Operating System Based Link Tracking | Included | Included |
| Location-Based Link Tracking | Included | Included |
| Deep Links | Included | Included |
| UTM Builder | Included | Included |
| SSL Certificate | Included | Available for Purchase |
| Guaranteed Uptime | 99.99% | 99.99% |
| Webhooks | Included | Included |
All Shorten.REST Plans Include
There are certain features that are non-negotiable, even if you’re on a free plan.
We know that.
Unlimited clicks.
Unlimited number of branded URLs.
UTM builder and unlimited meta tags.
Guaranteed 99.99% uptime for servers.
A free SSL certificate.
Click tracking by referrer, user agent, browser type, operating system, country (several more refined location-based features coming soon).
Between these two services, it really comes down to trust.
People have become less trusting of Bitly links, as they can be dangerous, or simply redirect you somewhere you had no intention of going.
An unlimited number of branded links, however, makes your company's site trustworthy and memorable.
Developer Testimonials
Hear Capterra verified testimonials from developers using our link shortener services.
The first URL shorten service with API. I am amazed with the full range of API facilities.
Freelancer
There are many link shorteners on the market but Shorten have gone the extra mile by providing a bunch of extra developer-friendly features – like a Zapier integration and decent click tracking stats.
Managing Director
Computer Software
Works as advertised. URL shortening is something that we expect to be easy to set up, no hassle and that just works. Shorten.REST does that very well. We integrated it in a few hours in our software solution.
CEO
Information Technology and Services
We literally set up Shorten.REST in less than an hour, live on functioning on our Esports Management platform.
Founder
Sports