Best Bitly alternatives in 2026
Key factsDub suits attribution and affiliate tracking; Rebrandly suits branded domains
- Dub offers branded domains, QR codes, an API, and a Partners product that pays affiliates when a click converts.
- New Dub users get 20% off for three months through the site's partner link.
- Rebrandly is a Bitly alternative that is strong on branded domains but weaker on conversion tracking and affiliate payouts.
- Dub's pricing is freemium, with paid plans adding volume, retention, and the Partners product.
- Staying on Bitly makes sense for teams with years of links who do not need click-to-revenue attribution.
Bitly is what people mean when they say "short link." You look for alternatives when the branded domain is gated, when you need to know which click became a customer, or when you are tired of paying for a vanity URL and a QR code.
I am biased in one specific way: we run Dub on our own partner links. That is not a metaphor. The "via=" and dub_id on these reviews go through Dub. So this page will tell you when Dub is the wrong tool, but it will not pretend we picked it from a spreadsheet.
New users get 20% off for three months through our Dub link. Details in the Dub review.
Quick comparison
| Tool | Best for | Not for |
|---|---|---|
| Dub | Attribution, affiliates, developers | Shortening one personal link |
| Rebrandly | Marketing teams that want a pretty branded domain | Conversion tracking as the core product |
| TinyURL / free shorteners | One-off links | Anything you will report on |
| Bitly | Habit and a huge existing workspace | Teams that outgrew click counts |
Dub
Dub treats the short link as the first event in a funnel, not the finished product. You get branded domains, QR codes, an API, and a Partners product that pays affiliates when a click converts. That last part is why we use it. A shortener that stops at the click cannot run a partner program.
Who it is for: growth teams, SaaS companies embedding link creation, and anyone who currently stitches a shortener, a spreadsheet, and a payout tool.
Who it is not for: you, if you need to shrink one URL for a group chat. Use a free shortener.
Pricing is freemium. The free tier is real. Paid plans add volume, retention, and Partners. The three-month 20% offer makes a Pro or Business trial cheaper. Read the dated pricing in the review rather than trusting a screenshot from a listicle.
Rebrandly
Rebrandly is the other grown-up Bitly alternative people actually name. Strong on branded domains and marketing workflows. Weaker if your question is "which partner got paid." If you do not need conversion events or affiliate payouts, Rebrandly is a fair Bitly swap.
Stay on Bitly if...
Your workspace already has years of links, your team knows the UI, and you are not asking the link to do attribution. Migration is boring and easy to get wrong. Do not move 40,000 links for a 20% coupon on another tool.
How to think about "Bitly vs Dub"
Bitly sells clicks and a brand people recognize. Dub sells the path from click to revenue. If your report is "this campaign got 12,000 clicks," Bitly is enough. If your report is "this partner produced $18k of signed-up customers," you need conversion tracking. That is the Dub job.
Same category on the surface. Different job.
FAQ
What is the best Bitly alternative?
Dub if you care what happened after the click. Rebrandly if you care about the branded domain and marketing workflows. A free shortener if you do not need either.
Is Dub free?
Yes, with limits. Paid plans start when you need more links, longer analytics retention, or the Partners product. See the Dub review.
Can I import Bitly links?
Plan for a transition, not a magic import of every historical click. Stand up the new domain, move the links you still share, keep Bitly read-only for a quarter.
Related
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