Bitly has been the go-to URL shortener for over a decade. But in 2026, Bitly's pricing changes and new ad-supported free tier have many users searching for alternatives. Enter minimalink—a modern URL shortener built for today's creators, marketers, and businesses who want powerful features without the bloat or high prices.
In this head-to-head comparison, we'll show you exactly why minimalink is the better choice for most users in 2026.
The Big Problem with Bitly in 2026
Bitly used to be simple and generous. Not anymore. Here's what's changed:
Bitly's Free Tier in 2026
- Only 10 links per month (down from unlimited)
- Only 5 custom back-halves per month
- Interstitial ad pages shown before redirect
- Limited analytics (30 days only)
That's right—Bitly now shows ads on free links. When someone clicks your Bitly link, they may first see a Bitly-branded preview page with advertisements before reaching your actual destination. This looks unprofessional and hurts conversion rates.
Quick Comparison: Minimalink vs Bitly
| Feature | Minimalink | Bitly |
|---|---|---|
| Free links/month | ✓ 10/day (300/month) | ✗ 10/month total |
| Ads on free links | ✓ Never | ✗ Yes (preview pages) |
| Custom short codes | ✓ Pro ($3/mo) | ✗ 5/month free, then $35/mo |
| QR codes | ✓ Included in Pro | ✗ Premium feature ($199/mo) |
| Click analytics | ✓ Full history | ✗ 30 days on free |
| Expiring links | ✓ Pro ($3/mo) | ✗ Premium only |
| Pro plan price | $3/month | $35/month |
Why Minimalink Wins on Pricing
Let's talk money. Here's what you're paying for similar features:
Minimalink Pro
$3/month
- Unlimited links
- Custom short codes
- QR code generation
- Detailed analytics
- Expiring links
- CSV export
Bitly Core
$35/month
- 1,000 links/month
- 30 custom back-halves
- Basic QR codes
- 30-day analytics
- No expiring links
- Limited integrations
Minimalink Pro is 91% cheaper than Bitly Core—and includes features like expiring links that Bitly reserves for even higher tiers.
No Ads, Ever
This is our promise: minimalink will never show ads on your links. Not on free links. Not ever.
When you share a minimalink URL, it redirects instantly to your destination. No preview pages, no "click to continue," no advertisements. Your audience gets where they're going in under 50 milliseconds.
Compare that to Bitly's free tier, where users might see something like:
"You're about to visit example.com"
[ Advertisement ]
Click "Continue" to proceed...
That's not just annoying—it kills your click-through rates and looks unprofessional.
QR Codes: Included vs. $199/Month
QR codes are essential in 2026. Print marketing, restaurant menus, product packaging, event materials—they're everywhere. Here's the cost comparison:
- Minimalink Pro: QR codes for every link, $3/month
- Bitly: "QR Code Essentials" starts at $199/month
That's not a typo. Bitly charges $199/month for their QR code features. With minimalink, you get QR codes automatically generated for every short link you create—included in our $3 Pro plan.
Pro Tip: Every minimalink Pro user gets instant QR codes that they can download and use in print materials, business cards, flyers, and more—all tracked with full analytics.
Better Free Tier, No Questions Asked
Even if you never upgrade, minimalink's free tier beats Bitly:
| Free Tier | Minimalink | Bitly |
|---|---|---|
| Links | 10 per day | 10 per month |
| Ads shown | Never | Yes |
| Click tracking | Yes | Yes (30 days) |
| Account required | No (but recommended) | Yes |
| Anonymous links | 5 per day | None |
Speed Matters
Every millisecond counts when it comes to redirects. Slow redirects mean lost visitors, lower SEO value, and frustrated users.
Minimalink is built for speed:
- Average redirect time: <50ms
- Global CDN: Fast from anywhere
- 301 redirects: SEO-friendly permanent redirects
- No interstitial pages: Direct to destination
Bitly's free tier adds extra page loads with their ad previews, significantly slowing down the user experience.
Analytics That Actually Help
Both minimalink and Bitly offer click analytics, but there are important differences:
Minimalink Analytics (Pro)
- Click counts over time
- Geographic data (country, city)
- Device breakdown (mobile, desktop, tablet)
- Browser and OS information
- Referrer tracking
- Full history—no time limits
Bitly Analytics (Free)
- Click counts
- Geographic data
- Limited to 30 days
- Detailed data requires upgrade
With Bitly's free tier, your analytics data disappears after 30 days. That's useless for tracking long-term campaign performance or evergreen content.
When Might Bitly Still Make Sense?
We're biased, but we'll be honest—Bitly might still be right for you if:
- You need enterprise-level integrations (Salesforce, HubSpot, etc.)
- Your company already has a Bitly enterprise contract
- You need SSO and team management for 50+ users
- You specifically need Bitly's branded domain options
For everyone else—freelancers, small businesses, creators, marketers, and individuals—minimalink offers better value.
Making the Switch
Switching from Bitly to minimalink is easy:
- Sign up for free at minimalink
- Start creating new links with minimalink
- Keep your old Bitly links (they'll still work)
- Use minimalink for all new campaigns
There's no need to migrate existing links—just start using minimalink going forward and enjoy better features at a fraction of the cost.
Ready to Switch?
Join thousands of users who've switched from Bitly to minimalink. Better pricing, no ads, and all the features you need.
Try Minimalink FreeThe Bottom Line
Bitly was great—emphasis on was. In 2026, their aggressive pricing, limited free tier, and ad-supported links make it hard to recommend for most users.
Minimalink offers:
- 91% cheaper Pro plan ($3 vs $35/month)
- 30x more free links per month
- No ads on any links, ever
- QR codes included (vs. $199/month on Bitly)
- Full analytics history
- Expiring links for time-sensitive campaigns
The choice is clear. Try minimalink free and see the difference for yourself.