URL Shorteners That Pay You: Can You Really Earn from Short Links?

URL shorteners that pay you promise a way to earn money by sharing shortened links. Instead of just making long URLs shorter, these services insert ads before redirecting users to the final destination. Each time someone clicks your link and views the ad, you receive a small payment.

1. You register with a service that offers monetized short links.
2. You create shortened URLs using their platform.
3. When someone clicks the link, they see an ad (often a full-page interstitial) before being redirected.
4. You earn money per 1,000 clicks (commonly referred to as CPM).

Payments are usually small—often between $1 and $10 per 1,000 clicks depending on the country, ad type, and platform.

Some well-known providers include:

• AdFly – One of the oldest, offering payouts through PayPal or Payoneer.
• ShrinkMe.io – Popular with higher CPMs in certain geographies.
• Short.io with ad integrations – Allows custom domains with monetization options.
• Shorte.st – Provides tools like browser extensions and APIs for link monetization.

(Note: rates and reliability vary, and some services have poor reputations for late or missing payments.)

• Easy setup, no special skills required.
• Passive earnings if you have high traffic channels (social media, blogs, forums).
• Simple way to monetize casual link sharing.

• User experience suffers – visitors dislike being forced through ads.
• Low payouts – usually not significant unless you have thousands of daily clicks.
• Trust issues – many services are flagged as spam or blocked by platforms.
• Reputation risk – sharing ad-heavy links can reduce credibility.

If your goal is serious online income, paid URL shorteners are rarely sustainable. Better options include:

• Affiliate marketing – Earn commissions by sharing affiliate links instead of ad-based shorteners.
• Link management platforms like Linkly – Track clicks, add retargeting pixels, and manage branded short links for professional campaigns.
• Content monetization – Use platforms like YouTube, Substack, or blogs to generate ad or subscription income directly.

While URL shorteners that pay you can generate small amounts of revenue, they are best seen as a side experiment, not a reliable income source. For long-term growth, building trust with your audience using tools like custom domains, vanity URLs, and detailed click tracking offers far more value.

Ready to move beyond ad-based link shorteners? Try Linkly to create branded links with advanced tracking, retargeting, and integrations—without compromising user experience.