Short.io Shortens Links. Linkly Turns Them Into Marketing Tools.
Short.io has a great free tier for basic shortening. Linkly adds retargeting pixels, link cloaking, device targeting, and Google Sheets feeds — turning every link into a marketing asset.
Free plan available. No credit card required.
Where Linkly Goes Beyond Short.io
Short.io is a solid link shortener. Linkly is a link management platform built for marketers who need retargeting, cloaking, and advanced routing.
Retargeting Pixels
Add Facebook, Google, TikTok, and LinkedIn pixels to any Linkly link — every click builds your retargeting audience automatically. Short.io doesn't support retargeting pixels on any plan.
Link Cloaking
Link cloaking keeps your destination URL hidden behind your branded domain — critical for affiliate marketers protecting commission links. Short.io exposes the destination at redirect. Linkly includes cloaking on the Business plan and above.
Google Sheets Feeds
Linkly's Google Sheets add-on pushes live click analytics into your spreadsheets without CSV exports or manual updates — invaluable for agencies running reporting in Google Workspace. Short.io has no native Google Sheets integration.
Password-Protected Links
Lock any Linkly link behind a password so only authorised recipients can access the destination — ideal for sharing confidential content, pre-launch campaigns, or early-access promotions with a specific audience. Short.io doesn't offer password-protected links.
Simple, Transparent Pricing
Short.io's Team plan starts at $48/mo. Linkly's 25k plan at $39/mo includes geo-targeting, device routing, retargeting pixels, and link expiration — a broader feature set at a lower price.
Advanced Routing Rules
Linkly lets you stack geo and device rules on a single link — sending French iOS users one URL and French Android users another. Short.io has basic geo-targeting on some plans but doesn't support layered routing.
Linkly vs Short.io: Our Honest Assessment
Short.io is one of the better value link shorteners on the market. Its free tier is genuinely generous, its custom domain support is flexible, and the per-click and per-link limits are competitive at most paid tiers. For developers and small teams who primarily need reliable link shortening with custom domains and basic analytics, Short.io is a solid choice. The gap becomes apparent when marketing teams need campaign-specific capabilities that Short.io simply doesn't offer.
The most significant missing features on Short.io are retargeting pixels and link cloaking. These are not minor omissions — retargeting pixels transform every link click into a qualified audience for your paid ads, and link cloaking is essential for affiliate and performance marketers. Short.io handles geo-targeting, device targeting, A/B testing, and link expiration well. The gap is specifically in campaign-layer features: pixel firing, URL masking, and Google Sheets live reporting.
The pricing comparison requires context: Short.io starts at $18/mo vs Linkly at $39/mo, so Linkly costs more. But that comparison doesn't account for the feature delta. If you're a marketer running retargeting campaigns, the choice is between a tool that supports your workflow at $39/mo and one that doesn't at $18/mo. For pure link shortening with analytics, Short.io is excellent value. For link management as a marketing channel, Linkly is the more capable platform.
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
See exactly how Linkly and Short.io stack up across every feature that matters.
| Feature |  | Short.io |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly Price | $39/mo 25k Plan | $18/mo Pro Plan |
| Custom Domains | Free on all plans | 5 on free, more on paid |
| Link Cloaking | Business plan & up | Not available |
| Geo-Targeting | Route by country | Available |
| Device Targeting | Route by device/OS | Available |
| Retargeting Pixels | Facebook, Google, etc. | Not available |
| A/B Split Testing | Link rotator built-in | Available |
| Link Expiration | Date, clicks, or schedule | Available on Pro+ |
| Click Analytics | Real-time dashboard | Available |
| QR Codes | Included | Included |
| API Access | All plans | REST + Node SDK |
| UTM Builder | Built-in | Built-in |
| Google Sheets Feed | Live data export | Not available |
Based on publicly available documentation and pricing pages as of May 2026.
Linkly or Short.io — Which Is Right for You?
Choose Linkly if…
You need retargeting pixels, link cloaking, Google Sheets live reporting, or password-protected links. Linkly is built for marketing teams who treat links as campaign assets. If you run paid social, affiliate, or performance marketing campaigns and want each link to actively contribute to your ad audiences and conversion tracking, Linkly is the stronger choice.
Choose Short.io if…
Your primary requirement is affordable, reliable link shortening with custom domains, geo-targeting, device targeting, A/B testing, and solid analytics — and you don't need retargeting pixels, link cloaking, or Google Sheets integration. Short.io is an excellent fit for developer teams and startups on tight budgets. Its $18/mo Pro plan gives you unlimited links and clicks plus most routing features, and the free tier is one of the most generous in the market.
Trusted by 100,000+ Marketers
Teams and solo marketers choose Linkly for the marketing features Short.io doesn't offer.
“We switched from Short.io to Linkly specifically for retargeting pixels. Being able to add Facebook and TikTok pixels to every shortened link has completely transformed our paid ad strategy.”
Paid Media Manager
DTC Brand
“Link cloaking was the dealbreaker. Our affiliate links look clean under our own domain, CTRs went up, and competitors can't see where we're sending traffic. Short.io just doesn't have that.”
Affiliate Marketer
Performance Marketing
“The Google Sheets integration alone saves me hours every week. Click data flows straight into our reporting spreadsheets — no more manual exports or API scripts.”
Marketing Ops Lead
Agency
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I migrate from Short.io to Linkly?
Yes. You can recreate your short links in Linkly with your own custom domain. If you use a custom domain with Short.io, simply point it to Linkly instead and your existing short URLs will continue to work.
Short.io is cheaper — why choose Linkly?
If you need retargeting pixels, link cloaking, and advanced routing rules, Linkly provides features that Short.io simply doesn't have. Short.io is excellent for basic shortening at a low price, but Linkly is built for marketers who need more control over their links.
Does Linkly have a free plan?
Yes. Linkly offers a free plan with 500 tracked clicks per month and custom domain support.
What about Short.io's developer features?
Linkly also has a full REST API available on all plans. Short.io has a Node SDK which is a nice extra for JavaScript developers, but both platforms offer comprehensive API access for integrations and automation.
Can I use retargeting pixels on shortened links?
Yes. Linkly lets you add Facebook, Google, and TikTok pixels to any shortened link. When someone clicks your link, the pixel fires and adds them to your retargeting audience — even before they reach the destination page.
Does Linkly support a developer API like Short.io?
Yes. Linkly has a full REST API available on all paid plans for creating links, retrieving analytics, managing domains, and more. We also provide official integrations with Zapier, Make, and n8n for no-code workflows. If you're evaluating both platforms for developer use, Linkly's API covers the same core operations as Short.io's while also exposing the marketing features — pixels, routing rules, and expiration — through API endpoints.
Can I use Short.io's custom domains with Linkly instead?
Yes. Custom domains are portable — you own the domain, not Short.io. To migrate, update your domain's DNS records to point to Linkly instead of Short.io. Your existing branded short URLs will continue to work as long as you recreate the link records in Linkly before switching DNS. Most teams complete this migration in under an hour using Linkly's bulk link import or API.
Ready to Turn Your Links Into Marketing Tools?
Join 100,000+ marketers who use Linkly for retargeting pixels, link cloaking, advanced routing, and more.