Yes, Bitly offers a genuinely free plan. No credit card, no countdown clock. You can sign up, create short links, build QR Codes, and test Bitly’s platform without paying a monthly fee.
That matters more in 2026 because marketing teams continue to feel pressure to do more with the same budget. Gartner reports that marketing budgets stayed flat at 7.7% of overall company revenue in 2025, which keeps free tools at the center of smart experimentation and lean campaign planning.
At the same time, Google’s old URL shortener no longer provides marketers with a reliable path forward for new work; Google has scheduled previously flagged inactive goo.gl links to stop working after August 25, 2025. While actively used links continue to work, you can’t create any new ones. That shift pushes many users to look for a dependable replacement.
This guide covers exactly what Bitly’s free plan includes, where the limits kick in, who gets the most value from it, how it compares with paid tiers, and what should trigger an upgrade.
Note: The brands and examples discussed below were found during our online research for this article.
Key takeaways
- Bitly’s free plan includes 5 short links per month, 2 QR Codes, 2 custom landing pages, and 3 custom back-halves, with unlimited clicks and scans on every link and code.
- Free users get access to Bitly’s mobile app, browser extensions, two-factor authentication, and 1,000 API requests per month, features many competitors reserve for paid tiers.
- The free plan does not include click analytics, branded custom domains, or link redirects. If you need these, Bitly’s Core plan starts at $10/month.
- Bitly’s free plan is best for individuals, students, side projects, and small teams who need occasional link shortening and QR Code generation without a recurring cost.
- When you’re ready for more volume or deeper data, upgrading is seamless; your existing links and QR Codes carry over to any paid plan.
Everything in Bitly’s free plan, feature by feature
The free Bitly plan provides reliable access to a variety of useful link management tools. Let’s take a closer look at each one and how they can integrate seamlessly into your existing workflow.
Short links
Bitly’s free plan includes 5 short links per month, and every one of those links can receive unlimited clicks. That structure matters because some free tools cap the total number of links you can create, while others cap the engagement those links can attract. Bitly does not put a click ceiling on your live assets, so a link you share in a bio, email, flyer, or portfolio can keep working as traffic grows.
For many users, five links each month covers more ground than they sound like they do. You might need one link for a social bio, one for a product page, one for an event signup, one for a portfolio, and one for a temporary promotion. If your needs stay light and focused, the free plan gives you enough room to test the platform and keep your links cleaner than the raw long URLs you would otherwise share.
You also get 3 custom back-halves each month. That means you can replace the random string at the end of a Bitly link with something more readable and memorable (like bit.ly/yourname). You cannot replace the Bitly domain itself on the free plan (branded links start on the Growth tier), but you can still shape the back half to fit your campaign, topic, or offer.
If you want a broader primer on how link shortening works before you dive in, our guide on how to shorten a URL adds useful context.
QR Codes
Bitly’s free plan includes 2 QR Codes per month, and those QR Codes can collect unlimited scans. That gives the plan real offline-to-online value. You can place a QR Code on packaging, posters, classroom materials, business cards, or event signage and keep using it as long as people keep scanning it.
The free tier also includes some QR Code customization, though we reserve the more advanced styling options for the Core tier and other paid plans. On the free plan, you can still adjust basic elements enough to produce a cleaner look than a default black-and-white square. Free users can download QR Codes in PNG, JPEG, or SVG file formats, which helps whether you need a quick social graphic or a print-ready asset that scales up to billboard size.
A creator can add a QR Code to a one-sheet. A teacher can place one on a handout. A local business can test an in-store display. A side project can connect a physical touchpoint to a landing page without adding new software to the stack.
If you expect to need logo uploads, deeper design control, or more monthly volume, a paid plan will likely better meet your needs. But for basic testing and low-volume execution, the free plan gives you a legitimate starting point without onerous restrictions on total user scans.
Custom landing pages
Bitly’s free plan includes 2 custom landing sites created in Bitly Pages, giving free users a mobile-optimized, no-code way to gather links or content in one place. That matters for social media bios, event promotions, simple creator hubs, and lightweight campaign destinations where speed matters more than complex web development.
The free plan uses Bitly branding and limited customization, but it still gives you access to pre-built templates and mobile-friendly layouts. You can create a clean destination, add content blocks, and publish without dragging a developer into the process. For marketers, that means faster launch cycles. For individuals, that means less friction between idea and execution.
Our Bitly Pages product also emphasizes tracking engagement on landing pages, and free users get instant access to landing page view data. That makes the included pages more than decorative extras; they become useful test environments where you can validate interest before you invest in a larger campaign or a dedicated microsite.
Custom back-halves
Bitly’s free plan includes 3 custom back-halves per month. A custom back-half is the text that appears after the slash in a short link, such as bit.ly/spring-sale or bit.ly/event-guide. That feature might sound minor, but it shapes trust, clarity, and click confidence in a major way.
People click links more often when the destination feels recognizable. A vague string of letters and numbers can look forgettable or suspicious. A clear back-half can tell people exactly what they will get. That helps on social media, in presentations, in email, and in printed materials where every cue matters.
Custom back-halves also help you keep campaigns organized. When you can name links around promotions, events, offers, or content themes, you create a cleaner workflow for yourself and a better experience for your audience. Even on the free plan, that layer of naming control adds real value.
API access
Bitly’s free plan includes 1,000 Bitly API requests per month. That is a standout feature because many free tools either block API access entirely or make it so limited that testing feels pointless. With 1,000 requests, developers and technical marketers can actually prototype something useful.
That could mean connecting Bitly to a CRM workflow, a simple internal tool, a lightweight automation, or a content system that programmatically creates short links. It also opens the door for teams that want to experiment before committing to a budget. You can explore our broader ecosystem through the Bitly Marketplace or get a product overview working with our URL shortener if you want to map the API to a larger workflow.
This feature also makes the free plan more than a consumer utility; it gives Bitly real relevance for technical evaluation. A developer can validate the API, test rate limits, and see how Bitly fits inside an existing workflow before asking a team to upgrade.
Mobile app and browser extensions
Bitly’s free plan includes access to the Bitly mobile app and browser extension tools. That matters because link creation no longer happens only at a desk. You might need to shorten a URL from a phone while traveling, create a QR Code from a tablet at an event, or grab a short link directly from a browser while building a social post.
Our official mobile app supports iOS and Android, with browser extensions for Chrome, Firefox, and Microsoft Edge. That combination makes the free plan far more practical in day-to-day work.
For creators, this means faster publishing. For small teams, it means fewer workflow interruptions. For anyone who manages links across social media, email, community posts, printed materials, and event assets, it means Bitly can meet you where the work actually happens.
If you want to evaluate Bitly’s overall free-tier flexibility against other tools, we compare all free link shortener plans to show why mobile and browser access matter in real-world use.
Two-factor authentication
We offer two-factor authentication (2FA) for enhanced account security on every plan, including the free plan, because link management accounts often sit close to public campaigns, customer communications, and branded assets. If someone gains access to that account, they can create confusion fast.
2FA adds a second layer of protection on top of your password. Even if someone knows your login credentials, they still need the verification step tied to your device. For a free account, that level of security is especially valuable because many no-cost tools keep security shallow in order to keep onboarding simple.
What’s not included in the free plan
Bitly’s free plan offers meaningful functionality, but it also sets clear boundaries. Those limits will not bother every user, but they may matter a lot for marketers who need more measurement, collaboration, or brand control.
Here is what the free plan does not include:
- Click and scan analytics for short links and QR Codes
- Branded custom domains
- Link and QR Code redirects
- UTM builder
- Bulk link and QR Code creation
- Campaign management and data export
- City-level or device-level data
That list should not scare you off. It should help you choose with your eyes open. If you only need a handful of links and QR Codes, the free tier still delivers real value. If you need reporting, redirection, branded domains, or campaign infrastructure, Bitly offers a clear upgrade path rather than forcing you to rebuild from scratch later.
How Bitly’s free plan compares to paid tiers
The easiest way to understand Bitly’s free plan is to compare it with the paid tiers. Here is the current tier structure:
| Feature | Free | Core ($10/mo) | Growth($29/mo) | Premium($199/mo) |
| Links per month | 5 | 100 | 500 | 3,000 |
| QR Codes per month | 2 | 5 | 10 | 200 |
| Custom landing pages | 2 | 5 | 10 | 20 |
| Custom back-halves | 3/mo | 100/mo | 500/mo | 3,000/mo |
| Click/scan data history | None | 30 days | 120 days | 1 year |
| Branded custom domains | No | No | Yes(complementary) | Yes |
| Link redirects | No | 5/mo | 20/mo | 110/mo |
| API requests | 1,000/mo | 5,000/mo | 25,000/mo | 50,000/mo |
| Bitly Assist AI | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
The table makes the upgrade logic pretty clear. The free plan works as a true starter tier. Core opens the door to analytics, redirects, UTM building, and Bitly Assist AI. Growth becomes the big turning point for brand-led teams because it adds a complementary custom domain, branded links, bulk creation, and more generous reporting windows. Premium pushes volume and data much further for larger operations.
If your main blocker is analytics, Core likely removes it. If your main blocker is brand control, Growth usually makes more sense. If you want the full breakdown, our pricing page lays out the details, and the Bitly Analytics product page shows what the reporting layer supports.
Who is Bitly’s free plan best for?
We’ve designed our free plan to provide the best possible fundamental support across a wide variety of use cases. Let’s take a look at how users in different market segments can benefit from our free tier services:
Individuals and side projects
Our free plan fits people who just need a few polished links each month. Maybe you run a personal site, a hobby newsletter, a community project, or a portfolio. You do not need enterprise controls. You do not need bulk creation. You just want cleaner URLs and maybe a QR Code or two.
In that context, the free tier feels practical instead of restrictive. Five monthly links can cover a portfolio refresh, a project launch, and a social profile update without creating waste. Two landing pages can support a bio hub and a one-off promotion. That is plenty for many solo use cases.
Students and educators
Students and educators often need to share information quickly, clearly, and at no cost. A class project, reading list, resource hub, sign-up page, or event flyer all become easier to distribute when the links look clean, and the destination feels simple to reach.
Bitly’s free plan helps here by combining short links, QR Codes, and landing pages in one place. A student can add a QR Code to a presentation. A teacher can create a page that centralizes assignments or office-hour resources. Because the plan does not expire, it can support a semester-long project just as easily as a one-day event.
Small businesses just getting started
Early-stage businesses often want to test before they commit. They need to know whether a tool fits their workflow, whether link management really helps their campaigns, and whether a paid plan will generate enough value to justify the cost.
Bitly’s free plan gives them that runway. A small business can shorten a few links, create a couple of QR Codes for packaging or signage, and build a simple landing page without opening the budget conversation on day one. Later, if those experiments perform well, the business can move into a paid tier for branded domains, redirects, and analytics.
If that sounds familiar, you may also want to review our article on Bitly free plan new features for a broader look at how we have expanded the entry-level experience.
Social media creators
Creators care about clean presentation and easy movement between channels. They need links for bios, stories, posts, sponsorships, affiliate pages, media kits, and launch announcements. They also care about links that look intentional rather than generic.
Bitly’s free plan helps because the custom back-half feature lets creators make links more recognizable, even without a custom domain. Bitly Pages also helps them gather content in one mobile-friendly place. For creators who publish often but do not yet need in-depth analytics, the free tier covers the basics well.
Developers exploring the API
Developers rarely want to buy first and test later. They want to inspect the API, validate how authentication works, see whether the endpoints fit their workflow, and prototype fast.
That is exactly where our 1,000 monthly API requests become useful. A developer can test link creation, basic integrations, and automation flows without committing to a paid plan. For teams that need technical proof before budget approval, the free plan works like a low-risk sandbox.
When to upgrade from Bitly’s free plan
You should consider upgrading when one or more of these situations start showing up in your workflow:
- You regularly need more than 5 links or 2 QR Codes per month.
- You want click and scan analytics to measure campaign performance.
- You need a branded custom domain for more professional links.
- You want to change destinations after creation with redirects.
- Your team needs collaboration controls or group permissions.
- You run recurring campaigns and need UTM tracking or bulk creation.
At that point, the free plan has already done its job. It helped you test the platform, build a few live assets, and understand what matters most. Upgrading does not force a restart. Your existing links, QR Codes, and pages stay in place, and the account simply unlocks more capability.
Start using Bitly’s free plan today
Bitly’s free plan is not a throwaway trial dressed up as a product. It gives you a real, usable way to shorten links, create QR Codes, build landing pages, and test lightweight workflows without paying upfront. For individuals, students, creators, developers, and small businesses, these features make it one of the more practical free options in the market.
It also gives you room to grow. When your needs move beyond occasional link creation to real campaign management, Bitly’s paid tiers add analytics, redirects, branded domains, and higher limits without requiring you to migrate to a new system. Our platform operates at real scale; T two-thirds of the Fortune 500 trust us for service-critical programs, and millions of people use the platform to create billions of monthly connections.
If you want a deeper look at alternatives before you commit, our articles on the best URL shortener and Rebrandly alternatives can help you compare options. But if your goal is simple, no-commitment link management that still feels polished and flexible, Bitly’s free plan gives you a strong place to start.
Ready to get the most out of your zero-cost connections platform? Get started for free.
Frequently asked questions
Source questions from AI prompts citing this page, Ahrefs search suggestions, and competitor content gaps. Write full Q&A content so the writer can insert as-is.
Is Bitly really free?
Yes. Bitly offers a free plan with no credit card required, no time limit, and no hidden fees. You get 5 short links per month, 2 QR Codes, 2 custom landing pages, 3 custom back-halves, unlimited clicks and scans, and 1,000 API requests per month. You can use the free plan for as long as you want—there’s no trial period or forced upgrade.
What are the limits of Bitly’s free plan?
The main limits are volume and analytics. You can create up to 5 short links and 2 QR Codes per month. The free plan does not include click or scan analytics, branded custom domains, link redirects, or bulk creation tools. If you need more capacity or data, Bitly’s Core plan starts at $10/month and includes 100 links, 30 days of click data, and the Bitly Assist AI feature.
Does Bitly’s free plan include analytics?
The free plan includes real-time landing page view tracking for your custom landing pages, but it does not include click or scan analytics for short links or QR Codes. To access link-level analytics—including clicks over time, geographic data, and referrer information—you’ll need a paid plan. Bitly’s Core plan ($10/month) includes 30 days of click and scan data.
Can I use a custom domain with Bitly’s free plan?
No. Custom-branded domains (replacing bit.ly with your own domain) are available starting with the Growth plan ($29/month), which includes a complimentary custom domain. However, free plan users can still customize the back-half of their links (the text after bit.ly/) to create more recognizable URLs.
How does Bitly’s free plan compare to TinyURL or Short.io?
Each platform takes a different approach to free tiers. TinyURL offers unlimited link creation but no analytics, QR Codes, or landing pages. Short.io provides 1,000 branded links and comprehensive analytics on its free plan, but has a more complex setup process. Bitly’s free plan offers fewer links (5/month) but includes QR Codes, custom landing pages, a mobile app, browser extensions, and 1,000 API requests—making it the most versatile free option for users who want more than just link shortening. For a detailed comparison, see our guide to the best free link shortener plans.
Do Bitly free links expire?
No. Links created on Bitly’s free plan do not expire, and they receive unlimited clicks. Once you create a short link, it remains active indefinitely. However, note that you cannot change a free-plan link’s destination after creation—redirects require a paid plan.
Can I upgrade from the free plan without losing my links?
Yes. When you upgrade to any paid Bitly plan, all your existing short links, QR Codes, and landing pages carry over. There’s no migration process—you simply choose a plan and your account gains access to the additional features immediately.
