Choosing between Bitly and Rb.gy starts with one question: Do you need a quick short link, or do you need every link to work harder? Your answer points to the right tool.
Rb.gy is a free URL shortener from Rebrandly. It creates short links with no sign-up. It helps when you want to paste a long URL, copy a shorter one, and move on.
Bitly gives marketers a full link management platform: branded short links, QR Codes, landing pages, analytics, and enterprise security in one dashboard. Rb.gy keeps things simple with fast, anonymous link creation.
This comparison covers link creation, branding, analytics, QR Codes, pricing, and safety.
Note: The brands and examples discussed below were found during our online research for this article.
Key takeaways
- Bitly gives you branded short links with custom domains, real-time click analytics, Dynamic QR Codes, and landing pages in one dashboard. Rb.gy gives you basic URL shortening, with no analytics or branding tools.
- Rebrandly runs Rb.gy as a free URL shortener with no sign-up. It leaves out click tracking, custom domains, and QR Code generation.
- Bitly’s free plan gives you unlimited clicks and QR Code scans, plus 5 short links, 2 QR Codes, and 2 landing pages each month. The links do not expire.
- Bitly’s Trust and Safety program checks every link when you create it, then watches for abuse afterward. Rb.gy does not document that level of protection in public.
- Bitly connects to tools like Salesforce, HubSpot, and Google Analytics, so it fits teams that need campaign tracking and attribution.
What is Rb.gy?
Rebrandly runs Rb.gy, a free URL shortener that creates short links without an account.
That simplicity is why people search for Rb.gy. You paste a long URL, click a button, and get a short rb.gy link. For a personal share, that workflow is fast.
The Rebrandly connection matters. Rb.gy handles free shortening, while Rebrandly runs a broader branded link platform with paid plans. Many people find Rb.gy first and learn about Rebrandly later.
Marketers who search for a URL shortener usually need more than a shorter URL. They need trust signals, click data, campaign organization, and a clear path from link to result. Rb.gy covers the first step. Bitly covers the whole workflow.
Rb.gy raises a fair trust question: The site uses HTTPS, and Rebrandly runs the service. Rb.gy publishes less about trust, safety, compliance, and enterprise controls than Bitly does.
Third-party traffic tools can help you see the wider URL shortener market. SimilarWeb’s competitors view for Rb.gy shows where the tool sits. Feature fit should matter more than traffic volume when you’re determining your needs.
At-a-glance comparison
|
Feature |
Bitly |
Rb.gy |
|
Custom domains |
Growth plans and above include custom domains, plus one free domain |
Rb.gy links use the rb.gy domain; one custom domain on the free plan |
|
Branded links |
Custom back-halves on the free plan and branded domains on paid plans |
Basic rb.gy links; branding runs through Rebrandly plans |
|
Link analytics |
Real-time click data, channel data, and reports on paid plans |
Simple tracking for created links, without a wider marketing dashboard |
|
QR Code generation |
Dynamic QR Codes with design controls, editable destinations, and scan analytics |
Basic QR Code creation |
|
API access |
API access on every plan, with higher limits as plans increase |
No public API for the free Rb.gy tool |
|
Free plan |
Unlimited clicks and QR Code scans, plus 5 short links, 2 QR Codes, and 3 custom back-halves per month |
10 basic short links on the rb.gy domain, 10 QR Codes, 1 custom domain |
|
Paid plan starting price |
Core starts at $10 per month with annual billing |
Rb.gy stays free; Rebrandly paid plans start separately |
|
Security features |
HTTPS, Link Checker, abuse prevention, 2FA, SSO options, and compliance support |
HTTPS, with fewer public details for the free Rb.gy tool |
|
Integrations |
Connects with tools like Salesforce, HubSpot, Google Analytics, and Zapier |
No documented integrations for the free Rb.gy shortener |
The table gives a quick answer. Bitly fits marketing workflows. Rb.gy fits one-off shortening. The gap widens as soon as you need branded domains, campaign data, team workflows, or a security review.
Link management and branding
Link creation looks simple until you need consistency at scale. Rb.gy gives you a paste-and-shorten box. That works for a quick social post, or a message where a shorter URL is all you need.
Bitly turns link creation into a repeatable workflow. You create links in a dashboard, customize the back-half, organize links by campaign, and add UTM tracking on paid plans. Automated back-halves speed up creation and keep links readable.
Every link carries a brand signal. A generic short URL looks random. A branded link looks familiar in an email, an SMS message, a paid ad, or a social post.
Bitly also gives you a clear path to a custom domain. Growth tier plans and above include branded links, and Bitly’s domain generator helps you check options across hundreds of top-level domains.
Branded links see a 2.3x increase in clicks versus unbranded links. Free Rb.gy links use the rb.gy domain, so your brand name never appears.
A custom back-half makes even a simple generic link more useful. A link like bit.ly/spring-sale tells people more than a string of random characters. It also gives you cleaner links for slides, influencer briefs, event signs, and support scripts.
Our Bitly vs TinyURL comparison makes the same point: A basic shortener cuts length, while a link management platform adds trust, tracking, and performance. For more on branded domains, read our Rebrandly vs Bitly breakdown.
If your search started with Google URL shortener alternatives, the same rule applies. Pick a platform that can grow with you.
If you use Rb.gy today and want more control, Bitly is the next step. Start with free custom back-halves, then add a custom domain when a campaign needs stronger recognition.
Analytics and tracking
Marketers don’t just share links. They measure what happens after the click. Rb.gy shows simple tracking for shortened links, but it gives teams no dashboard for campaign planning. That gap matters when you need to compare channels, prove return, and plan the next move.
Bitly analytics turns clicks into decisions. Depending on your plan, you can review activity over time, top links, countries, cities, referrers, devices, and campaign performance. Those numbers answer the questions your team asks every week: Which channels drove engagement, which messages earned clicks, and which placements deserve more budget.
UTM tracking adds another layer of clarity. Bitly includes a UTM builder on paid plans and UTM presets on higher-tier plans, so campaign parameters stay consistent. Rb.gy does not offer comparable UTM management in its free flow.
That gap costs time. Without structured analytics, your team must rebuild performance data from spreadsheets or separate tools. With Bitly, performance sits next to the link, so reporting takes less work.
|
Analytics capability |
Bitly |
Rb.gy |
|
Real-time click data |
Available on paid plans |
Limited link-level tracking |
|
Geographic insights |
Country data on Core and above, with city data on Premium |
Not available as a dashboard feature |
|
Device data |
Available on Premium |
Not listed for the free shortener dashboard |
|
Referrer tracking |
Available on Premium |
Not listed for the free shortener dashboard |
|
UTM builder |
Available on paid plans |
Not listed in the free Rb.gy flow |
|
Data exports |
Available on higher plans |
Not listed in the free Rb.gy flow |
A URL shortener comparison should not stop at link length. The better test is how easily you learn from every click. Bitly gives marketers a stronger base for tracking clicks, reporting results, and improving the next campaign.
QR Codes and landing pages
Modern campaigns rarely live in one channel. A customer might scan a QR Code in a store, click a short link on LinkedIn, or land on a campaign page organically. Bitly helps you manage that whole path.
Bitly QR Codes support Dynamic QR Codes with logos, colors, patterns, frames, editable destinations, and scan analytics. You can change a destination after launch without reprinting anything. That flexibility helps when a campaign page moves or a link needs a fast fix.
Rb.gy points users to basic QR Code creation, but it does not match that workflow. Marketers need more than a code image. They need design controls, scan tracking, campaign organization, and one dashboard that ties codes to links and pages.
Bitly landing pages add another advantage. You can build mobile-friendly pages with templates, video embeds, social links, and engagement analytics. Teams launch campaign hubs, event pages, creator bios, product pages, and support pages without waiting for a developer.
Every Bitly QR Code gets unlimited scan tracking. The free plan includes 2 QR Codes and 5 short links each month, and 2 permanent landing pages, so you can test all three tools without a paid plan.
QR Codes and landing pages also keep offline campaigns measurable. Put a Bitly QR Code on packaging, in-store signs, event badges, or direct mail, then track engagement from scan to page. Rb.gy can shorten a URL. Bitly connects the real-world scan to digital performance.
Pricing comparison
Budget matters, and value matters more. A free tool still costs your team time when it hides performance data or limits your workflow.
Bitly’s free plan lets you track unlimited clicks and QR Code scans. You also get 5 short links, 2 QR Codes, and 3 custom back-halves each month. The links do not expire. That combination gives marketers a practical starting point.
Paid plans add scale and depth. Core tier starts at $10 per month with annual billing and adds analytics and a UTM builder. Growth tier starts at $29 per month and adds one free custom domain and bulk shortening. Premium starts at $199 per month for larger teams that need volume and campaign management. Enterprise adds custom pricing, dedicated support, SSO, and 99.99% uptime.
Check the Bitly pricing page for current plan details, limits, and annual billing options.
|
Plan level |
Bitly |
Rb.gy and Rebrandly context |
|
Free |
Unlimited clicks and QR Code scans, 5 short links and 2 QR Codes each month, and 2 landing pages |
Rb.gy offers free basic shortening on the rb.gy domain |
|
Entry paid |
Core at $10 per month with annual billing |
Rebrandly paid plans start separately from Rb.gy |
|
Growth tier |
Growth at $29 per month with annual billing |
Rebrandly offers paid branded-link plans |
|
Advanced tier |
Premium at $199 per month with annual billing |
Rebrandly offers higher plans for larger teams |
|
Enterprise |
Custom pricing with added security, support, and scale |
Rebrandly also offers custom enterprise plans |
Do not judge Rb.gy on the word free alone. Unlimited quick links have limited value when you also need brand trust, analytics, custom QR Codes, landing pages, consistent UTM tags, and integrations. Bitly gives you more at every price, including free.
If your team is still learning the basics, our get started with link shortening guide helps you plan your first links.
Link safety and trust
A short link hides its destination URL, so trust drives your click-through rate. When your brand shares a short link, your audience relies on the shortener to redirect safely every time.
Bitly invests in trust and safety with a program that combines patented Bitly technology, trusted partners, third-party abuse detection, and a Trust and Safety team. We blocked roughly 1 million malicious URLs and protected against nearly 1 billion potentially harmful clicks in 2025. Our platform also offers a public Link Checker, HTTPS on every link, 2FA, SOC 2 Type 2 compliance, and SSO for enterprise teams.
GDPR and CCPA practices shape how Bitly handles data. Enterprise teams also get an uptime service level agreement (SLA). That assurance gives larger organizations confidence when links carry critical campaigns.
Like Bitly, Rb.gy uses HTTPS, so data stays protected in transit. Cloudflare’s “What is HTTPS?” explainer covers why that matters for browser trust. However, HTTPS alone is not a brand safety program.
Security teams also weigh wider web risk. OWASP’s documentation on common attacks explains why safe redirects and abuse prevention matter. Any URL shortener can become a target, because bad actors use short links to hide malicious pages. Bitly publishes more security documentation and offers more controls than the free Rb.gy flow.
A suspicious short link can cost you engagement before anyone reaches your landing page. A trusted platform helps your team protect campaigns and brand reputation.
Choose the right URL shortener for your goals
Rb.gy works for quick, no-frills shortening when you need one short URL fast. Bitly adds analytics, branding, QR Codes, landing pages, integrations, and security, so link management becomes a measurable part of your marketing.
Bitly is the marketing platform that helps businesses of all sizes see what’s working. Simply and clearly. Even for simple needs, the free plan gives you more than a short URL. You can create custom back-halves, test QR Codes, launch landing pages, and add analytics as campaigns grow.
If you use Rb.gy today and want more from your links, Bitly’s free plan is the natural next step. Start small, build trust with cleaner links, and add channels as you go.
Link your marketing. Start with Bitly for free and create your first branded short link.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Rb.gy safe to use?
Rb.gy uses HTTPS, and Rebrandly runs the service, so it is a known tool. For teams that need documented protection, Bitly’s Trust and Safety program checks every link when you create it, then watches for abuse afterward.
Is Bitly better than Rb.gy?
Bitly covers much more ground than Rb.gy. You get branded short links with custom domains, real-time analytics, Dynamic QR Codes, no-code landing pages, and enterprise security controls. Rb.gy handles basic URL shortening, with no analytics or branding. For business use, Bitly gives you more, even on the free plan.
What is the best free URL shortener?
The best free URL shortener depends on your needs. For basic shortening with no sign-up, Rb.gy handles it. For branded back-halves, QR Codes, landing pages, analytics, and integrations, Bitly’s free plan includes all of those. For a marketing team, that free plan is a base you can grow from.
