URL UnicornIf you have used Bitly for a while, you have probably noticed the free plan is not what it used to be. Over the last few years Bitly has trimmed its free tier repeatedly, and in 2026 the free plan is genuinely limited. If you mainly need to shorten links, keep them editable, and see how many people clicked, you no longer have to pay for that. URL Unicorn does those core things for free.
This page lays out exactly what Bitly's current free plan includes, where URL Unicorn differs, and how to move over if you decide to. Every number below was checked against Bitly's own documentation.
What Bitly's free plan includes in 2026
Here is what you actually get on Bitly's free tier today:
- 5 short links per month. Once you hit the cap you wait for the next month or upgrade.
- 2 QR codes per month.
- 3 custom back-halves per month (the text after bit.ly/).
- No click or scan analytics. Analytics start on the Core plan ($10/month) and show 30 days of data.
- No link editing or redirects. Once a free link is created, its destination is locked — changing where it points requires a paid plan.
- No custom branded domain. Your own domain (replacing bit.ly) starts on the Growth plan.
Bitly Free vs URL Unicorn Free
| Feature | Bitly Free | URL Unicorn Free |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $0 | $0 |
| Short links | 5 / month | 10 short links + 1 editable dynamic link |
| Edit a link's destination later | No — paid only | Yes — on your dynamic link |
| Click analytics | No — from $10/mo (30 days) | Yes — basic click analytics |
| QR codes | 2 / month | 1 dynamic (editable) + unlimited static |
| Links expire | No | No |
| Custom branded domain | Paid (Growth plan) | Paid (from $7/mo) |
Both tools keep links alive indefinitely and both put custom branded domains on a paid plan — that is honest and normal for the industry. The real difference on the free tier is editing and analytics.
Why an editable destination matters
A "dynamic" link is a short URL that points to a destination you can change at any time. The short link stays the same; only where it redirects changes. That is powerful because:
- You can fix mistakes. Wrong landing page in a printed flyer or an email blast? Update the destination instead of reprinting or resending.
- You can reuse a link across campaigns. Point the same QR code or short link at a new offer each season.
- You keep your analytics history. All the clicks stay on one link instead of scattering across new ones.
On Bitly's free plan a link is locked once created. On URL Unicorn your free dynamic link — and dynamic QR code, powered by our sibling tool QR Cheetah — can be re-pointed whenever you need.
How to move from Bitly to URL Unicorn
Because every shortener uses its own domain, you cannot literally transfer a bit.ly back-half to another service — migrating always means creating new short links (this is true of any shortener, not a URL Unicorn limitation). Here is the clean way to do it:
- List your active links. In your Bitly dashboard, note each short link and its destination URL. Focus on the ones still in use.
- Recreate them in URL Unicorn. Shorten each destination in a free account. For any link you might change later, make it your dynamic (editable) link.
- Update where the links live. Swap the new short URLs into your bio, email signature, social posts, or documents.
- Use dynamic links for anything printed. If a link appears on a flyer, product, or QR code, point it at a dynamic link so you never have to reprint — just edit the destination.
- Keep an eye on analytics. Your click data starts collecting immediately on the free plan, so you can confirm the new links are working.
When Bitly still makes sense
To be fair: Bitly is a mature, well-known platform, and its paid tiers include deep analytics, larger link volumes, and enterprise features. If your team is already standardized on Bitly's paid plan and using its campaign tooling, there may be no reason to switch. This page is for people on the free plan who are hitting its new limits and want editing and analytics back without a subscription.