Is shorten.dev really free?

Yes, shorten.dev is 100% free with no ads, no paywalls, and no usage limits. It's funded by community donations to keep it accessible for all developers.

How fast are the redirects?

Shorten.dev delivers sub-50ms redirects globally using edge infrastructure. Your short links resolve almost instantly.

Does shorten.dev have an API?

Yes. Shorten.dev provides a full REST API for creating, managing, and analyzing short links programmatically. There's also a CLI tool and an MCP server for AI agent integration.

Can I use custom slugs for my short URLs?

Yes. You can choose a custom slug for any link (e.g., shorten.dev/my-link) or let the system auto-generate one.

What analytics does shorten.dev provide?

Every link includes real-time click analytics with data on click counts over time, referrer sources, geographic location, device type, and browser breakdown.

Can I create links in bulk?

Yes. You can create up to 500 links in a single request by uploading a CSV or using the bulk API endpoint. Custom slugs, tags, and safety checks are included. Available via dashboard, API, CLI, and MCP.

Does shorten.dev check links for malware or phishing?

Yes. Every link is automatically checked against Google Safe Browsing before creation. Links flagged as malware, phishing, or unwanted software are blocked and will not redirect.

Can I generate QR codes for my short links?

Yes. You can generate QR codes for any short link in SVG or PNG format (1024px). Available via the dashboard, API, CLI, and MCP server.

Free URL shortener.
Track everything.

sub-50ms redirects. real-time analytics.

rest api + cli + mcp server. built-in link safety.

free forever. no catch.

terminal

get started read the docs →

$29/mo

FOREVER FREE

0.0%

UPTIME

<0ms

REDIRECT SPEED

One request. One link.

Create a short link with a single POST. Bearer token auth, pagination, filtering, proper error codes. A real REST API — not an afterthought.

POST/api/v1/links

Request

{

"destination_url": "https://example.com/long/path"

}

Response201

{

"short_url": "r.shorten.dev/x7kQ2m"

"link": {

"slug": "x7kQ2m",

"status": "active"

}

Every click, tracked.

Geo, referrer, device, browser — all tracked in real time. Async pipeline means analytics stay fast at any scale. Query per-link or across your account.

1,247

Clicks

Countries

Referrers

12 days agotoday

github.comtwitter.comdev.to+5

Shorten from your terminal.

Install the CLI and create links without leaving your terminal. Pipe URLs, integrate with shell scripts, automate your workflow. No browser required.

terminal

$ npm i -g @shorten-dev/cli

$ shorten https://example.com/very-long-url

✓ r.shorten.dev/x7kQ2m

copied to clipboard

Give your AI a shortener.

Native MCP server. Connect Claude, GPT, or any MCP-compatible agent to create links, bulk import, generate QR codes, query analytics, and manage everything — programmatically.

shorten.devconnected

create_short_link

Shorten any URL

list_links

Browse all links

get_analytics

Query click data

bulk_create_links

Create up to 500 links

generate_qr

QR code for any link

Works with Claude, GPT, and any MCP-compatible agent

500 links. One request.

Upload a CSV or hit the bulk endpoint to create up to 500 links at once. Custom slugs, tags, and safety checks included. Dashboard, API, CLI, and MCP — all supported.

POST/api/v1/links/bulk

destination_urlslugtags

example.com/docs/getting-starteddocsdocs

example.com/blog/launch-postlaunchblog

example.com/pricingpricingmarketing

3/3 created

201

Why shorten.dev

URL shortening that doesn't suck.

Most shorteners are slow, paywalled, or privacy nightmares. We built something better.

shorten.dev

45ms

Shortener A

120ms

Shortener B

210ms

Shortener C

340ms

Shortener D

520ms

Shortener E

890ms

Sub-50ms redirects

Edge-cached, globally distributed. Performance isn't a feature — it's the baseline.

ShortenOthers

LinksUnlimited25/mo

AnalyticsFullBasic

Custom slugsYesPaid

CLI + MCPYes—

Bulk + QR + SafetyYesPaid

Link retentionForever30 days

Price$0$9+/mo

Free. No catch.

No pricing tiers, no credit card, no paywalls. Free for everyone.

192.168.1.42

raw IP

SHA-256 + salt

a3f2b8c1e9d4...7f2a

stored

no raw IPs storedirreversible

Privacy by default

All IPs hashed and salted before storage. No tracking pixels. No data sales.

example.com/docs

safe

malware-site.xyz/payload

flagged

malwarephishingunwanted software

Built-in link safety

Every link is checked against Google Safe Browsing. Malware and phishing are flagged automatically.

r.shorten.dev/x7kQ2m

SVGPNG 1024px

QR codes included

Generate QR codes for any link. SVG or PNG at 1024px. One-click download.

CLI

$ shorten https://example.com

✓ r.shorten.dev/x7kQ2m

REST API

POST /api/v1/links

MCP

"tool": "create_short_link"

Built for devs

REST API, CLI, and MCP server. Integrate in minutes, not days.

shorten.dev is free — donate to help with infrastructure costs

Free URL shortener.
Track everything.

sub-50ms redirects. real-time analytics.

rest api + cli + mcp server. built-in link safety.

free forever. no catch.

terminal

get started read the docs →

$29/mo

FOREVER FREE

0.0%

UPTIME

<0ms

REDIRECT SPEED

One request. One link.

Create a short link with a single POST. Bearer token auth, pagination, filtering, proper error codes. A real REST API — not an afterthought.

POST/api/v1/links

Request

{

"destination_url": "https://example.com/long/path"

}

Response201

{

"short_url": "r.shorten.dev/x7kQ2m"

"link": {

"slug": "x7kQ2m",

"status": "active"

}

Every click, tracked.

Geo, referrer, device, browser — all tracked in real time. Async pipeline means analytics stay fast at any scale. Query per-link or across your account.

1,247

Clicks

Countries

Referrers

12 days agotoday

github.comtwitter.comdev.to+5

Shorten from your terminal.

Install the CLI and create links without leaving your terminal. Pipe URLs, integrate with shell scripts, automate your workflow. No browser required.

terminal

$ npm i -g @shorten-dev/cli

$ shorten https://example.com/very-long-url

✓ r.shorten.dev/x7kQ2m

copied to clipboard

Give your AI a shortener.

Native MCP server. Connect Claude, GPT, or any MCP-compatible agent to create links, bulk import, generate QR codes, query analytics, and manage everything — programmatically.

shorten.devconnected

create_short_link

Shorten any URL

list_links

Browse all links

get_analytics

Query click data

bulk_create_links

Create up to 500 links

generate_qr

QR code for any link

Works with Claude, GPT, and any MCP-compatible agent

500 links. One request.

Upload a CSV or hit the bulk endpoint to create up to 500 links at once. Custom slugs, tags, and safety checks included. Dashboard, API, CLI, and MCP — all supported.

POST/api/v1/links/bulk

destination_urlslugtags

example.com/docs/getting-starteddocsdocs

example.com/blog/launch-postlaunchblog

example.com/pricingpricingmarketing

3/3 created

201

Why shorten.dev

URL shortening that doesn't suck.

Most shorteners are slow, paywalled, or privacy nightmares. We built something better.

shorten.dev

45ms

Shortener A

120ms

Shortener B

210ms

Shortener C

340ms

Shortener D

520ms

Shortener E

890ms

Sub-50ms redirects

Edge-cached, globally distributed. Performance isn't a feature — it's the baseline.

ShortenOthers

LinksUnlimited25/mo

AnalyticsFullBasic

Custom slugsYesPaid

CLI + MCPYes—

Bulk + QR + SafetyYesPaid

Link retentionForever30 days

Price$0$9+/mo

Free. No catch.

No pricing tiers, no credit card, no paywalls. Free for everyone.

192.168.1.42

raw IP

SHA-256 + salt

a3f2b8c1e9d4...7f2a

stored

no raw IPs storedirreversible

Privacy by default

All IPs hashed and salted before storage. No tracking pixels. No data sales.

example.com/docs

safe

malware-site.xyz/payload

flagged

malwarephishingunwanted software

Built-in link safety

Every link is checked against Google Safe Browsing. Malware and phishing are flagged automatically.

r.shorten.dev/x7kQ2m

SVGPNG 1024px

QR codes included

Generate QR codes for any link. SVG or PNG at 1024px. One-click download.

CLI

$ shorten https://example.com

✓ r.shorten.dev/x7kQ2m

REST API

POST /api/v1/links

MCP

"tool": "create_short_link"

Built for devs

REST API, CLI, and MCP server. Integrate in minutes, not days.

shorten.dev is free — donate to help with infrastructure costs

Free URL shortener.Track everything.

One request. One link.

Every click, tracked.

Shorten from your terminal.

Give your AI a shortener.

500 links. One request.

URL shortening that doesn't suck.

Sub-50ms redirects

Free. No catch.

Privacy by default

Built-in link safety

QR codes included

Built for devs

Free URL shortener.Track everything.

One request. One link.

Every click, tracked.

Shorten from your terminal.

Give your AI a shortener.

500 links. One request.

URL shortening that doesn't suck.

Sub-50ms redirects

Free. No catch.

Privacy by default

Built-in link safety

QR codes included

Built for devs

Free URL shortener.
Track everything.

Free URL shortener.
Track everything.