The Bitly alternative that's actually free
Bitly pioneered link shortening — then moved nearly every useful feature behind a paywall. LinkForge gives marketers, creators, and developers professional link management without the subscription.
| Feature | LinkForge | Bitly |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly link limit | Unlimited | 10 on free plan |
| Custom back-halves | Unlimited, free | Very limited free |
| Analytics history | Full history, real-time | Limited on free plan |
| Geo analytics (city-level) | ✓ Free | Paid plans |
| Device & browser breakdown | ✓ Free | Paid plans |
| QR codes with custom colors | ✓ Free (PNG + SVG) | Limited free |
| Password-protected links | ✓ Free | Not offered |
| Expiring / one-time links | ✓ Free | Higher plans |
| UTM builder | ✓ Free | Paid plans |
| API access | ✓ Free | Paid plans |
| Custom domains | ✓ Free | Paid plans |
| Price for all of the above | $0 | $29–199+/mo |
Based on publicly listed Bitly plan limits as of July 2026. Bitly is a trademark of Bitly, Inc. — LinkForge is not affiliated with Bitly.
Switching is painless
- 1. Export your links from Bitly as CSV.
- 2. Paste them into LinkForge's bulk import (Dashboard → Links → Bulk import).
- 3. Update your bio links and campaigns — analytics start flowing immediately.