A Free Bitly Alternative with QR Codes Built In
Teams look for a Bitly alternative for the same few reasons: the free tier thins out over time, advanced features migrate behind a paid plan, and QR codes and analytics become part of a paid bundle. Linkly takes the opposite route — one free service, every feature included, no credit card. Here is the honest comparison and what switching actually involves.
What people want from a Bitly alternative
Before comparing tools, it helps to name the jobs a shortener is hired to do: reliable redirects, readable custom links, click analytics you can actually compare across channels, QR codes for anything printed, and control features (passwords, expirations) for links that should not be open to everyone. A switch is worth it when the new tool does the same jobs with fewer restrictions — not when it has a prettier dashboard.
Where Linkly is different
| Linkly (free, today) | What to check with any other shortener | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free. No credit card, no premium tier. | Which features moved behind a paid plan, and when. |
| Click cap | None — no limit on tracked clicks. | Whether the free tier meters clicks or links. |
| QR codes | Included, 512×512 PNG download, no watermark, no account needed. | Whether QR is a paid add-on or watermarked on free tiers. |
| Analytics | Per-link click counts; per-click device, browser, OS and language; hashed IP only. | What data is stored and shared — read the privacy policy, not just the feature list. |
| Control | Password-protected links and expiration dates, free. | Whether gating features require an account or a paid plan. |
| Redirects | True server-side 302 — search-engine and no-JS friendly. | Whether redirects are 302 or 301, and whether JS is required. |
The right way to read the second column: every shortener's free tier changes, so check the current terms of whichever service you are comparing — the comparison that matters is between what the free tier actually gives you today and what Linkly gives today.
What switching actually involves
One honest caveat up front: short links are owned by the service that created them. You cannot move your existing bit.ly links to Linkly — they keep resolving through Bitly, full stop. The migration is therefore about the links you will keep sharing going forward:
- Inventory the short links that are still in active use (email signatures, social bios, print, docs).
- Create the same destinations in Linkly, with custom aliases that read like your old slugs.
- Update the active surfaces to the new links; retire the old ones as each surface is touched.
- Anything printed becomes a QR code pointing at the new short link from day one.
When a switch makes sense
If your use is shortening, sharing and measuring — campaigns, content, events, print — the restrictions that push people away from incumbent shorteners are exactly the things Linkly does not have: no click cap, no paid QR, no paid analytics, no credit card. If you rely on a specific enterprise feature set from a paid plan, compare that feature list against the Linkly features page before you commit.
Try the alternative
Shorten your first link free — custom alias, QR code and tracking included. No credit card, nothing to switch off later.
Shorten a link with LinklyBitly Alternative FAQ
Is Linkly really free, unlike Bitly?
Yes. Linkly has one service and it is free: no credit card, no premium tier, no click cap, no watermark on QR codes. Everything listed on the features page is included for every user.
Can I move my existing Bitly links to Linkly?
No — a short link is owned by the service that created it, so bit.ly links always keep resolving through Bitly. The practical migration is to create fresh Linkly links for anything you still share; custom aliases let your new slugs read just like your old ones.
Does Linkly include QR codes for free?
Yes. Every short link can generate a QR code in one click, downloadable as a 512×512 PNG, with no account required.
What analytics does Linkly include?
Per-link click counts, and per-click records of device, browser, operating system and language — with a one-way hashed IP instead of the raw address, and no raw request data stored. See the privacy policy for the full list.