Rebrandly alternatives: where to take your branded links
Seven destinations with verified prices, one for each reason to leave, and a seven-step plan to move your links without a single 404.
The short answer: Short.io for the most generous free plan (1,000 links, 5 domains), Dub if you want to pull in your Rebrandly links with nothing but your API key, Bitly if the rest of your company already pays for it, Linkly for campaign tracking on a free plan, URLR if you need an EU-based vendor, and YOURLS or Kutt if you'd rather self-host. Why Rebrandly is easier to leave than most: it's built around branded domains. A link on your domain can move. Only links on rebrand.ly, or on the free .bio domain Rebrandly gives you, stay behind. We compared all seven destinations and checked their pricing pages in 2026.
The ranking is editorial: a sponsored placement is always labeled on its card, and no affiliate link changes a score.
Why teams leave Rebrandly, and what keeps them
Rebrandly does plenty right. Managing several branded domains is clean, the API is solid, and most user reviews are still positive. People leave over other things: a free plan that barely exists anymore, a price grid that keeps moving, and billing with no way back. Here are six reasons, each checked against Rebrandly's own terms or user reviews in 2026.
The free plan is down to 10 links a month
Free now gives you 10 links and 10 QR codes a month, and tracks only 100 clicks a month. You can't edit a link's destination once it's created, and free QR codes carry a watermark. Clicks past 100 still redirect (only the tracking stops), but if you run any real campaign, you'll hit the wall in a week.
Plans that keep changing
The current lineup has three paid plans: Essentials, Professional and Growth. Reviewers describe price increases with about a week's notice and features moving up to pricier tiers.
The price you see may not be the price you pay
The pricing page lists Essentials at $11/mo billed yearly or $16 monthly, Professional at $32 yearly or $39 monthly, and Growth at $149 or $179. The page also runs price experiments, so some visitors see lower numbers ($8, $22, $104 yearly). Trust the amount on the checkout screen, and screenshot it before you pay.
Renewals are hard to undo
Monthly fees are never refunded. Yearly plans are refundable only within 30 days, with little usage, and only if you never had a free trial before. Miss the renewal date and you're in for another year. Several reviews mention a renewal charged at a much higher amount than the first payment.
The domain you bought through Rebrandly
Rebrandly sells domains and renews them itself, roughly 30 days before expiry. Renewals can be refunded within 20 days; the original purchase can't. The bigger risk: if that domain lapses, every link on it breaks at once, including the ones already sitting in your customers' inboxes. Find out who owns it before you plan anything.
Thin analytics, and an export that's easy to miss
Click tracking is capped by plan: 10,000 a month on Essentials, 25,000 on Professional. Some users find the dashboard too light for client reporting and end up taking screenshots. Getting your links out isn't obvious in the interface either: it goes through the workspace export or the API, and your click history never transfers.
You're leaving because… go to…
Usually one row fits. Each card jumps to the full write-up below.
1,000 links, 5 domains and 50,000 tracked clicks a month at $0.
You want out fast, with zero retypingDubBuilt-in Rebrandly importer: paste your API key, slugs, tags and titles come along.
Your company already runs on BitlyBitlyOne vendor, one bill. Custom domains start on Growth at $29/mo.
You mostly track campaign clicksLinkly100 free links a month, but links pause past 500 clicks.
You need an EU-based vendorURLRFrench company, dedicated Rebrandly migration guide.
You never want a vendor holding your links againYOURLS or KuttOpen source on your own server: links live as long as your domain does.
Rebrandly alternatives, tool by tool
For each tool: why switch to it, who it fits, its catch, how to bring your Rebrandly links over, and what it costs. Prices are what each vendor listed in 2026. Scores out of 5 match our URL shortener ranking.
Our verdict in two lines. For most accounts, Short.io. To get out fast with no retyping, Dub. For an EU vendor, URLR. For no subscription at all, YOURLS or Kutt.
You'll also see TinyURL, Replug or Fli.so on other lists. We don't rank them here, because we couldn't check their plans and migration path on their official pages.
Short.io: the biggest free plan for branded links
Most generousWhy switch. Rebrandly gives you 10 free links a month. Short.io gives you 1,000 links on 5 of your own domains, plus 50,000 tracked clicks a month, and commercial use is allowed. Go over the stats quota and your links keep working. For a freelancer or a small marketing team, that often means no bill at all.
Who it's for. Small teams with one or more short domains and a few hundred active links.
Who it's not for. Agencies with several people logging in. Free is one seat, and unlimited users need Team at $48/mo.
The catch. No one-click Rebrandly importer is advertised, so you go through a file. Hobby starts at $5/mo (2,500 links, 7 domains), Pro is $18 (unlimited links, 10 domains), and yearly billing takes 17% off.
How to migrate. Export your links (slug plus destination), add your domain in Short.io without touching DNS, import the file with identical slugs, then flip DNS last. Our score: 4.2 out of 5, top of our shortener ranking. Short.io also has a Make module.
- Score
- 4.2/5
- Free
- 1,000 links, 5 domains
- Paid
- Hobby $5/mo
- Catch
- one seat on free
Dub: the fastest way out of Rebrandly
Built-in importerWhy switch. Dub is the only tool here with a native Rebrandly importer. Paste your Rebrandly API key (Account, then API) and Dub pulls in destination URLs, slugs, created and updated dates, tags and titles. You get an email when it's done. A few hundred links is an afternoon's job.
Who it's for. Product and growth teams who want a modern dashboard, a clean API and no manual re-entry.
Who it's not for. High-volume link creators on a zero budget. Free caps at 25 new links a month and keeps 30 days of analytics.
The catch. Device targeting, geo targeting and app deep links don't come across. Rebuild those rules by hand. Pro is $27/mo (12,000 links a year, 10 domains), Business $81, with 10% off yearly.
How to migrate. Dub's own advice: don't connect your domain until the import finishes. Run it, wait for the email, check the link count, then switch DNS. Score: 4.1 out of 5. Dub also has a Make module.
- Score
- 4.1/5
- Free
- 25 links/mo, 3 domains
- Paid
- Pro $27/mo
- Catch
- targeting rules not imported
Bitly: the household name, if your company is already there
Most widespreadWhy switch. If another team already pays for Bitly, consolidating your links there means one vendor, one login policy, one invoice. Bitly also bundles QR codes, link-in-bio pages and an enterprise tier with custom pricing.
Who it's for. Larger marketing orgs that already have a Bitly contract.
Who it's not for. Anyone leaving Rebrandly to spend less. For the same job, Bitly costs more.
The catch. Free gives you 5 links and 2 QR codes a month, with no custom domain. Core is $10/mo billed yearly only ($120), and still no custom domain. You need Growth, $29/mo billed yearly ($348), to plug in your own domain. That's the deal-breaker: without it, your Rebrandly links can't keep their address.
How to migrate. No Rebrandly importer is advertised. Use Bitly's bulk upload with your export, keep the slugs identical, then switch DNS. Our page on leaving Bitly covers the trip in the other direction. Score: 3.9 out of 5.
- Score
- 3.9/5
- Free
- 5 links/mo, no custom domain
- Paid
- Growth $29/mo for your domain
- Catch
- custom domain from Growth up
Linkly: campaign tracking with a real free plan
CampaignsWhy switch. Linkly's free plan gives you 100 links a month (ten times Rebrandly's), 500 tracked clicks and one domain, with no credit card. The vendor publishes a guide for switching from Rebrandly, and Linkly connects to Zapier.
Who it's for. Marketers who spin up lots of campaign links and want click data before subscribing.
Who it's not for. Printed branded links on the free plan: at 500 clicks in a month, links pause until the next billing reset.
The catch. That 500-click pause is the free plan's real trap. On paid plans, Starter is $15/mo and yearly only. Pro ($32/mo billed yearly, 1,000 links, 3 domains) and Business ($107, 5,000 links, 10 domains) can also be paid monthly. At Pro, you pay Rebrandly Professional's yearly price for fewer links.
How to migrate. Follow Linkly's switching guide, or import a file of your links with the same slugs, then point DNS last.
- Free
- 100 links and 500 clicks/mo
- Paid
- Starter $15/mo billed yearly
- Best for
- campaign links
- Catch
- free links pause at 500 clicks
URLR: an EU vendor with a Rebrandly migration guide
EU-basedWhy switch. URLR is a French company. If your legal team asks where click data goes, an EU vendor is the easiest answer to defend. URLR also publishes a step-by-step guide for leaving Rebrandly.
Who it's for. Teams with EU customers or data residency questions.
Who it's not for. Small accounts hoping to migrate for free: the Rebrandly migration needs URLR's Pro plan.
The catch. Free gives you 10 links a month and 1,000 tracked visits, no custom domain. In dollars, Starter is $19/mo, Pro $39 and Team $99, with two months free on yearly billing. Your Rebrandly stats don't come across.
How to migrate. URLR's guide goes through Rebrandly's API, since Rebrandly's interface has no simple link export. Have your API key ready and Pro active for the move. Score: 3.9 out of 5.
- Score
- 3.9/5
- Free
- 10 links/mo, no domain
- Paid
- Starter $19/mo
- Catch
- migration needs Pro
YOURLS: self-host your links for good
Self-hostedWhy switch. If price hikes are why you're leaving, YOURLS ends the conversation. It's open source (MIT license) and runs on your own PHP and MySQL hosting. It keeps historical click reports, referrers and visitor geolocation, and extends through plugins.
Who it's for. Teams with some technical help who want printed links that outlive any subscription.
Who it's not for. A marketing team with nobody to patch a server.
The catch. Security, backups and updates are on you. The real cost is hosting plus your time.
How to migrate. Install YOURLS on your short domain, load your links through a plugin or a small script from your export, then switch DNS. If you automate, YOURLS plugs into n8n to create links from your workflows.
- Free
- yes, MIT license
- Paid
- your PHP and MySQL hosting
- Best for
- long-lived printed links
- Catch
- you handle maintenance
Kutt: modern self-hosting for developers
For developersWhy switch. Kutt is an MIT-licensed shortener built on Node.js, with a REST API and custom domain support. It runs on SQLite by default, so there's no database server to babysit on day one.
Who it's for. Developers who create links from code and want an actively maintained project with a sizable GitHub community.
Who it's not for. Non-technical teams. You need Node.js 20 or later and basic server admin.
The catch. No Rebrandly importer. You write a script that reads your export and calls Kutt's API. Analytics are simpler than the paid tools.
How to migrate. Deploy Kutt, add your domain, replay your export through the API with identical slugs, spot-check a sample, then switch DNS. Kutt is available as a Make module too.
- Free
- yes, MIT license
- Paid
- your Node.js hosting
- Best for
- links created from code
- Catch
- no Rebrandly importer
All 7 alternatives side by side
Take a common case: about 200 branded links a month on your own domain, for one year. On Rebrandly that's Essentials: $132 billed yearly, or $192 if you pay monthly. On Short.io, the free plan covers you while you stay under 1,000 links; otherwise Hobby is $60 a year paid monthly. On Dub you need Pro, $324 a year paid monthly. URLR Starter is $190 a year with two months free. Bitly Growth is $348. The table gives one row per tool: free plan on the left, first useful paid plan and migration path on the right.
| Free plan | First paid plan and migration | |
|---|---|---|
| RebrandlyWhere you start | 10 links and 100 tracked clicks/mo, no destination edits, watermarked QR | Essentials $11/mo yearly or $16 monthly; bulk import from Professional ($32) |
| Short.ioMost generous | 1,000 links, 5 domains, 50,000 tracked clicks/mo | Hobby $5/mo; file import |
| DubBuilt-in importer | 25 links/mo, 3 domains, 30 days of analytics | Pro $27/mo; Rebrandly import via API key, targeting not carried over |
| BitlyMost widespread | 5 links and 2 QR codes/mo, no custom domain | Core $10/mo yearly, no domain; Growth $29/mo with domain |
| LinklyCampaigns | 100 links and 500 clicks/mo, 1 domain | Starter $15/mo billed yearly, Pro also monthly; Rebrandly switching guide |
| URLREU-based | 10 links/mo, no custom domain | Starter $19/mo; Rebrandly guide from Pro ($39) |
| YOURLSSelf-hosted | Open source, no quota | Your hosting cost; import by plugin or script |
| KuttFor developers | Open source, no quota | Your hosting cost; import by script and API |
Entry prices before tax as listed by each vendor in 2026, subject to change. Always check the amount on the checkout page.
Leave Rebrandly in seven steps
Order matters. The golden rule: your new tool must know every link before your domain points to it. Otherwise every click during the switch lands on an error page.
Sort your links by domain
Day 1Pull up your link list and split it three ways. Links on your own domain (go.yourbrand.com) can move. Links on rebrand.ly stay with Rebrandly, whatever you do. Links on the free .bio domain stay too, because Rebrandly owns that domain.
For the last two groups, write down where they're used: a printed QR code, an email signature, an Instagram bio. Whatever can be swapped, swap. Whatever is printed has to keep redirecting, which means your Rebrandly account stays open.
- Time
- one hour to half a day
- Risk if rushed
- a forgotten printed QR code
Check who owns your domain
Day 1If you bought your short domain through Rebrandly, Rebrandly renews it, about 30 days before expiry. Ask for a transfer to your own registrar before you leave, or at the very least note the expiry date. An expired domain kills every link on it.
If the domain already sits at your registrar, you only change one DNS record on switch day. Write down the current value: that's your rollback plan.
- Trap
- domain bought through Rebrandly
- Write down
- the expiry date
Export your links and your stats
Day 1Get the full list: slug, destination, tags, title. Two ways in: the workspace export, emailed to the workspace owner on plans that include it, or the API with your key (that's what Dub and URLR use). The account export isn't included on Essentials: it comes with Professional, 3 a month.
Export your click stats too. No destination imports them, so keep them in a spreadsheet for year-end reporting.
- What moves
- links, tags, titles
- What stays
- click history
Import with your domain not yet connected
Week 1Add your domain in the new tool without touching DNS. Import your links with exactly the same slugs: go.yourbrand.com/webinar must stay go.yourbrand.com/webinar. Dub handles this for you; elsewhere, check the slug column in your file.
Then compare the imported link count with your export. Rebuild by hand any rules the import skipped: geo redirects, device redirects, app deep links.
- Rule
- identical slugs
- Check
- link count matches the export
Switch DNS last
Switch dayOnce everything's in, update your domain's DNS record to point to the new tool. Propagation takes minutes to a few hours. Some visitors will still hit Rebrandly in the meantime, and that's fine, since your links still exist there.
Then open a dozen links, printed QR codes included, from a phone on cellular and from a laptop.
- Time
- minutes to a few hours
- Order
- import first, DNS second
Rewire the API and integrations
Week 1Anything that created Rebrandly links automatically needs a new target: a Zapier or Make scenario, the Google Sheets add-on, the Microsoft connector, an in-house script calling the API. List them on day one. A forgotten automation keeps creating links in Rebrandly, outside your new tool.
If your scenarios use the Rebrandly module for Make, swap it for your destination's module.
- To rewire
- Zapier, Make, Sheets, scripts
- Risk
- links created in the wrong place
Drop Rebrandly to Free, then cancel renewal
Week 2Downgrade your Rebrandly account to Free instead of deleting it. Links on rebrand.ly and .bio keep redirecting, and links over the Free quota stay live even when locked. Turn off auto-renew: you keep your paid plan until the renewal date, not a day longer.
An open Free account costs nothing. A deleted one breaks every link still living on Rebrandly.
- Rebrandly account
- kept on Free
- Auto-renew
- off before the renewal date
Is your tool missing from this page? Email us: hello@hackceleration.com
What breaks a move off Rebrandly
Link migrations rarely fail on the tech. They fail on things people forget: a domain, a date, a QR code on a trade show banner. These are the ones we see most.
Pointing DNS before the import
The costliest mistake. For a few hours, every click on a link that isn't imported yet hits an error page. The order never changes: full import, check, then DNS.
Forgetting the domain Rebrandly sold you
You close the account, the renewal fails, the domain lapses. Every link dies, printed brochures included. Transfer the domain, or keep the account and the renewal date on your radar.
Letting the new tool rewrite slugs
Some tools offer to generate fresh slugs on import. Say no. A printed or emailed link can't be edited, and only the original slug keeps it alive.
Deleting instead of downgrading
Your rebrand.ly links can't move. A Free account keeps them alive; a deleted account breaks them. Downgrade, don't delete.
Missing the yearly renewal
A yearly refund only happens within 30 days, and not at all if you had a free trial before. Turn off auto-renew the day you pick your destination, not the night before it charges.
Losing your click history
No destination imports Rebrandly stats. When a client or your boss asks for last year's numbers, they live in your export and nowhere else.
- Links sorted: your domain, rebrand.ly, free .bio domain
- Domain owner and expiry date checked
- Link export (slug, destination, tags, titles) saved outside Rebrandly
- Click stats exported
- Import done with identical slugs, link count checked
- Geo, device and deep link rules rebuilt by hand
- DNS switched after the import, old value written down
- Printed QR codes checked from a phone
- Zapier, Make, Sheets and scripts rewired
- Rebrandly dropped to Free, auto-renew off
Rebrandly alternatives: common questions
Does Rebrandly still have a free plan?
Yes, a small one: 10 links and 10 QR codes a month, 100 tracked clicks, and a free .bio domain on top of rebrand.ly. You can't edit a link's destination, and free QR codes are watermarked. Clicks are unlimited; only tracking stops at 100.
What is the cheapest Rebrandly alternative?
At $0, Short.io: 1,000 links and 5 domains on the free plan. Among paid hosted tools, Short.io Hobby at $5/mo is the lowest. With no subscription at all, YOURLS and Kutt cost only your hosting. Our URL shortener ranking also covers QR code tools.
Can I move my Rebrandly links to another tool?
Yes, if they're on your own domain. Dub imports them with your Rebrandly API key; other tools take a file. Keep the same slugs and switch DNS last. Links on rebrand.ly or the free .bio domain can't move.
What happens to my links if I downgrade Rebrandly to Free?
They keep redirecting. Links and domains over the Free quota get locked: you can't create new links on a locked domain, but existing links keep tracking clicks. You keep your paid plan until the renewal date.
Does Rebrandly refund an annual plan?
Only within 30 days, with little usage, and only if you never had a free trial. Monthly fees and domain purchases are never refunded. A domain renewal can be refunded within 20 days of the charge.
Which tool is most similar to Rebrandly?
Short.io. Both are built around branded domains and multi-domain setups, both have an API and team plans. Dub is the closest in feel for developers.
Do I need my own domain for branded links?
Yes, that's the point: a short domain with your name on it, like go.yourbrand.com. Short.io accepts 5 on its free plan, Dub 3. Buy it at your own registrar rather than through the tool, so you stay in control if you switch again.
Does my link shortener affect SEO?
Not directly. A short link redirects to your page, and your page is what ranks. What matters is that nothing breaks during the move: a dead link in an article or a profile is a lost visitor.
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