Launched in 2009, the Google URL shortener, goo.gl, was one of the best free link shorteners online for a decade. Unfortunately, this Google link shortener was discontinued in 2019. While the short links you created with Google link shortener should continue to redirect to the proper site, you cannot shorten any more links. If you need a new URL shortener, you will have to find a suitable alternative to Google link shortener.
Is There a New Google Link Shortener?
There is a new Google link shortener called Firebase Dynamic Links, which you can read more about in our article on the top free URL shorteners. Firebase Dynamic Links is a great shortener for deep mobile linking, but it doesn’t work for desktop short links. As such, businesses that use short links on platforms other than mobile apps need a separate Google URL shortener alternative.
In this article, we will go over the 5 best alternatives to Google link shortener. These alternative Google URL shorteners include features such as link tracking, analytics, and custom branding so you can make the most of your short links.
5 Best Replacements for Google Link Shortener
Tiny.cc is a free web address shortener that is very easy to use. Simply go to the homepage, type in your long URL, and click “shorten”! Yet, despite this simplicity, Tiny.cc does include some more advanced features not typically found in a free shortener. If you make a free account, you can track traffic statistics for your short links such as unique and returning clicks, user country, user browser, and more. You can also edit and delete your short links for free.
Overall, Tiny.cc is an excellent free replacement to Google link shortener with many of the same advanced features.
Bitly is the most-used URL shortener for businesses due to its advanced link tracking and customization features. The shortener collects over 20 data points from every click on your link. You can generate analytic reports from this information to determine how well your links are performing. You can also set up your own custom domain for your URLs and advertise your brand.
However, Bitly’s best features can only be accessed with a paid plan. Bitly’s free plan lets you access some link tracking data, custom link endings, and tags for sorting. Bitly’s free plan is a suitable alternative to Google URL shortener, although you do have to make an account to start creating URLs. If you’re willing to pay for advanced features, then Bitly’s enterprise plan is the way to go.
Rebrandly is a direct shortener competitor to Bitly that provides even more customization options. With a free Rebrandly account, you can set up 5 custom domains, generate 500 custom URLs, and track up to 5,000 clicks per month. Paid plans unlock more domains, branded links, tracking features, and link editing.
Whether you choose a free or paid plan, Rebrandly is your best alternative to Google link shortener for custom branding, making it a great choice for marketers running short link Google campaigns.
Like Tiny.cc, T2M URL Shortener lets you shorten long URLs with just the click of a button on the homepage. However, T2M’s advanced features are only accessible with paid plans. Fortunately, these plans are quite inexpensive. For a one-time fee of $5, you can create 1,000 URLs/month, track 5,000 clicks, and generate basic analytic reports. For a monthly fee, ranging from $9.99/month to custom “dedicated” plans, you can unlock more URLs and clicks, customization tools, link editing, and more advanced analytics.
Both T2M’s free URL shortener and paid plans provide a solid alternative to Google link shortener for everyone from individual users to enterprises.
Droplr offers an affordable URL shortener for enterprises which includes an unlimited number of short links. You can set up a custom domain or subdomain, and view and compare the performance of your links via their Premium Analytics. Best of all, Droplr uses enterprise-level security features to protect your links and account information, such as SSO options, SSL/TLS data encryption, and GDPR compliance.
Droplr pricing begins at only $6/month for individuals and $7/user/mo for teams.
Which Alternative Google Link Shortener is Best for You?
The answer to this question will depend on your needs. Enterprises should consider Bitly, Rebrandly, or Droplr as their replacement Google link shortener depending on if they prioritize data tracking, custom branding, or unlimited links, respectively. Tiny.cc is the best choice for a completely free URL shortener and is perfect for anyone that misses the simplicity of Google URL shortener. T2M works both ways, providing a simple free shortener as well as advanced features for businesses on its paid plans.
If you’re an enterprise customer and need more help picking out a URL shortener, check out our article on picking the best URL shortener for enterprises. You can also check out our lists for the 5 Best URL Shorteners and 7 Best Free URL Shorteners. If you need to review how to shorten links, then read up on What is a URL Shortener or How to Create a Tiny URL.