Go from Bitly to Short.io
The job: Owned-domain short links and QR codes (Create short links, Custom-domain redirects, QR codes, Basic click counts). Pick where you are today and where you want to land; the move below follows your pick.
Every way to do this job · pick one
Switch app
Open source
Build it with an agent
The money
$35/mo today , then $0/mo
Bitly Growth
Modeled from public list prices, with your time at $50 an hour. Show the math
Does it do the job? 1 of 4 covered, 3 not checked
- Not checked: Create short links not checked
- Not checked: Custom-domain redirects not checked
- Covered: QR codes
- Not checked: Basic click counts not checked
The work
- Setup
- About 1 h
- Upkeep
- None
- Watch out
- Check first: Buyer controls the old domain
Make the move in four steps
Export from Bitly
Link data from the Links page: each link's short link, custom back-half, date created, title, destination URL, engagements and status. Format: CSV file, delivered by email
Export stepsSet up Short.io
Suits a small team that creates up to 1,000 links in total: Short.io Free includes 5 custom domains, 50,000 tracked clicks a month and allows commercial use.
DetailsSwitch links and integrations
Point links, embeds and integrations at Short.io, then send a test through every one.
Cancel Bitly
Turn off renewal before your renewal date, once the new setup works. Access runs until: The end of the current billing period; the account then reverts to the Free plan.
How to cancel Bitly
The whole recipe: 6 ways out, best first
What you use
- Create short links
- Custom-domain redirects
- QR codes
- Basic click counts
Not covered
- Continuity for bit.ly-owned URLs
- Mobile deep linking
- Geo-routing parity
- Enterprise analytics
Check before switching
- Buyer controls the old domain
- Existing URL paths preserved
- No broken printed QR codes
- Retention and abuse rules implemented
Agents: get_recipe("branded-links") on the Stackcut MCP server.
6 ways out, best first
How we got this
| You pay now: Bitly Growth | flat price | $35/mo |
|---|---|---|
| New cost: Short.io (free tier) | free plan | $0/mo |
| Difference each month | $35 − $0 | +$35/mo |
| Over 12 months | +$35 × 12 | +$420 |
| Setup, once | 1 h × $50/h | −$50 |
| Year one | +$420 − $50 | +$370 |
- Not counting your time (1 h in year one): saves $420 in year one.
Year one = 12 × (what you pay now − the new cost − upkeep) − setup, with your time at $50/hour. Prices are public list prices; hours are Stackcut’s planning estimates. Price it for your team
How we got this
| You pay now: Bitly Growth | flat price | $35/mo |
|---|---|---|
| New cost: Dub (free tier) | free plan | $0/mo |
| Difference each month | $35 − $0 | +$35/mo |
| Over 12 months | +$35 × 12 | +$420 |
| Setup, once | 1 h × $50/h | −$50 |
| Year one | +$420 − $50 | +$370 |
- Not counting your time (1 h in year one): saves $420 in year one.
Year one = 12 × (what you pay now − the new cost − upkeep) − setup, with your time at $50/hour. Prices are public list prices; hours are Stackcut’s planning estimates. Price it for your team
How we got this
| You pay now: Bitly Growth | flat price | $35/mo |
|---|---|---|
| New cost: Rebrandly | Essentials plan | $16/mo |
| Difference each month | $35 − $16 | +$19/mo |
| Over 12 months | +$19 × 12 | +$228 |
| Setup, once | 1 h × $50/h | −$50 |
| Year one | +$228 − $50 | +$178 |
- Not counting your time (1 h in year one): saves $228 in year one.
Year one = 12 × (what you pay now − the new cost − upkeep) − setup, with your time at $50/hour. Prices are public list prices; hours are Stackcut’s planning estimates. Price it for your team
How we got this
| You pay now: Bitly Growth | flat price | $35/mo |
|---|---|---|
| New cost: Shlink | a small server (modeled) | $5/mo |
| Your upkeep time | 2 h/mo × $50/h | $100/mo |
| Difference each month | $35 − $5 − $100 | −$70/mo |
| Over 12 months | −$70 × 12 | −$840 |
| Setup, once | 4 h × $50/h | −$200 |
| Year one | −$840 − $200 | −$1,040 |
- Not counting your time (28 h in year one): saves $360 in year one.
Year one = 12 × (what you pay now − the new cost − upkeep) − setup, with your time at $50/hour. Prices are public list prices; hours are Stackcut’s planning estimates. Price it for your team
How we got this
| You pay now: Bitly Growth | flat price | $35/mo |
|---|---|---|
| New cost: YOURLS | a small server (modeled) | $5/mo |
| Your upkeep time | 2 h/mo × $50/h | $100/mo |
| Difference each month | $35 − $5 − $100 | −$70/mo |
| Over 12 months | −$70 × 12 | −$840 |
| Setup, once | 4 h × $50/h | −$200 |
| Year one | −$840 − $200 | −$1,040 |
- Not counting your time (28 h in year one): saves $360 in year one.
Year one = 12 × (what you pay now − the new cost − upkeep) − setup, with your time at $50/hour. Prices are public list prices; hours are Stackcut’s planning estimates. Price it for your team
Compare before you switch
Read the checked comparisons and workload guides for the tools this recipe replaces.
- Bitly vs Shlink Checked migration details, public switching accounts.
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