URL Shortener
URL Shortener Tool: How to Shorten URLs Online in 2025
Learn how to shorten URLs online using free URL Shortener Tools. Create short, shareable, and trackable links with Bitly, TinyURL, Rebrandly, and other top URL shorteners.
👉 Original URL:https://www.example.com/articles/how-to-use-url-shortener-tool-online-in-2025-step-by-step-guide
👉 Shortened URL:https://bit.ly/xyz123
This is the power of a URL Shortener Tool. It makes your links short, simple, and professional—perfect for sharing on social media, SMS, WhatsApp, or emails.
In this article, we’ll cover:
- What is a URL shortener?
- Why should you shorten URLs?
- Benefits of URL shortener tools
- Best free URL shorteners in 2025
- Step-by-step guide to shortening URLs online
- Features like analytics, QR codes, and branding
- Real-life use cases
- Advantages and limitations
📌 What is a URL Shortener?
A URL Shortener Tool is an online service that takes a long web address (URL) and converts it into a short, easy-to-share version.
👉 Example:
- Long URL →
https://www.amazon.in/product/details/123456789 - Short URL →
https://bit.ly/shortlink
These short links redirect users to the original page.
⚡ Why Use a URL Shortener?
- Easy Sharing – Short URLs are clean and simple.
- Professional Look – Perfect for business promotion.
- Save Space – Useful in Twitter (X) or SMS where characters are limited.
- Track Performance – Many tools provide analytics (clicks, location, devices).
- Branding – Businesses can create custom domain links.
- QR Code Generation – Some shorteners also create QR codes for links.
🎯 Benefits of URL Shortener Tools
- Shortens long messy URLs.
- Makes links more trustworthy and clickable.
- Helps in digital marketing campaigns.
- Provides tracking and analytics.
- Allows branding with custom domains.
- Works across social media, email, and offline campaigns.
📝 Step by Step: How to Shorten a URL Online
- Open a URL shortener (e.g., Bitly).
- Paste the long URL into the input box.
- Click on Shorten.
- Copy the generated short link.
- Share via social media, WhatsApp, email, or SMS.
👉 Example:
- Paste →
https://www.example.com/my-long-article - Get →
https://bit.ly/abc123
📍 Extra Features of Modern URL Shorteners
- Analytics Tracking – Number of clicks, devices, and countries.
- Custom URLs – Example:
yourbrand.link/sale - QR Code Generation – Share short links as QR codes.
- Link Expiry – Set links to expire after a certain time.
- Password-Protected Links – Secure your content with a password.
📲 Mobile Apps for URL Shortening
- Bitly App (Android/iOS) – Shorten and track links.
- TinyURL App – Quick shortening on mobile.
- Rebrandly App – For branded short links.
📍 Real-Life Use Cases of URL Shorteners
- Social Media – Twitter (X), Instagram, and LinkedIn posts.
- Digital Marketing – Track clicks on ads and promotions.
- Email Campaigns – Short links look clean and professional.
- Offline Marketing – Print short links on banners, brochures, or posters.
- E-commerce – Share product links in short form.
- Education – Teachers share study material via short links.
- Personal Use – Share articles, videos, or notes with friends.
🔧 Advantages of URL Shortener Tools
- Free and easy to use.
- Saves space and makes links cleaner.
- Provides analytics for marketing.
- Works across all platforms.
- Custom branding option.
⚠️ Limitations
- Free versions may have limited analytics.
- Some platforms block suspicious short links.
- Dependence on third-party services (link may break if service shuts down).