7 Best URL Shorteners for WordPress
Last updated: July 2026
Why Use a URL Shortener on WordPress
A branded, trackable link does more than tidy up a long URL. Shortening plugins let you cloak affiliate links, measure click-through rates per campaign, and swap a destination URL later without editing every post that links to it. For Canadian small businesses running seasonal promotions, this last point alone can save hours of manual link updates.
Before picking a tool, it helps to know how link tracking fits into your broader content plan. As we cover at Canada Create, a solid internal linking strategy and a good URL shortener solve different problems: one organizes how pages connect to each other, the other tracks and brands the links you send outward.
Canada Create clients based in Toronto and across the GTA often ask us this exact question when setting up a new campaign, since a shortener choice made early tends to stick for years.
Comparison Table
| Plugin | Best For | Free Plan | Starting Paid Price | Branded Domains |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pretty Links | All-around link management | Yes | Approx. $99 USD/year | Yes |
| URL Shortify | Affiliate + QR codes + A/B testing | Yes | Approx. $59 USD/year | Yes |
| BetterLinks | Click analytics and retargeting pixels | Yes | Approx. $47 USD/year | Yes |
| ShortLinks Pro | Simple affiliate cloaking | Yes | Approx. $39 USD/year | Limited |
| ThirstyAffiliates | Affiliate-focused marketers | Yes | Approx. $49 USD/year | Yes |
| Bitly (hosted) | No-plugin shortening with app integrations | Yes | Approx. $8 USD/month | Paid tiers only |
| A self-hosted redirect plugin | Full data ownership, no third party | Yes | Free to low-cost hosting only | Yes |
Best For Matrix
- Best overall: Pretty Links, for the balance of features, documentation, and price
- Best free option: URL Shortify’s free tier, which covers basic shortening and click counts
- Best for affiliate marketers: ThirstyAffiliates, built specifically around affiliate disclosure and cloaking rules
- Best for branded domains: BetterLinks, with straightforward custom domain setup
- Best for teams already using a hosted tool: Bitly, if you want shortening outside WordPress entirely
Pretty Links
Pros
- Mature plugin with a large user base and frequent updates
- Built-in 404 tracking to catch broken redirects
- Bulk link import and export
Cons
- Interface feels dated compared to newer competitors
- Some advanced reporting sits behind the paid tier
Pricing
Free core plugin, with paid plans starting around $99 USD/year for advanced tracking and branded domains.
Best For
Store owners and bloggers who want one dependable plugin and don’t need the newest UI trends. If you are also cleaning up product links on a WooCommerce store, this pairs naturally with the settings changes covered in our guide on disabling a payment method in WooCommerce, since both live in the same checkout and marketing workflow.
URL Shortify
Pros
- QR code generation built in, useful for print materials and in-store signage
- A/B split testing on shortened links
- Clean, modern dashboard
Cons
- Some integrations require the higher-tier plan
Pricing
Free version available, with paid plans starting around $59 USD/year.
Best For
Businesses running print-to-digital campaigns, since the QR code feature bridges offline materials to trackable online clicks. Canada Create readers running local promotions often pair this with the ideas in our QR code plugin roundup for a complete print and digital tracking setup.
BetterLinks
Pros
- Retargeting pixel support for Facebook and Google Ads
- UTM builder included
- Clean click analytics dashboard
Cons
- Fewer third-party integrations than Pretty Links
Pricing
Free tier available, paid plans start around $47 USD/year.
Best For
Marketers running paid ad campaigns who want pixel tracking baked into every shortened link, without a separate analytics tool.
ShortLinks Pro
Pros
- Simple setup, minimal learning curve
- Good for basic affiliate link cloaking
Cons
- Limited branded domain support on lower tiers
- Fewer advanced reporting features
Pricing
Free core version, paid plans start around $39 USD/year.
Best For
Bloggers who just need to cloak a handful of affiliate links without a steep learning curve.
ThirstyAffiliates
Pros
- Built specifically for affiliate marketers, including automatic keyword linking
- Geo-targeting for region-specific affiliate offers
Cons
- Less useful if you don’t run affiliate content
Pricing
Free version available, paid plans start around $49 USD/year.
Best For
Content sites monetizing primarily through affiliate links rather than direct sales or leads.
Bitly (Hosted, No Plugin Required)
Pros
- Works outside WordPress too, useful for social media and email campaigns
- Established brand recognition among users
Cons
- Branded domains require a paid tier
- Data lives with a third party rather than on your own site
Pricing
Free tier available, paid plans start around $8 USD/month.
Best For
Teams that need one shortening tool across multiple platforms, not just WordPress.
A Self-Hosted Redirect Plugin
Pros
- Full data ownership, nothing sent to a third-party server
- No recurring subscription beyond your existing hosting
Cons
- Fewer polished analytics compared to dedicated tools
- Requires more manual configuration
Pricing
Free, aside from your existing WordPress hosting costs. If your host struggles under any extra plugin load, it may be worth reviewing what is actually slowing down your WordPress site on shared hosting before adding another tool.
Best For
Privacy-conscious site owners and developers comfortable configuring redirects manually.
How We Chose
We prioritized plugins with active development, clear pricing, and genuine WordPress.org reviews rather than vendor claims alone. Canada Create readers frequently ask which link tool works best alongside SEO efforts, and the honest answer is that a URL shortener supports SEO indirectly, mainly through cleaner click tracking and campaign attribution, not through direct ranking signals. For readers building out a fuller measurement stack, our SEO tools roundup covers where link tracking fits alongside analytics and rank tracking. According to the official WordPress.org plugin directory, dozens of shortening plugins are actively maintained, so update frequency and support responsiveness were weighted heavily in this list.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best URL shortener plugin for WordPress?
Pretty Links is the most well-rounded option for most sites, though URL Shortify and BetterLinks are strong alternatives depending on whether you need QR codes or ad retargeting pixels.
Is there a free URL shortener plugin for WordPress?
Yes. Pretty Links, URL Shortify, BetterLinks, ShortLinks Pro, and ThirstyAffiliates all offer free versions with core shortening and basic click tracking.
Can I use my own domain with a WordPress URL shortener?
Most plugins on this list support branded domains, either natively or as part of a paid tier. Bitly requires a paid plan for custom domain branding.
