Head to head
ReSlug vs Bitly: which URL shortener should you pick in 2026?
A newer shortener built around a generous free plan: 500 links, a custom domain and QR codes without paying. The best-known shortener, now a connections platform with QR codes and landing pages, priced for teams. Here is how their free plans, prices and features line up.
Bitly is the shortener everyone has heard of. ReSlug launched in 2026 as a direct response to Bitly's pricing. The two sit at opposite ends of the market, so the comparison is less about features and more about what you pay for the basics.
Bitly's free plan, per its own pricing page, allows five links and two QR codes a month, shows ads and keeps no analytics history. ReSlug's free plan allows 500 active links, a QR code for each, a custom domain with SSL and 30 days of analytics with no ads. A branded domain on Bitly requires Growth at $29 a month billed annually; on ReSlug it is free.
ReSlug vs Bitly: every limit side by side
| ReSlug | Bitly | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | ||
| Free plan available | Yes | Yes |
| Free links | 500 active links | 5 links/mo |
| Custom domain on free | Yes | No |
| Ads on free links | No | Yes |
| Analytics on free | 30 days | None |
| QR codes on free | Yes | 2/mo |
| Paid | ||
| Cheapest paid plan | Pro, $9/mo | Core, $10/mo |
| Billed annually | $6.58/mo | $10/mo |
| Links on cheapest paid plan | Unlimited | 100/mo |
| Custom domains (paid) | 10 | 0 (Growth plan and up) |
| Analytics retention (paid) | 365 days | 30 days |
| Features | ||
| API | Yes | Yes |
| Link-in-bio pages | Yes | Yes |
| UTM builder | Yes | Yes |
| Link expiration | Yes | Not documented |
| Password-protected links | Yes | Not documented |
| Geo / device routing | Yes | Enterprise |
| A/B split testing | Yes | No |
| Retargeting pixels | Yes | No |
| Bot-click filtering | Yes | Not documented |
| Team seats | No | Enterprise |
Sources: ReSlug pricing and Bitly pricing, checked 8 November 2026.
Choose ReSlug if…
- You want a custom domain, QR codes and analytics without paying.
- You share links with customers and do not want them to see ads.
- You want routing rules, A/B tests and an API for under $10 a month.
- You care about bot clicks being removed from your analytics.
Choose Bitly if…
- Your company needs a vendor security review, SSO and a contract.
- You need mobile deep linking into iOS and Android apps.
- You rely on Bitly's integrations with a specific marketing platform.
- You need a two-year analytics history on Enterprise.
Bottom line
For most people this is not close. ReSlug's free plan is more generous than Bitly's Growth plan on domains and links, and ReSlug Pro at $79 a year costs less than a quarter of Growth's $348. Bitly's advantages are real but belong to the enterprise tier.
Frequently asked questions
Is ReSlug or Bitly better for a free plan?
ReSlug gives you 500 active links free; Bitly gives you 5 links/mo free. See the free-plan rows in the table above for domains, ads and analytics.
Which is cheaper, ReSlug or Bitly?
ReSlug's cheapest paid plan is $9/mo (Pro) and Bitly's is $10/mo (Core), both billed monthly. Annual billing lowers the effective rate where offered.
Can I use my own domain with ReSlug and Bitly?
ReSlug: yes, on the free plan. Bitly: on paid plans (0 (Growth plan and up) domains).