Discover how to make the most of a URL shortening service to share links more effectively.

What is URL Shortening?

URL shortening converts a long web address like https://example.com/very/long/path?with=many&query=parameters into a short link like https://shorturl.goddaehee.co.kr/s/abc123.

Long URLs look messy in social media posts, emails, and messages, and they reduce click-through rates. Short URLs are clean, memorable, and shareable.

Why Shorten URLs?

Better readability: Short links are cleaner and easier to remember.
Click tracking: See how many people clicked your link and where they came from.
QR code integration: Generate a QR code from your short URL for print and offline use.
Space efficiency: Ideal for platforms with character limits like Twitter or SMS.

How to Shorten a URL

Paste your URL: Enter the long URL in the input field on the main page.
Click Shorten: Your short link is generated instantly.
Copy the link: Click the copy button to save it to your clipboard.
Share: Paste the short link anywhere you want to share it.

Using QR Codes

QR codes are 2D barcodes that smartphones can scan to open a URL instantly. They are perfect for business cards, posters, flyers, and any print material where you want to add a clickable link.

ShortURL generates a free, high-resolution PNG QR code alongside every short link.

Tracking Click Statistics

After logging in, you can view the following for each short URL in your dashboard:

Total clicks: How many times the link was clicked
Country breakdown: Which countries your visitors are coming from
Daily trends: How clicks change over time

This data is useful for measuring the effectiveness of marketing campaigns, announcements, and events.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long do short URLs last? Links created without login are valid for 7 days. Logged-in users get 180-day validity.

Is it free? Completely free, with no signup required for basic features.

Does it work on mobile? Yes, it works on all devices — PC, smartphone, and tablet — in any browser.

Feature Comparison

Not sure which URL shortener to use? Here's how this service stacks up against the most popular alternatives — free features are where the difference is clearest.

| Feature | ShortURL (this service) | Bitly | TinyURL | |---------|------|------|------| | Free tier | ✅ Unlimited | ⚠️ 10/month | ✅ No limit | | QR code generation | ✅ Advanced customization | ⚠️ Paid | ❌ None | | Click analytics | ✅ Free, real-time | ⚠️ Paid | ❌ None | | No login required | ✅ Guest mode | ❌ Required | ✅ Available | | Expiration date | ✅ | ⚠️ Paid | ❌ |

Use Cases

Short URLs do more than save characters — they fit into a wide range of marketing and operational workflows.

Social media: Manage multiple links with a single Instagram bio link
Email newsletters: Clean up long UTM-tagged URLs for better readability
Print & business cards: Pair with a QR code for offline marketing
A/B testing: Compare click-through rates between two landing pages

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. How long do shortened URLs stay active? You can set a custom expiration date. Without one, links stay active permanently.

Q. Can I change the destination URL later? Yes — links created with an account can be updated to point to a new destination.

Q. What analytics data is available? Total clicks, daily trends, device types, and visitor countries — all in real time, free.

Q. How customizable are the QR codes? You can adjust dot shapes, corner styles, colors, and even add a logo.