Comparison
A TinyURL alternative with a free custom domain and no visitor tracking
TinyURL keeps custom domains, link editing, and analytics behind its paid plans. Linkonda's free plan includes a custom domain, a link dashboard, and editable destinations — and records only an aggregate click count, never per-visitor data.
Free plan comparison
| Feature | Linkonda free | TinyURL free |
|---|---|---|
| Link cap | 100 simultaneous (delete to free space) | Unlimited shortening |
| Link lifetime | Permanent with an account | Permanent |
| Custom domain | ✓ 1 included | ✗ Paid plans only |
| Custom alias | ✓ Paid plans | ✓ Included |
| Edit destination | ✓ Included | ✗ Paid plans only |
| Link dashboard | ✓ Searchable history | Link history |
| QR codes | ✓ Generated in your browser | ✓ Included |
| Per-visitor tracking | ✗ Aggregate total only | ✗ No analytics on free |
| API access | ✗ Plus plan (€4.99/mo) | ✗ Paid plans only |
TinyURL plan details checked August 2026. Verify current terms on TinyURL's pricing page before relying on them.
The honest summary
TinyURL is one of the oldest and most recognisable shorteners on the web, and its free tier does the core job well: unlimited shortening, permanent links, custom aliases, and QR codes, with no account required to get started.
Where it gets restrictive is everything after creating the link. Editing a destination, putting links on your own domain, and seeing any analytics at all are paid features. If you have ever pasted a TinyURL into print or a slide deck and then needed to repoint it, you have hit that wall.
Linkonda includes destination editing and one custom domain on the free plan, because those are the two things that make a short link durable rather than disposable.
Why a custom domain matters on a free plan
A short link on a shared domain inherits that domain's reputation. Shorteners get abused for spam and phishing, so shared shortener domains periodically end up on blocklists, in spam filters, or behind interstitial warnings — through no fault of yours.
Pointing links at a hostname you control isolates you from that entirely. Linkonda verifies your domain with a DNS TXT record and then serves your short links from go.yourbrand.com instead of a shared host. That is included on the free plan, and on paid plans you can add more — see custom domain short links.
When TinyURL is the better choice
TinyURL is the stronger option if you need:
- Unlimited link creation volume on a free plan — Linkonda free caps you at 100 live at once
- Per-click analytics with geographic and device breakdowns on a paid plan
- A shortener with two decades of brand recognition that recipients already trust by sight
- Bulk link creation at high volume through its Bulk tier
If you want links you can edit, on a domain you control, without building an analytics profile of everyone who clicks them, Linkonda is the closer fit.
Frequently asked questions
- What does Linkonda give me that TinyURL's free plan does not?
- A custom domain and a searchable link dashboard, both included free. On TinyURL, custom domains and link editing require a paid plan. Linkonda's free plan also includes 100 simultaneous permanent links.
- Can I edit a short link's destination after creating it?
- Yes, on any Linkonda account, including free. You can change the destination, pause a link, or delete it from the dashboard. TinyURL reserves link editing for paid plans.
- Do both services keep links permanently?
- Links you create with a Linkonda account are permanent until you delete them. Links created without an account expire after 30 days. TinyURL links also do not expire.
- Does Linkonda give me click analytics?
- Only a total click count per link. Linkonda does not record IP addresses, geolocation, device types, or referrers. If you need per-visitor breakdowns, TinyURL's paid analytics will suit you better.
- Is there an API?
- Yes, on paid Linkonda plans. Plus (€4.99/mo) includes 3 API keys and Pro (€14.99/mo) includes 10, using Bearer authentication against the same endpoints the web app calls.