The Bitly Insider’s Guide

Everything we know about Bitly in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.

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ToolGPANovember 2026

Bitly

The Insider’s Guide

Link shortener and QR code platform with click and scan analytics

Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among QR code generators, read from Bitly’s own pages.

Made by Bitly · checked Nov 12, 2026 · toolgpa.com

2.2GPA

01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it

ToolGPA put this guide together from Bitly’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Bitly’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Nov 12, 2026.

Part 01 · Overview

Welcome

What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first

2.2

GPA, above 5 of the 22 other QR code generators we grade

Bitly is a link and QR code management platform. It shortens and brands links, creates dynamic QR codes and link-in-bio pages, and reports clicks and scans. Plans are limited by how many links and QR codes you can create each month, and the free plan shows ads on its landing pages.

To get you started, here are 9 things to know about Bitly, taken from its own pages and our grades.

Monthly caps are what you will hit first.

From our report card of Bitly

1
Best for short links and QR codes with click counts
Bitly makes short links and dynamic QR codes and counts the clicks and scans.
2
Paid plans start at $10 a month
As its pricing page puts it: $10 per month, billed annually ($120 a year; Core is annual only).
3
There is a free plan
2 QR codes and 5 links a month, 2 custom landing pages, unlimited clicks and scans, with ads.
4
It runs on Web
Web.
5
Dynamic QR codes
QR codes can be redirected after printing and are customizable, with advanced customization from the Core plan.
6
Short and branded links
Links can be shortened, given custom back-halves, and branded with your own domain from the Growth plan.
7
Click and scan analytics
Clicks and scans are tracked with data history that grows from 30 days on Core to a year on Premium, with city and device detail on Premium.
8
A 2.2 GPA, above 5 of 22
That is against the other QR code generators we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
9
Keep it
The plain part of Bitly you could make: qR codes, reports and digital business card. What surrounds it you could not. The 3 things listed below take a company, not a weekend.

Bitly at a glance

Pricing: Free plan, from $10 per month, billed annually ($120 a year; Core is annual only)
Free plan: Yes
Free trial: None stated
Runs on: Web
Made by: Bitly
Category: QR Code Generators
Our grade: 2.2 GPA, fair

The report card

Best for short links and QR codes with click counts

Bitly makes short links and dynamic QR codes and counts the clicks and scans. The free plan has ads and allows 2 QR codes and 5 links a month, Core at $10 is annual only, and branded links wait on Growth at $29. Monthly caps are what you will hit first.

ToolGPA report cardBitlyGraded Nov 12, 2026

Subject	Grade	Comment
Value for money	D	Core is $10 a month billed annually for 5 QR codes, Growth $29 for 10, Premium $199. Branded links and the included custom domain start on Growth, well above the $10 category middle.
Free plan and trial	C	Free for 2 QR codes and 5 links a month, 2 landing pages and unlimited clicks and scans, with ads.
Features	B	Dynamic QR codes, short and branded links, click and scan analytics, landing pages and 2D barcodes. The limits are monthly caps rather than missing parts.
Ease of use	C	No store rating on record. A web app with links, codes, pages and domains to set up.
Platforms and integrations	B	Web only, with Shopify, Canva and HubSpot integrations and an API.

Grade point averageFair, out of 4.02.2

An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.

Who Bitly is for

Fits if you want links and QR codes counted in one dashboard
Works for a marketer who needs short links next to the codes

Who it is not for

Tight if you are staying free: 2 QR codes and 5 links a month, with ads
Watch out: Core is annual only, and Premium is $300 a month if billed monthly
Pricey if you want branded links, which start on Growth at $29
Watch out: only Premium keeps a year of data and city and device-level detail

Good to know

Good for

Marketers who track both short links and QR codes in one dashboard
Small teams that need only a few QR codes a month
Larger brands needing SSO, groups and high-volume API access

Worth knowing

Monthly caps bind quickly: Free allows 2 QR codes a month, Core 5 and Growth 10.
Core is sold with annual billing only, and Premium costs $300 a month if billed monthly.
Branded links and the complimentary custom domain start at Growth; long data history needs Premium.
The free plan shows ads.

Part 02 · Pricing

What it costs

Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved

$10

A month to start. There is a free plan too

Bitly has a free plan. Paid plans start at $10 per month, billed annually ($120 a year; Core is annual only).

Free
$0
2 QR codes and 5 links per month, 2 landing pages, 3 custom back-halves per month and QR code customization. Shown with ads.
Core
$10
per month, billed annually ($120 a year)
5 QR codes and 100 links per month, 5 landing pages, 30 days of click and scan data, UTM builder and Bitly Assist. Annual billing only.
Growth
$29
per month, billed annually ($35 billed monthly)
10 QR codes and 500 links per month, 10 landing pages, branded links, a complimentary custom domain, bulk creation and 4 months of data.
Premium
$199
per month, billed annually ($300 billed monthly)
200 QR codes and 3,000 links per month, 20 landing pages, 1 year of data, city and device-level data, mobile deep linking and campaign tracking.
Enterprise
Custom
Custom volumes, multiple users and group permissions, SSO, webhooks, a dedicated customer success manager and priority support.

The free plan

2 QR codes and 5 links a month, 2 custom landing pages, unlimited clicks and scans, with ads.

Read from bitly.com on Nov 12, 2026.

Ways to pay less

Annual discount
Save up to 34% with annual plans
The pricing page states annual billing saves up to 34%; Growth is $29 a month annually against $35 monthly, and Premium $199 against $300.
Stated on bitly.com

Part 03 · Features

What it does

Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it

Place it runs: Web

Link shortener and QR code platform with click and scan analytics. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: public API, AI features, reports, digital business card, qR codes.

The limits are monthly caps rather than missing parts.

From our grade for features

Dynamic QR codes: QR codes can be redirected after printing and are customizable, with advanced customization from the Core plan.
Short and branded links: Links can be shortened, given custom back-halves, and branded with your own domain from the Growth plan.
Click and scan analytics: Clicks and scans are tracked with data history that grows from 30 days on Core to a year on Premium, with city and device detail on Premium.
Landing pages and cards: Link-in-bio style custom landing pages and digital business cards sit alongside the links and QR codes.
Bitly Assist and AI connectors: Bitly Assist creates links and analyzes performance with AI on Core and above; the site also lists an MCP server for AI agents.
2D barcodes: A GTIN can be added to QR codes made for product packaging.

Where it runs

What it works with

Shopify
Canva
HubSpot

Bitly is made by Bitly.

Part 04 · Standing

Where it stands

Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own

5/22

Other QR code generators it is graded above

Bitly's GPA of 2.2 is higher than 5 of the 22 other QR code generators we grade, and level with 4.

It stands best on features (B, above 13 of 22) and worst on value for money (D, above 0).

Its paid plans start at $10 a month, against a middle price of $10 for the category: 10 of the 19 others that charge start lower.

On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.7 out of 4. 1 tool scores higher and costs less.

Each grade against the category

Every bar is all 23 QR code generators we grade, cut by the letter each got. Bitly’s own letter is outlined.

DValue for money
Above 0 of 22
CFree plan and trial
Above 2 of 22
BFeatures
Above 13 of 22
CEase of use
Above 0 of 22
BPlatforms and integrations
Above 13 of 22

Price against what you get

Each dot is one of 23 QR code generators. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Bitly is the marked dot.

What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →

Keep it, or make your own?

Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.

Keep it

The plain part of Bitly you could make: qR codes, reports and digital business card. What surrounds it you could not. The 3 things listed below take a company, not a weekend.

That makes this kind of software worth paying for, not this one in particular: 13 of the 22 other QR code generators grade higher. It costs $120 a year.

What you could make

QR codes, reports and digital business card: an app builder makes these well.

What you could not

It plugs into other products, Shopify, Canva and HubSpot among them, and has an API.
AI features, unless you pay a model provider for each request yourself.
The depth: we grade its features B, which means it covers the whole job.

What this rests on. Bitly’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.

Part 05 · Alternatives

The alternatives

The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side

Rebrandly, Uniqode, QR Code Generator PRO, QR TIGER and Flowcode

The 5 tools Bitly is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.

2.2GPA
Rebrandly
Free plan · from $11/mo
Branded short links and QR codes on your own domain.
- Bitly also covers digital business card.
Bitly and Rebrandly compared in full
2.4GPA
Uniqode
Free plan · from $9/mo
Dynamic QR codes and digital business cards for marketing teams.
- Only Uniqode lists an iOS app.
- Bitly also covers reports.
- Uniqode also covers forms.
Bitly and Uniqode compared in full
2.0GPA
QR Code Generator PRO
Free plan · from $9.99/mo
Editable, trackable QR codes with hosted landing pages, from Bitly.
- Bitly also covers reports and digital business card.
Bitly and QR Code Generator PRO compared in full
3.0GPA
QR TIGER
Free plan · from $7/mo
Dynamic QR codes with a free plan, bulk creation and an API.
- Only QR TIGER lists iOS and Android apps.
- Bitly also covers reports and digital business card.
Bitly and QR TIGER compared in full
2.0GPA
Flowcode
Free plan · from $25/mo
Branded QR codes and landing pages, with an enterprise data platform.
- Bitly also covers reports and digital business card.
- Flowcode also covers forms and a/B testing.
Bitly and Flowcode compared in full

Part 06 · Questions

Quick answers

The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two

Questions, each answered in a line or two

The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.

Is Bitly free?

Bitly has a free plan. 2 QR codes and 5 links a month, 2 custom landing pages, unlimited clicks and scans, with ads.

How much does Bitly cost?

Bitly lists 5 plans. Free: $0.

What platforms does Bitly work on?

Bitly is available on Web.

Does Bitly offer any discounts?

Bitly publicly lists the following: Save up to 34% with annual plans.

Does Bitly have an Android app?

No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 12, 2026. Bitly is listed for Web.

Does Bitly have an iPhone app?

No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 12, 2026. Bitly is listed for Web.

Is Bitly open source?

Bitly is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Nov 12, 2026.

Does Bitly have an API?

Yes. Bitly offers a public API, according to its own site.

What does Bitly integrate with?

Bitly's listing names Shopify, Canva and HubSpot. A listing names up to eight integrations, so it may connect to more.

Who makes Bitly?

Bitly is made by a company of the same name.

What are the alternatives to Bitly?

The closest alternatives to Bitly in our directory are Rebrandly, Uniqode, QR Code Generator PRO, QR TIGER and Flowcode.

How does Bitly compare with other QR code generators?

Bitly's GPA of 2.2 is higher than 5 of the 22 other QR code generators we grade, and level with 4.

Is Bitly good value for money?

ToolGPA grades Bitly D for value for money. Its paid plans start at $10 a month, against a middle price of $10 for the category: 10 of the 19 others that charge start lower.

Could I make my own version of Bitly?

The plain part of Bitly you could make: qR codes, reports and digital business card.

Where this guide comes from

The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Bitly’s own pages on Nov 12, 2026, and the grades were given on Nov 12, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Bitly's own pages on 12 November 2026. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews.

Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by Bitly. Prices change, so check bitly.com before you buy.

Part 07 · About

About ToolGPA

Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it

5,038

Tools graded, in 95 categories

ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.

Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.

5,038
tools graded
95
categories
739
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries

What else is on toolgpa.com

Scan for the live page

Prices and grades as they are today

Quoting this guide?

Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:

ToolGPA, "Bitly: The Insider's Guide", checked Nov 12, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/bitly

Know someone choosing between QR code generators?

Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/bitly/guide

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See our other guides

The best-graded QR code generators after Bitly, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.

ToolGPA

Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.

Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›

Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what Bitly’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Bitly is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Bitly. Prices and plans change: check bitly.com before you buy.