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URL Shortify FAQ — Common Questions Answered

URL Shortify is a self-hosted WordPress link shortener: you create branded short links on your own domain, track clicks, and organise links without a third-party service. This page answers the questions people ask most often before and after installing it, and calls out clearly which capabilities need URL Shortify PRO. If your question isn't here, start with Getting Started.

FAQs

Do I need a third-party service like Bitly or TinyURL?

No. URL Shortify generates short links on your own WordPress domain, so the links, the click data, and the redirects all stay on your site. You don't create an account with an external shortener, and you aren't subject to another company's rate limits, branding, or link-expiry policies. Everything runs from your WordPress admin.

No. Creating branded short links is free. The free version covers custom slugs, 301/302/307 redirects, link groups, nofollow/sponsored attributes, parameter forwarding, and basic click tracking with a 7-day history. PRO adds features such as custom domains, password protection, link expiry, QR codes, UTM tools, dynamic redirects, and full click history. See Create a Short Link to start.

What is the default slug length?

The default short-link slug is 4 characters. URL Shortify generates a unique random slug at that length, or you can type your own custom slug on the link form. Changing the generated slug length or character set (upper/lower case, numeric, excluded characters) is a PRO feature configured under Slug Settings. See Slug & Link Prefix Settings.

Can I turn off click tracking?

Yes. Tracking is a per-link setting and a global default you control, so you can disable it entirely if you don't want to record clicks. In the free version you can also switch on Anonymise Clicks Data (Settings → General) to strip IP or all visitor data while still counting clicks. This helps with GDPR-style privacy requirements.

Can I use a custom domain instead of my main site?

Custom domains require URL Shortify PRO. The free version serves short links from your main WordPress domain only. PRO lets you add and verify multiple custom domains, pick a default domain, assign a domain per link, and restrict a link so it only resolves on its own domain. See Custom Domains.

By default slugs are case-insensitive, so /Promo and /promo resolve to the same link. URL Shortify PRO adds a Case Sensitive Short URL setting (Settings → General) that treats upper and lower case as distinct, letting you use both variations as separate links. This is a PRO capability, not a planned change — it is available now in PRO.

URL Shortify includes one-click importers for Pretty Links, ThirstyAffiliates, URL Shortener by MyThemeShop, 301 Redirects, Simple 301 Redirects, Redirection, LinkCentral, and Short URL. Each importer brings links across and groups them by source so a full migration is easy to review. You can also import from a spreadsheet via CSV. See One-Click Import and Import via CSV.

Yes, with URL Shortify PRO. PRO adds a UTM builder on the link form so you can attach utm_source, utm_medium, utm_campaign and the rest, and it supports reusable UTM presets so you don't retype the same values. You can also rename the UTM query keys if your analytics uses custom parameters. See UTM Presets.

Both are PRO features. PRO adds a Password field on the link form to gate a destination behind a password page, and an Expiration Date field (with an optional redirect URL after expiry) so a link stops working on a chosen date. The free version does not limit links by password, date, or click count. See Password Protected Links and Set an Expiry Date.

URL Shortify PRO adds a Popular Links widget to the WordPress dashboard that ranks your links by clicks. The free version includes a Quick Add dashboard widget for creating links fast and shows KPIs, a click chart, and an activity heatmap on the plugin dashboard. For deeper reporting, see Understanding Clicks & Clean Reports.

Can I stop tracking clicks from specific IP addresses?

Excluding specific IP addresses is a PRO feature. PRO adds an Excluded IP Addresses field and a Filter Robots option (Settings → Reports) so internal traffic and bots don't inflate your numbers. In the free version you can disable tracking or anonymise click data, but you cannot filter by IP. See Exclude Specific IP Addresses.

There's no Chrome or Firefox extension, but URL Shortify PRO includes a bookmarklet that shortens the page you're viewing in one click from your browser bookmarks bar. It works in any modern browser without installing an add-on. See Browser Bookmarklet.

Your existing short links keep redirecting indefinitely — an expired license does not break links you've already created. What lapses is access to updates, support, and the ability to keep using PRO-only features going forward. Renewing restores updates and PRO functionality. Annual renewals fund ongoing security patches and new features.

Will deleting the plugin remove all my data?

Only if you ask it to. Data deletion on uninstall is off by default, so removing the plugin leaves your links and click history in the database. If you enable Remove Data on Uninstall (Settings → General) before deleting, all plugin data is erased on removal — this cannot be undone, so export first if you might need it.

Can I use URL Shortify on non-WordPress sites?

No. URL Shortify is a WordPress plugin and runs only inside a WordPress installation. It shortens and redirects using your WordPress site as the host, so it can't be installed on a static site or a non-WordPress platform. You can, however, install it on client WordPress sites, including multisite, under your license.

Conclusion

URL Shortify gives you a self-hosted link shortener where the links, redirects, and click data all live on your own WordPress site, with a free tier for everyday shortening and PRO for custom domains, advanced redirects, and full analytics. If you're setting it up for the first time, start with Getting Started, then Create a Short Link.

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