Getting Started
URL Shortify Features — Free vs PRO
URL Shortify is a self-hosted WordPress link shortener whose free version already covers branded links, redirect control, link groups, click analytics, and imports. This page lists what the free plugin does, then the extras unlocked by PRO, so you can see exactly where the line is drawn before you upgrade.
Free features
Everything in this section works in the free plugin, available from the WordPress.org directory.
| Feature | What it does |
|---|---|
| Branded short links | Create links on your own domain with a Title, Target URL, custom Short URL slug, and Notes. See How to Create a Short Link. |
| Redirect control (301 / 302 / 307) | Choose the HTTP redirect type per link; 307 is the default. Use 301 for permanent, SEO-friendly moves. |
| Editable destination | Change a link's target URL any time without changing the short URL. |
| Nofollow & Sponsored | Add rel="nofollow" or rel="sponsored" to control how search engines treat a link. See No Follow & Sponsored Links. |
| Parameter Forwarding | Pass query parameters on the short URL through to the destination. See Parameter Forwarding. |
| Link Groups | Organize links into groups with their own analytics. See Organise Links with Groups. |
| Click analytics (7-day) | Track clicks with referrer, device, browser, OS, and country data, with a 7-day history window. See Link Tracking. |
| Dashboard | KPIs, a click chart, and a GitHub-style activity heatmap. See Link Activity Intensity Heatmap. |
| Link prefix | Add a prefix such as /go/ to keep short links tidy. See Slug & Link Prefix Settings. |
| Auto-create links | Automatically generate short links for new Posts and Pages. See Auto-Create Links for Posts & Pages. |
| Display short URL in content | Show a post's short URL around its content using %short_url%. See Display Short URL in Content. |
| Email digest | Get a daily, weekly, or monthly click summary by email. See Setup Email Digest. |
| Anonymise clicks data | Mask visitor IPs or store no personal data — GDPR-friendly. |
| CSV & one-click import | Migrate links from other plugins. See Integrations and Import Short Links via CSV. |
| REST API | Create and list links and groups programmatically. See API Reference. |
[shorturl] shortcode |
Output a post's short URL anywhere with a shortcode. |
PRO features
The following require URL Shortify PRO. A free install never exposes these as usable options — the free version shows an upgrade prompt where a PRO feature would appear.
PRO feature
Everything in this section is part of URL Shortify PRO and is not available in the free plugin.
| Feature | What it does |
|---|---|
| Custom Domains | Serve short links from one or more separate domains, per link. See Custom Domains. |
| Tags | Tag links for cross-cutting organization alongside groups. See Link Tags. |
| Password-protected links | Require a password before a link resolves. See Password Protected Links. |
| Expiring links | Set an expiration date and an optional after-expiry redirect. See Set Link Expiry Date. |
| Link cloaking | Mask the destination behind your own URL. See Link Cloaking & Masking. |
| Meta Refresh redirect | Redirect via a meta-refresh page. See Meta Refresh Redirects. |
| Splash page | Show an interstitial countdown page before redirecting. See Splash Page Redirects. |
| Dynamic redirection | Route visitors by location, device, or weighted rotation. See Redirect by Location, Redirect by Device, and Link Rotations. |
| A/B split testing | Split traffic across target URLs and compare results. See A/B Split Testing. |
| QR codes | Generate PNG and SVG QR codes for any link. See Generate QR Code for a Link. |
| UTM builder & presets | Add UTM parameters per link and reuse saved presets. See UTM Presets. |
| Tracking pixels | Fire Google, Facebook, or GTM retargeting pixels on redirect. See Retargeting with Tracking Pixels. |
| Full analytics & Smart Reports | Unlimited history, custom date ranges, geo/device/browser/OS breakdowns, and saved comparison reports. See Compare Links, Groups or Tags Side by Side. |
| Auto link keywords | Automatically link chosen keywords in your content. See Auto Link Keywords in Content. |
| Amazon affiliate tags | Inject the right Amazon associate tag per marketplace. See Amazon Affiliate Tags. |
| WP All Import | Generate short links while importing content. See Short Links via WP All Imports. |
| Public form & bookmarklet | Turn your site into a public URL-shortener service. See Browser Bookmarklet. |
| Broken link checker | Scan links on a schedule for broken targets. See Broken Link Checker. |
| Access control | Assign link-management permissions per WordPress role. See Link Management Access for WP Roles. |
| Bulk API | Create links in bulk via the REST API. See Bulk Generate Short Links via the API. |
| Filter robots & exclude IPs | Keep bot and internal traffic out of your reports. See Filter Out Robot Clicks and Exclude Specific IP Addresses. |
Conclusion
The free plugin handles branded links, redirects, groups, and 7-day analytics; PRO adds custom domains, dynamic redirects, QR codes, password protection, and full analytics. Start with Getting Started with URL Shortify, or review the Benefits of URL Shortify to decide whether self-hosting is right for you.
FAQs
Is URL Shortify free?
Yes. The free version on WordPress.org creates branded short links with 301/302/307 redirect control, link groups, 7-day click analytics, an email digest, imports from other plugins, and a REST API. PRO adds custom domains, dynamic redirects, QR codes, password protection, and unlimited analytics. See the free-versus-PRO tables above.
What is the difference between the free and PRO versions?
The free version covers link creation, redirects, groups, and basic 7-day analytics. PRO unlocks custom domains, tags, password and expiry controls, cloaking, dynamic geo/device/rotation redirects with A/B testing, QR codes, tracking pixels, full analytics with Smart Reports, and integrations like Amazon tags and WP All Import.
How long is click history kept in the free version?
The free version keeps a 7-day click history window and shows counts, dashboard KPIs, a click chart, and an activity heatmap. Unlimited history, all-time and custom date ranges, and the detailed geo/device/browser/OS breakdowns are part of URL Shortify PRO.
Can I use my own domain for short links?
Your short links use your WordPress site's domain by default, so they are branded to you out of the box. Serving links from additional or separate custom domains is a PRO feature. See Custom Domains for setup details.
Does URL Shortify generate QR codes?
QR code generation is a PRO feature. In URL Shortify PRO you can produce PNG and SVG QR codes for any short link directly from the link's share options. See Generate QR Code for a Link. The free version does not create QR codes.