More Features
Link Cloaking & Masking
Link cloaking hides where a short link actually goes by loading the destination inside your own page, so your branded short URL stays in the address bar the whole time. In URL Shortify you turn it on by setting a link's Redirection type to Cloak — most often to keep affiliate URLs out of sight while showing a clean, trustworthy link.
PRO feature
Cloaking is the Cloak redirect type, added by URL Shortify PRO (Redirects addon). The free redirect types are 301, 302 and 307.
What is link cloaking?
Link cloaking (also called link masking, URL masking or URL cloaking) hides a link's real destination by loading that destination inside a full-page frame on your own domain. The visitor's browser stays on your short URL — for example kc.local/deal — instead of jumping to the affiliate or partner URL underneath.
Because your domain remains visible, cloaking pairs well with branded short links: you can present a clean yourbrand.com/deal instead of a long affiliate URL packed with tracking parameters, which tends to build trust and improve click-through rates.
Why marketers use it
- Affiliate marketing. Hide long, unattractive affiliate URLs behind a short branded link, and change the underlying destination later without reprinting the link you shared.
- Brand consistency. Every link you share reads as your own domain rather than a third party's.
- Cleaner sharing. A short, readable URL is easier to paste into videos, PDFs, print and social posts.
How to cloak a link in URL Shortify
- Go to URL Shortify → Links and click New Link (or edit an existing link).
- Enter the Title and the Target URL you want to cloak.
- Set Redirection to Cloak.
- Click Save Link.
The short URL now serves a page on your domain that loads the destination in a frame, so your URL stays in the address bar. The cloaking page is marked noindex so search engines don't index the wrapper itself.
Quick walkthrough
Important limitation: many sites block framing
Cloaking works by loading the destination inside a frame, and many modern sites refuse to be framed. A destination can send an X-Frame-Options response header set to DENY or SAMEORIGIN, or a Content-Security-Policy: frame-ancestors directive, which tells the browser not to display the page inside another site's frame.
When that happens the cloaked page shows a blank or error frame instead of the destination. This is enforced by the destination site, not by URL Shortify, so there's no setting that overrides it. Test each destination before relying on Cloak; large retailers and social platforms commonly block framing. If a destination can't be framed, use a standard 301/302/307 redirect, or Meta Refresh instead.
SEO caveats
- The wrapper page is not indexable. The cloaking page carries
noindex, so it won't rank or pass link equity to the destination the way a 301 would. - Cloaking is not link consolidation. If you want search engines to follow a permanent link and consolidate its ranking signals onto the destination, use a 301 redirect, not Cloak.
- Keep affiliate links honest. Mark affiliate and paid links as Nofollow and Sponsored so you follow search-engine and disclosure guidelines. Cloaking hides the URL from visitors; it does not remove your disclosure obligations.
Cloaking here means masking a URL — not deceiving crawlers
"Cloaking" in URL Shortify means masking a link's destination behind your domain. It is unrelated to the black-hat SEO practice of showing search engines different content than users see. Don't use it to disguise where a link really goes from the people clicking it.
Cloak vs the other redirect types
| Type | What the visitor sees | Address bar shows | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 301 | Instant redirect | Destination | Permanent links you want search engines to follow |
| 302 / 307 | Instant redirect | Destination | Temporary or campaign links |
| Meta Refresh | Brief blank page, then the destination | Destination | Reducing referrer information |
| Splash Page | Interstitial preview and countdown | Destination | Warning visitors they're leaving |
| Cloak | Destination loaded inside your page | Your short URL | Keeping your branded URL visible |
Conclusion
Cloaking keeps your branded short URL in the address bar by loading the destination inside a frame, which suits affiliate and partner links where you'd rather not show the raw target. The trade-off is real: destinations that block framing won't display, and the wrapper is noindex, so use a 301 when you actually want a link indexed and consolidated. To compare the alternatives, see Meta Refresh Redirects and Splash Page Redirects, and pair cloaked links with your own custom domain for fully branded URLs.
FAQs
What is link cloaking in URL Shortify?
Link cloaking is the Cloak redirect type in URL Shortify PRO. It loads the destination inside a frame on your own page, so the visitor's browser keeps showing your short URL instead of the real target. It's most often used to hide affiliate URLs behind a clean, branded link.
How do I cloak a link?
Go to URL Shortify → Links, add or edit a link, set Redirection to Cloak, and save. The short URL then serves a page on your domain that displays the destination in a frame while keeping your URL in the address bar.
Why is my cloaked link showing a blank page?
The destination is refusing to be framed. Sites that send X-Frame-Options: DENY/SAMEORIGIN or a Content-Security-Policy: frame-ancestors directive block browsers from displaying them inside a frame. This is enforced by the destination, so there's no override — use a 301/302/307 or Meta Refresh redirect for those links instead.
Is link cloaking bad for SEO?
The cloaking wrapper is marked noindex, so it won't rank or consolidate ranking signals the way a 301 does. For permanent links you want search engines to follow, use a 301. Cloaking here means masking a URL behind your domain — not the black-hat practice of serving crawlers different content than users.
Does cloaking work for every affiliate program?
No. Cloaking only works when the destination allows framing and when the affiliate program permits masked links. Many retailers block framing and some networks prohibit cloaking in their terms — check the program's rules and test the link before relying on it.