If you share content on social media, run affiliate campaigns, or send marketing links from your WordPress site, you have likely felt the limitations of third-party URL shorteners. Bitly and Rebrandly seem convenient at first, but they bring monthly fees, usage caps, and one major drawback: your links and click data live on someone else’s servers.
Shorty solves these problems by giving you unlimited self-hosted short URLs directly on your own domain. Full brand control, complete data privacy, and predictable costs with no recurring surprises.
In this guide you will discover how Shorty works, what the free version delivers immediately, and why the Pro upgrade helps growing sites scale smarter.
Why Self-Hosted Short URLs Matter in 2026
Third-party services control your links. Price increases, policy changes, or downtime can hurt your campaigns. Branded short links on your own domain build trust, improve click-through rates, and keep all analytics private — a big advantage for GDPR compliance and long-term growth.
Shorty integrates seamlessly with Easy Social Share Buttons, turning every shared link into a clean, trackable short URL without leaving your WordPress dashboard.
Shorty Free Version – Real Benefits at Zero Cost
The free version of Shorty is genuinely useful and not just a teaser. It already provides:
- Unlimited short URL generation with no monthly limits
- Automatic short URL creation every time you publish a post, page, or custom post type
- Configurable code length and character sets
- Basic click count tracking for every link
- Convenient post editor sidebar meta box for easy management
- Support for 301, 302, and 307 redirects
- Developer-friendly PHP functions and shortcodes
- Full data privacy on your own domain
The free version requires Easy Social Share Buttons to function, but installation takes one click from inside the plugin. Many users start here and immediately enjoy cleaner links and basic tracking.
👉 Download Shorty Free Add-on Now
Shorty Pro – Advanced Features That Scale with Your Business
When your traffic grows and you need deeper insights, Shorty Pro removes all limitations:
- Works as a standalone plugin (no need for the main plugin)
- Full analytics dashboard with breakdowns by device, browser, OS, referrer, and hourly views
- Custom short URL names (e.g., yoursite.com/go/summer-deal)
- Custom URL prefix such as /go/ or /link/
- Per-URL detailed analytics with drill-down capability
- Export analytics data as CSV for reports
- Multi-site licenses available
- Priority support and one year of updates
Pro users particularly appreciate hiding affiliate links while tracking clicks privately — no more sending visitors to obvious affiliate domains.
👉 Get Shorty Pro with 50% Off First Year
Shorty vs Bitly vs Rebrandly – Clear 2026 Comparison
Shorty stands out with better cost control, unlimited usage in the free version, and true data ownership:
- Cost: Shorty Pro starts at just $19 per year per site (with current 50% off first year). Competitors quickly reach $96–$156+ annually for branded links and decent analytics.
- Limits: Unlimited short URLs even in free. Most competitor free tiers cap you at 5–10 links.
- Branding & Privacy: Your own domain from day one with full data control.
- Analytics: Pro delivers detailed reports plus CSV export. Lower tiers of Bitly and Rebrandly offer only basic clicks.
- WordPress Integration: Lives inside your dashboard with auto-generation and editor tools.
For affiliate marketers, bloggers, and WooCommerce store owners, the privacy and cost savings make Shorty the smarter long-term choice.
How to Get Started with Shorty in Minutes
- Install Easy Social Share Buttons (choose the $22 single-site or $149 unlimited-sites lifetime license).
- Go to the add-ons section inside the plugin and install Shorty Free with one click.
- Publish or edit any post — Shorty automatically creates a short URL.
- Use the sidebar meta box to customize links as needed.
- Upgrade to Pro directly from your account for instant access to advanced features.
The whole process takes under five minutes and requires no coding.
👉 Read Full Shorty Documentation
Ready to Own Your Links and Grow Smarter?
Stop paying recurring fees to services that own your data. With Shorty you gain full control, real privacy, and powerful tracking that helps you improve results over time.
Start with the capable free version today. Upgrade to Pro when you need advanced analytics and custom naming. Combine it with the lifetime license of Easy Social Share Buttons for the complete social growth stack — clean share buttons, trackable links, and better engagement all in one place.
👉 View All Demos
📦 Download Shorty Free Add-on Now
🎉 Get Shorty Pro with 50% Off First Year
⭐ Get Lifetime Access – $22 Single Site or $149 Unlimited
Every post you publish and every link you share becomes more professional and measurable. Your audience sees your brand, not someone else’s shortener. Your data stays private and under your control.
Have questions about Shorty or how it works with your setup? Check the documentation or leave a comment below. Many users upgrade after seeing the free version deliver real results.
Start building better links today. Your traffic and conversions will thank you.