Free Short Link Generator: Create Custom Short Links in Seconds

Quick answer: Open the Url Jetz short link generator, paste your long URL and click Shorten. You get a short link with a random code right away, no account needed. To choose your own name, create a free account, open Custom alias and type words like summer-sale; your link becomes urljetz.com/summer-sale, with a free QR code and click stats.

A short link generator turns a long web address into a short one that's easy to share, type and remember. "Short link generator", "URL shortener" and "link shortener" all mean the same thing: a tool that creates a short address which redirects to your long one.

This guide shows how to generate a short link for free, how to give it your own name, and how to make many at once.

How a short link generator works

When you shorten a link, the generator saves your long URL and gives it a short code. When someone opens the short link, the generator looks up the code and sends the visitor to the long URL in a fraction of a second. Along the way it can count the click, so you know how many people opened it.

Generate a short link in 10 seconds (no account)

1. Copy your long link. On a phone, use your browser's Share → Copy link.
2. Open Url Jetz and paste it into the box on the home page.
3. Click Shorten.
4. Copy your short link and open it once to check it goes to the right page.

You can make up to 50 links a day this way without signing up. The link gets a random 6-character code, like urljetz.com/k3jd9x.

Generate a short link with your own name (free)

A random code works, but a short link with words in it gets more clicks and is easier to remember. This is what people mean by a "URL shortener with custom name" or a "custom link shortener".

1. Create a free Url Jetz account. Custom names need an account so nobody else can change your links.
2. Paste your long URL into the shortener.
3. Pick a domain from the dropdown. Several short domains are included for free.
4. Open "Custom alias" and type your words, for example summer-sale.
5. Click Shorten. Your link urljetz.com/summer-sale is live straight away.

The rules: 3 to 60 characters, using letters, numbers, hyphens and underscores. Names aren't case-sensitive, and a few words like login and admin are reserved. If a name is taken on one domain, try another domain or add a year: sale-2026.

There's no monthly cap on custom names on the free plan. Many other generators allow only 3 a month for free.

Naming ideas

More tips in how to create a custom short link. For forms and WhatsApp, see how to shorten a Google Form link and how to shorten a link for WhatsApp.

What you get with every short link

A good generator gives you more than a shorter address. With a free Url Jetz account, every link includes:

• A QR code you can download for posters, menus, packaging and slides
• Real-time click analytics: clicks, unique visitors, countries, devices, browsers and referrers, with bots filtered out
• Editing: change where the link points at any time, without changing the short link or QR code
• Controls: an expiry date, a click limit, country targeting with a fallback page, or a pause button
• Image Cards: choose the picture, title and description shown when the link is shared on social media

Generate many short links at once

• Bulk shorten: sign in, open Bulk shorten and paste up to 100 links, one per line. You get a short link for each, ready to copy or export.
• API: generate short links from your own app, online store or Google Sheet. See the free URL shortener API guide for copy-paste code.

How to choose a short link generator

Before you pick one, check four things:

1. Free limits. Some generators allow only 5 or 30 links a month for free.
2. Custom names. Can you choose the words, and how many times a month?
3. Analytics. Can you see clicks on the free plan? Bitly and TinyURL don't show them for free. Here's which free shorteners include analytics.
4. Editing. Can you change the destination after you've shared or printed the link?

We compared 10 popular options in our guide to the best free URL shorteners.

Frequently asked questions

Is this short link generator free?

Yes. Url Jetz is free, with no paid tiers. Quick links need no account; a free account adds custom names, editing, QR codes, bulk shortening and analytics.

Can I make a short link with my own name for free?

Yes. Create a free account, open Custom alias and type the name you want. There's no monthly limit on custom names.

Do generated short links expire?

No. Your links keep working until you delete them, unless you set an expiry date yourself.

Can I use my own domain?

Url Jetz gives you a choice of short domains for every link. If you need a dedicated branded domain for your business, contact us.

How short can a short link be?

The part after the slash can be as short as 3 characters if you choose it yourself, or 6 characters when it's generated for you.

Is a short link generator safe?

Yes, if it checks the links it creates. Url Jetz checks new links against blocked domains, puts links on hold when people report them, and has a public abuse report page.