"Just give me a short link" sounds simple, but Bitly, TinyURL and lynkily make very different trade-offs once you care about analytics, QR codes, or a link-in-bio page. Here's an honest, table-first comparison.
The full comparison
| Feature | lynkily | Bitly | TinyURL |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free links / month | 50 | 5 + ads | Basic, unlimited |
| Cheapest paid plan | $5/mo | ~$35/mo | ~$10/mo |
| Analytics depth | Full (device/location/referrer) | Full (paid) | Basic |
| Dynamic QR codes | ✅ | ✅ | Limited |
| Link-in-bio page | ✅ included | Limited / paid | ❌ |
| UTM builder | ✅ from $5/mo | Paid | ❌ |
The quick verdict
- TinyURL — fine for a fast, throwaway link, but thin analytics and no bio page.
- Bitly — polished and well-known, but the useful features are paid and the free plan is tiny.
- lynkily — the most complete value: 50 free links/month, QR codes, link-in-bio, and full analytics from $5/month.
Price is where it's decided
TinyURL and Bitly both push you to paid tiers for real analytics. lynkily starts at $5/month for full audience analytics, the UTM builder, designer QR codes and editable links — see the pricing page.
Which should you pick?
Need one disposable link? Any free tier works. Want short links plus QR codes, analytics and a bio page without overpaying? lynkily is the most complete affordable option.
Create a free short link → and compare it yourself in 30 seconds.