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1. Paste Your Destination URL
Enter any valid webpage, document, social profile, or app store link you want to shorten.
Free Branded Aliases
Custom URL Shortener.
Create memorable, human-readable short links with your own custom back-half slug (shortnow.site/your-brand) for free.
Engine: checking...
✓ 100% Free — No Login
✓ Redis <15ms Redirects
✓ Dynamic QR & Live Click Counter
Simple 3-Step Workflow
How to Claim Your Custom Short Link
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2. Choose Your Custom Alias
Type your desired slug using letters, numbers, hyphens, or underscores in the Custom Alias field.
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3. Instant Availability Check & Lock
If the alias is available, it is immediately reserved in our database along with its matching QR code and analytics page.
Overview & Architecture
Boost Click-Through Rates with Human-Readable Slugs
Randomly generated strings like `bit.ly/3x9Kp2Q` look indistinguishable from phishing links and are impossible to say out loud on a podcast, webinar, or stage presentation.
Shortnow lets you choose your own custom back-half slug (`shortnow.site/pitch-deck`, `shortnow.site/join-us`, `shortnow.site/menu`) completely free—giving your audience immediate context before they click.
Why Custom Short Links Outperform Random Hashes
1. Up to 34% Higher Click Trust
- User Hesitation on Random Slugs
- Security-conscious users hesitate to click opaque URLs when they cannot tell what awaits on the other side.
- Descriptive Slug Clarity
- A clear slug like `shortnow.site/roadmap-2026` communicates destination intent right inside the link text.
2. Verbal & Offline Memorability
- Slide Decks & Podcasts
- Listeners and conference attendees cannot memorize case-sensitive random hashes shown on a slide for 5 seconds.
- Effortless Recall
- A clean hyphenated word slug can be spoken aloud once and typed directly into any mobile browser.
Feature Comparison
Why Creators & Marketers Choose Shortnow
| Capability | Shortnow (Free) | Legacy Shorteners (Free Tier) |
|---|---|---|
| Mandatory Account / Login | No — Instant 1-Click Use | Required before shortening |
| Custom Alias Slugs | Unlimited Free Custom Slugs | Capped at 3–5/month or Paid only |
| Dynamic QR Code Download | Included on Every Link | Limited to 2/month |
| Real-Time Click Counter | Included (via /stats or + trick) | Paywalled ($29+/month) |
| Redirect Latency | <15ms Redis In-Memory Cache | Standard DB lookup |
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything You Need to Know
How many custom slugs can I create for free?
Unlike competitors that limit free accounts to 3–5 custom back-halves per month, Shortnow lets you create custom aliases for free without registration.
What characters are allowed in a custom alias?
You can use English letters (`a-z`, `A-Z`), numbers (`0-9`), hyphens (`-`), and underscores (`_`) up to 20 characters.
What happens if my chosen custom slug is already taken?
Our API checks uniqueness in real time and will notify you immediately so you can add a suffix or pick another variation.
Free Link & Marketing Suite
Explore Specialized URL & QR Tools
Purpose-built utilities powered by the Shortnow high-speed redirect engine.
QR Code Generator
Turn any URL into a high-contrast, scannable QR code backed by a short link so you can track every scan in real time.
UTM Builder & Shortener
Build Google Analytics UTM campaign parameters and compress the messy tracking URL into a clean short link in one click.
Link Click Tracker
Check how many clicks any Shortnow link has received or create a new trackable short link with live click analytics.
Custom URL Shortener
Create memorable, human-readable short links with your own custom back-half slug (shortnow.site/your-brand) for free.
Amazon Link Shortener
Turn massive Amazon product and affiliate URLs (`?tag=...&keywords=...`) into clean, high-converting short links with click tracking.
Discord Link Shortener
Create custom branded invite links (`shortnow.site/my-server`) and track how many members click your Discord links across social channels.
Instagram Bio Shortener
Make your Instagram, TikTok, and Threads bio links clean, branded, and fully trackable with real-time click analytics.
Google Drive Shortener
Convert long Google Drive, Docs, Sheets, and Slides sharing URLs into clean, memorable links with QR codes and download tracking.
YouTube Link Shortener
Create branded short links and trackable QR codes for YouTube videos, Shorts, playlists, and channel subscribe links.
Free Bitly Alternative
Why pay $35/month or fight mandatory sign-up walls just to create a custom short link and QR code? Shorten, customize, and track for free.
WhatsApp Link Generator
Create a custom WhatsApp click-to-chat link with a pre-filled message, shorten it into a branded URL, and track every customer tap.
Telegram Link Shortener
Shorten private Telegram invite links (`t.me/+...`), bot referral URLs (`?start=...`), and post links into clean trackable URLs.
TikTok Link Shortener
Create clean custom bio links and shorten long TikTok video or TikTok Shop URLs with real-time click analytics.
LinkedIn URL Shortener
Turn long LinkedIn profile URLs, company posts, and outbound article links into clean custom links with click tracking.
Notion Link Shortener
Replace 60-character Notion page hashes (`notion.site/Page-Title-3f8a9b...`) with a clean, memorable custom short link.
Canva Link Shortener
Turn long Canva public view links and template sharing URLs (`canva.com/design/DAG...`) into clean, branded short links.
Google Forms Shortener
Turn Google Forms survey URLs (`docs.google.com/forms/...` or random `forms.gle` hashes) into custom readable links and QR codes.
Shopify Link Shortener
Shorten Shopify product collection URLs, discount auto-apply links, and UTM campaign URLs into high-converting branded links.
Podcast Link Shortener
Create easy-to-say, memorable short links (`shortnow.site/ep42`) that listeners can actually remember and type while driving or working out.
TinyURL Alternative
All the no-login simplicity of TinyURL, upgraded with free real-time click analytics, dynamic QR codes, and a sleek ad-free dark interface.