A Bitly alternative for people who outgrew the free tier
Bitly's free plan now allows just 5 links a month, and its cheapest paid tier still doesn't include a custom domain. Smoling's Free plan includes 20 links or file uploads a month, and its $8/mo Pro plan adds a custom domain from day one.
Pricing and features last verified August 26, 2026
Feature Comparison
Smoling vs Bitly
| Feature | Smoling | Bitly |
|---|---|---|
| Free tier | $0/mo — 20 links & files/month | $0/mo — 5 links/month No custom domain or branded links on Bitly Free |
| Starting paid plan | $8/mo (Pro), $4/mo billed yearly | $10/mo (Core) Billed annually only ($120/year); still no custom domain at this tier |
| File-sharing links (upload files, get a short link) | ||
| Password-protected links | Bitly does not offer link password protection on any plan | |
| Custom domain included | 3 domains (Pro), 5 (Growth) | First included on Growth ($35/mo) |
| Link expiry & click limits | Not offered as a native Bitly feature | |
| QR codes | Unlimited, all plans | 2/mo (Free) up to 200/mo (Premium) |
| Click analytics | All plans, including Free | 30 days retention on Core, longer on higher tiers |
| Public API | 1,000 requests/mo even on Free Real gap: Smoling has no public API today |
Who should still use Bitly
You need an established, widely-recognized brand name for enterprise procurement or compliance sign-off.
You rely on Bitly's API, retargeting pixels, or existing integrations already wired into your stack.
You only ever share plain URLs and have no use for file-sharing links.
Where Smoling is weaker
No public API — Bitly offers API access starting on its Free plan; Smoling has no API today.
No mobile app or browser extension.
Smaller company, shorter track record, and no enterprise SSO/SAML or dedicated account management.
FAQ
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