LinkShrink vs TinyURL Comparison
TinyURL has been around since 2002 but hasn't kept up with developer needs. Here's how they compare today.
| Feature | LinkShrink (Free) | TinyURL (Free) |
|---|---|---|
| REST API | ✓ Full REST API, no key needed | ✗ No public API |
| Custom slug / alias | ✓ Free, unlimited | Limited (TinyURL Pro required) |
| No signup required | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes (basic shortening) |
| Click analytics | ✓ Free anonymous stats | ✗ TinyURL Pro only |
| Ads on redirect | ✓ Never | ✗ Ads shown on free tier |
| QR code generation | ✓ Free, any size | TinyURL Pro only |
| Link expiry control | ✓ TTL in seconds | ✗ Not available |
| Link deletion | ✓ Delete token included | Account required |
| Privacy / tracking | ✓ Zero user tracking | Logs IP and referrer data |
| Price for full features | $0 | $12.99/month (TinyURL Pro) |
Why Developers Choose LinkShrink Over TinyURL
TinyURL was built for simple link shortening. Developers need more.
Real REST API
TinyURL has no public API for programmatic link creation. LinkShrink offers a full REST API with JSON responses, custom slugs, and batch support. No API key required.
Custom Aliases Free
Want /my-campaign instead of a random string? TinyURL charges for this via their Pro plan. LinkShrink gives you unlimited custom slugs for free.
Click Analytics Included
Track how many times your link was clicked with anonymous, privacy-respecting analytics. TinyURL locks this behind their $12.99/month Pro tier.
Privacy by Default
LinkShrink stores only an anonymous click counter. No IP addresses, no device fingerprints, no referrer tracking. Your visitors remain anonymous.
Switch from TinyURL in 30 Seconds
No account creation. No credit card. Just call the API.
# TinyURL — browser-only, no API, no custom slug control # Open browser → paste URL → copy result → no analytics # LinkShrink — full API, custom slug, analytics, all free curl -X POST https://linkshrink.dev/api/v1/shorten \ -H "Content-Type: application/json" \ -d '{"url":"https://example.com/your/long/path","customAlias":"my-link"}' # Response: # { # "status": "success", # "data": { # "shortUrl": "https://linkshrink.dev/my-link", # "deleteToken": "a1b2c3d4...", # "analytics": "https://linkshrink.dev/api/v1/stats/my-link" # } # }
Features TinyURL Pro Charges For — Free on LinkShrink
Custom Slugs
Set your own alias: /my-event-2026. No account, no approval, just include customAlias in your request. TinyURL reserves this for Pro subscribers.
QR Code Generation
Every short link gets a QR endpoint automatically: /api/v1/qr/:code.png?size=512. Use in print materials, campaigns, or apps. TinyURL Pro charges for QR codes.
Link Analytics
Check click counts with /api/v1/stats/:code. Privacy-respecting anonymous counters only. TinyURL locks all analytics behind their $12.99/month paywall.