Shortly API
Start Free on RapidAPI

Shorten, manage & track links in seconds.

Shortly is a fast, developer‑friendly URL shortener API with custom aliases, expiration, and analytics. Built to work seamlessly behind RapidAPI.

Start Free →See Example
99.9% uptime
RapidAPI billing
1‑minute setup
POST /api/shorten
{
  "url": "https://example.com/very/long",
  "ttl": { "minutes": 1 }
}
Response
{
  "shortUrl": "https://shtly.me/Ab3xYz",
  "expiresAt": "2025-10-10T14:30:00Z"
}

Why developers choose Shortly

Built for speed, simplicity, and scale.

Instant shortening

Low‑latency responses with a simple, stable API.

Custom aliases

Brand links like /promo and /docs (Pro/Ultra).

Expiration (TTL)

Set hours, minutes, and seconds for temporary links.

Analytics

Clicks, referers, and user agents (Pro/Ultra).

How it works

  1. 1

    Shorten

    Send a POST to /api/shorten with your long URL.

  2. 2

    Customize

    (Pro/Ultra) Add aliases and TTL to control lifetimes.

  3. 3

    Track

    (Pro/Ultra) Use /api/analytics/{code} for insights.

Simple pricing

Start free. Upgrade when you need more.

Basic

$0

5 links/month • 1,000 req/month

  • Shorten & redirect
  • Custom aliases
  • Analytics
Start Free
Popular

Pro

$4.99/mo

10 links/day • 50,000 req/month

  • Custom aliases
  • Expiration (TTL)
  • Analytics
  • List & delete links
Upgrade on RapidAPI

Ultra

$19.99/mo

100 links/day • 500,000 req/month

  • Everything in Pro
  • Higher limits
  • Priority support
Go Ultra

Quick example

Drop‑in fetch call you can paste anywhere.

JavaScript (fetch)
await fetch('https://shortly.p.rapidapi.com/api/shorten', {
  method: 'POST',
  headers: {
    'Content-Type': 'application/json',
    'X-RapidAPI-Key': '<YOUR_KEY>',
    'X-RapidAPI-Host': 'shortly.p.rapidapi.com'
  },
  body: JSON.stringify({ url: 'https://example.com', ttl: { minutes: 1 } })
});

FAQ

How are users billed?

RapidAPI handles billing. Only successful link creations increment the custom Shortened Links quota when the server sets X-RapidAPI-Billing.

Can I set link expirations?

Yes. Send a ttl object with hours/minutes/seconds. Expired links return 410.

Do you support custom aliases?

Yes — available on Pro and Ultra via POST /api/shorten/alias.

Is there a free plan?

Yes. Start free and upgrade anytime on RapidAPI.

Get Started on RapidAPI →