How to Make a Custom Short Link for Free (Vanity URL Guide for 2026)
How to create a readable custom short link for free, which shorteners allow custom slugs without paying, how to pick a good slug, and when a branded domain is worth it.
A custom short link replaces the random characters at the end of a short URL with words you choose, so fattyurl.com/x7Kq2 becomes fattyurl.com/spring-sale. People can read it, remember it, type it from a poster, and see roughly where it goes before they click. You can make one for free in under a minute, and on some services without creating an account.
Short answer: Paste your long URL into a shortener that supports custom slugs (also called back-halves or aliases), type the ending you want, check that it is available, and create the link. On FattyURL this works without an account. Bitly's free plan allows 3 custom back-halves a month.
Custom slug, back-half, alias, vanity URL: what is the difference?
They mostly mean the same thing. The slug is the part after the slash: in fattyurl.com/spring-sale, the slug is spring-sale. Bitly calls it a back-half, TinyURL calls it an alias, and marketers often call the whole link a vanity URL.
A branded domain is different. That is when the part before the slash is your own domain, like go.yourbrand.com/spring-sale. Custom slugs are widely free. Branded domains are usually paid, with a few exceptions covered below.
How to make a custom short link on FattyURL
- Go to the FattyURL homepage. No account is needed.
- Paste your long URL into the box.
- Type your custom slug. FattyURL checks availability as you type.
- Create the link and copy it. A QR code for the same link is one click away.
FattyURL slugs can be 6 to 100 characters long and use letters, numbers and hyphens. A few words are reserved for the site itself.
If you want to change where the link points later, or see how many people clicked it, create a free account. Links you made earlier in the same browser session move into it when you sign up.
Free custom slug allowances compared
Checked against each company's own pages on 26 September 2026. Disclosure: FattyURL is our product.
| Shortener | Custom slugs on the free plan | Account needed | Free branded domain |
|---|---|---|---|
| FattyURL | Unlimited, 6 to 100 characters | No | No |
| is.gd | Yes, 5 to 30 characters | No | No |
| TinyURL | Yes, custom aliases | No | No, paid plans only |
| Bitly | 3 a month (100 a month on Core) | Yes | No, from Growth |
| Cuttly | 3 a month | Yes | 1 branded domain |
| Rebrandly | Yes, within 10 links a month | Yes | 1 custom domain |
| Dub | Yes, within 25 links a month | Yes | 3 custom domains |
| Short.io | Yes, within 1,000 links in total | Yes | 5 custom domains |
If you only need readable endings, FattyURL, is.gd and TinyURL let you make them without an account, and FattyURL has no link limit. If you need your own domain for free, Short.io and Dub give you the most.
How to pick a good custom slug
- Describe the destination.
cafe-menubeatsmenu1. The slug is a promise about what the link opens. - Keep it short. Two or three words is plenty. Every extra character is one more thing to mistype from print.
- Use lowercase and hyphens. On many shorteners, including FattyURL and is.gd, slugs are case-sensitive, so
Spring-Saleandspring-salecan be different links. Lowercase removes the guesswork. - Avoid characters that look alike. Lowercase l, capital I and the number 1, or the letter O and zero, cause errors when people type from a printed page.
- Skip dates unless the link is meant to expire.
webinar-octages badly if you reuse the event next year.webinardoes not. - Say it out loud. If the link will be read on a podcast or in a talk, make sure it sounds unambiguous.
- Make it typeable for captions. Instagram captions and YouTube Shorts descriptions do not make links clickable, so people have to type them. Our guide to short links on social media lists each platform's rules.
When you need a branded domain instead
A branded domain puts your name before the slash. It is worth it when:
- Trust matters most, for example links in customer emails, invoices or support messages, where
yourbrand.comreassures people. - You print at scale on packaging or signage, and want the link to carry your brand.
- You need to own the domain itself, so the links move with you if you ever change shortener.
Free options exist. Short.io's free plan includes 5 custom domains, Dub's includes 3, and Rebrandly's and Cuttly's include one each. On Bitly, a custom domain starts on the Growth plan at $29 a month billed annually. FattyURL does not offer custom domains today, so if a branded domain is essential, choose one of those. For everything else, a clear custom slug on a trusted short domain does most of the job.
Mistakes that break custom links
- Printing before testing. Open the link on your phone before it goes to print, every time.
- Mixing up case. If you print
Spring-Saleand your link isspring-sale, a case-sensitive shortener sends people to an error. - Pointing a printed link at a page that will move. Use a shortener that lets you edit destinations, so a moved page is a quick fix instead of a reprint. On FattyURL, editing is free with an account.
- Choosing a shortener that can disable quiet links. Some services switch off links that go a month without clicks. Our guide to whether short links expire lists which ones.
To see how many people use your new custom link, follow our guide to tracking link clicks for free.
FAQ
Can I customize a short link for free?
Yes. FattyURL, is.gd and TinyURL let you choose a custom ending for free without an account. Bitly and Cuttly allow 3 custom back-halves a month on their free plans.
What is a vanity URL?
A vanity URL is a short, readable link with words you chose, such as fattyurl.com/spring-sale, instead of random characters. The term is often used for links on your own branded domain too.
Are custom short links case-sensitive?
On many shorteners, yes, including FattyURL and is.gd. Use lowercase letters and hyphens to avoid confusion.
How long can a custom slug be?
It depends on the service. FattyURL allows 6 to 100 characters, and is.gd allows 5 to 30. Shorter is better for anything people will type.
Can I use my own domain for free?
Yes, on some services. Short.io's free plan includes 5 custom domains, Dub's includes 3, and Rebrandly's and Cuttly's include one. Bitly starts custom domains on its Growth plan, and FattyURL does not offer them today.
Can I change a custom short link after creating it?
You can change where it points on services that allow destination editing. FattyURL allows that for free with an account. Bitly and TinyURL only allow it on paid plans.
Sources
- Bitly pricing, Bitly free plan
- is.gd FAQ
- TinyURL free plan, TinyURL custom domains, TinyURL editing
- Cuttly pricing
- Rebrandly pricing
- Dub pricing
- Short.io pricing
Disclaimer: This article is for general information only and is not legal or security advice. It was researched and drafted with the help of AI, and its facts were checked against the sources linked above, mostly each provider's own pricing, help and policy pages. URL shorteners, QR code tools and social platforms change their plans, prices and rules often, so confirm the details on the provider's website before you choose a plan, move your links or print a QR code. FattyURL is our own product. Spotted something out of date, or a FattyURL link being misused? Tell us and we will act on it.
