Bitly free plan limits
Bitly's free plan allows 5 short links a month, up to 2 QR codes a month and 3 custom back-halves a month. Links on free accounts show a preview page with an ad before the destination. Bitly says its links never expire. Each of these is Bitly's own statement, linked below.
The limits, one by one, next to ktzr.io's free plan
The two plans count different things, so read the units. Bitly counts links created in a month. ktzr.io counts links that are active at the same time.
| Limit | Bitly Free | ktzr.io Free | Bitly's page |
|---|---|---|---|
| Short links | 5 a month. The number counts links created in a month and starts again the next month. Bitly's help center says QR codes and Bitly Pages links count toward the same 5. | Up to 100 active links at one time. Deleting a link frees its place. A new account can create up to 5 links in its first 24 hours. | bitly.com |
| QR codes | 2 a month, with unlimited scans. Bitly's pricing page shows 1 to some visitors. | One for every link. | bitly.com |
| Custom back-halves | 3 a month. | No. Links end in a random code. | bitly.com |
| A page before the destination | Yes. Links on free accounts show a preview of the destination and an ad first. Paid plans remove it. | None. No ads and no page before the destination. | support.bitly.com |
| Link expiry | Links never expire. A deleted link answers with a 404 error. | Links never expire. A deleted link answers 410 Gone. | support.bitly.com |
| Changing where a link points | Not on the free plan. | Yes. | bitly.com |
| Click statistics | No click or scan statistics on the free plan. | Daily clicks going back 90 days, with bots counted separately. | bitly.com |
| API | 1,000 requests a month. | Yes, with up to 10 API keys. Creating, editing and deleting links share 20 actions an hour. | bitly.com |
| Account | Required. | Required, with a Google account. | support.bitly.com |
| Where data is stored | United States. | European Union. | support.bitly.com |
Bitly's column was last verified on September 29, 2026. Each row links to the Bitly page it was read on. Plans change, so follow the link before you rely on a row. ktzr.io's column is described on our pricing page.
What the limits mean in practice
- Five links a month is a budget, not a storage limit. Links you made in earlier months keep working. What runs out is the number of new links you can make before the month ends.
- The preview page is seen by your visitors, not by you. It appears between the click and your page. If the link is printed or sent to customers, open it in a private window to see what they see.
- A free link's destination is fixed. If the page behind a printed link moves, the link cannot follow it on the free plan.
Where Bitly's free plan gives more
- Custom back-halves. Bitly's free plan includes 3 a month. ktzr.io links end in a random code.
- A path to more. Bitly sells paid plans, and they remove the ad page and let you change where a link points. ktzr.io has only a free plan today.
If the free limits are the reason you are looking
ktzr.io's free plan holds up to 100 active links with no ads in front of them, a QR code for each, and a destination you can change later.
More guides: Do short links expire?, URL shorteners without ads, Are short links safe?
Bitly is a trademark of its owner. ktzr.io is not affiliated with Bitly.