# Shortly — A URL shortening utility > iPhone utility for creating and tracking Bitly short URLs. (iPhone/iPad app by Chris Dressler.) - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shortly/id337764686 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`) - Developer: [Chris Dressler](https://appshunter.io/developer/327199357) - Category: Utilities, Productivity - Price: $0.99 - Age rating: 4+ - Requires: iOS 18.6 · 4 MB - Languages: American English - Released: 2009-11-28 - Data updated: 2026-08-26 - Monetization: free - User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shortly/id337764686/reviews.md ## What is Shortly? Shortly is an easy-to-use utility that lets you create short URLs (Bitlinks) with your iPhone or iPad using the Bitly service. You can copy these links to the clipboard for use in other iPhone applications. Once you've created your Bitlink and pressed the button to put it on the clipboard, you can launch another application, click anywhere you can enter text and select Paste — it's that simple! Additionally you can track the click statistics for Bitlinks you create in the app, or Bitlinks you've shortened on the Bitly website with helpful charts and metadata. There is also a Bitlink lookup tool, so you can enter in a Bitlink you've found and see who created it, including the number of global clicks it has received this week. The app requires a Bitly account to enable the URL shortening and tracking features. If you don't have an account, signing up is easy and free. Just click on the Account tab in the app and click the button to get a new account. Auto Shorten feature: If you go into the Settings screen and turn this on, the Shortly app will look on the clipboard when it launches, and if it finds a valid URL there, it will automatically shorten it and place the Bitlihnk on the clipboard at the same time. ## Key features - Create short URLs (Bitlinks) - Copy links to clipboard - Track click statistics - View charts and metadata - Bitlink lookup tool - Auto Shorten feature ## Recent user reviews (10 of 37) All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shortly/id337764686/reviews.md ### 1/5 — Achtung ⚠️ Betrug! *2022-06-03, version 2.4* Geld wird abgezogen. Dannach fordert die App eine Registrierung bevor man es nutzen kann. Nach Registrierung passiert nichts. Absolute Betrugsmasche!!! Nicht kaufen! ⛔️ ### 1/5 — CRASH ALERT *2014-06-21, version 1.2* Wasted the app fee! Crashed when I tried to shorten an URL. Now when I try to reopen the app it says processing and crashes again!! ### 1/5 — Update needed *2012-12-26, version 1.2* This app used to work fine but since updating to iOS 6, it crashes as soon as I enter a URL to shorten. ### 1/5 — Horrible *2012-06-15* Can't use the app. It crashes everytime! Please fix it. ### 1/5 — Crashes EVERY TIME *2012-04-12, version 1.2* Crashes every time I press Enter. Waste of 99c. Don't bother. ### 1/5 — Money *2012-02-14* I want my money back now! ### 1/5 — Terrible *2012-02-09* Does not do what the description says. Cannot login with API number. Won't track links I've made. Wish I hadn't spent the dollar. ### 5/5 — ★★★★★ *2012-01-31, version 1.2* Application très utile si on poste souvent des liens sur FB ou Twitter! ### 1/5 — Waste of money... Read why *2011-12-27* I have about 55 apps on my phone for business use and thought this would be a good addition. WRONG! 1. The tracking is only for URL the application creates not the ones you already have in but.ly 2. The login with API does nothing! 3. Tried to paste a URL in the app and it said the URL was too short???? What? Don't buy ### 1/5 — Horrible *2011-12-19* I thought this app would be the integrated solution to my URL shortening nightmare. I was wrong. If this app were an object, it'd be a paper weight. ## Frequently asked questions about Shortly ### What does this app do? This app is a utility that allows you to create short URLs, also known as Bitlinks, using the Bitly service directly from your iPhone or iPad. You can easily copy these shortened links to your clipboard for use in other applications and track the click statistics for the links you create. ### Do I need an account to use this app? Yes, a Bitly account is required to enable the URL shortening and tracking features. If you do not already have an account, you can easily sign up for a free account directly within the app through the Account tab. ### How can I track link statistics? You can track the click statistics for Bitlinks you create within the app, or even for Bitlinks that you have shortened on the Bitly website. The app provides helpful charts and metadata to visualize this data. ### What is the Auto Shorten feature? The Auto Shorten feature, when enabled in the Settings screen, automatically checks the clipboard when the app launches. If a valid URL is found on the clipboard, it will be automatically shortened, and the resulting Bitlink will be placed on the clipboard. ### Is this app compatible with all iPhones and iPads? The app is designed for use on iPhone and iPad devices. While specific iOS version compatibility is not detailed, it functions as a utility for these Apple mobile devices. ## Version history (last 5 releases) ### 2.8 — 2025-10-24 • Fully updated to support iOS 26 • Minor dark mode tweaks ### 2.7 — 2025-05-27 We've added a new share extension for Safari so you can shorten links directly in the browser. Just find "Shorten URL" in the share sheet action list in Safari. There's also a tutorial on how it work in the Settings screen if you'd like more information. ### 2.6 — 2025-05-19 We've re-written the app top to bottom with a fresh new look to take advantage of the latest features of iOS and make your app experience smoother with better performance. ### 2.4 — 2020-08-18 • Update for new version of Bitly APIs • Performance enhancements and bug fixes ### 2.3 — 2020-05-15 • Full support for dark mode and iOS 13 • Now supports user accounts with two-factor authentication • Updates to latest Bitly API • Bugfixes and performance enhancements ## Apps similar to Shortly | App | Rating | Price | Category | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [Oldr Redirect for Reddit](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/oldr-redirect-for-reddit/id1588525815) | 4.3 (9) | $0.99 | Utilities | | [URL Shortener All-In-One](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/url-shortener-all-in-one/id964980601) | 5.0 (1) | $0.99 | Utilities | | [MinimalLauncher](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/minimallauncher/id1501076764) | 1.0 (1) | Free | Utilities | | [CleanClip](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cleanclip/id6744323660) | — | $1.99 | Utilities | | [Luci — Browsing & AI Summary](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/luci-browsing-and-ai-summary/id6670410218) | 5.0 (1) | Free | Utilities | | [Baton Pass](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/baton-pass/id6745224614) | — | $2.99 | Utilities | ## More apps by Chris Dressler - [Tip Simple](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tip-simple/id327199354) All apps by Chris Dressler: https://appshunter.io/developer/327199357 --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-08-26.*