Comparison

Shortly vs Katana.run

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side โ€” with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Shortly

This utility allows you to create and manage short URLs using the Bitly service directly from your iPhone or iPad. Easily copy shortened links for use in other apps and track their click statistics with helpful charts. It also includes a tool to look up existing Bitlinks and their performance.

Highlights
  • Create short URLs (Bitlinks)
  • Copy links to clipboard
  • Track click statistics
  • View charts and metadata
  • Bitlink lookup tool
  • Auto Shorten feature
Features
Read full description

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 โ€” 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.

About

Katana.run

Features
Read full description

Katana.Run is more than just a URL shortener app. It is a mighty tool that offers a range of features that help you manage your links and optimize your online presence. One of the main features of Katana.Run is its ability to easily shorten long, complex URLs in a snap. This is crucial for anyone who wants to share links on social media where space is limited. With Katana.Run, you can turn a long, complicated URL into a catchy, compact link that is easy to share and remember. Another great feature of Katana.Run is its link library. This allows you to save all of your shortened links in one place, making it easy to access and manage them whenever you need to. Whether you're tracking clicks, monitoring traffic, or just keeping your links organized, the link library is an essential tool for anyone who uses Katana.Run. One of the standout features of Katana.run is its customizable back half, which allows you to choose the words that appear after the slash in your shortened links. This is perfect for anyone who wants to add a personal touch to their links or make them more catchy and easy to share. Katana.Run's latest feature is the icing on the cake, offering a tool that provides even greater flexibility and control. With the ability to modify the original destination link, you'll never be limited by static links again. This feature is especially useful in cases where links become inactive, the content changes, or an incorrect link was used. Upgrade to Katana.Run today and take full control of your online presence. Overall, Katana.Run is the sassiest URL shortener if you want to streamline your online presence and make your links more manageable. Its powerful attributes and intuitive interface make it the perfect tool for bloggers, marketers, social media influencers, and anyone who wants to make the most of their online presence.

Screenshots

Shortly4 screens
Katana.run4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Katana.run at Free against Shortly's $0.99. Katana.run also leads on iOS requirement (15.1 vs 18.6). Shortly's advantage is update cadence (every 5 months vs every 33 months). On ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price ยท Rating ยท Positive reviews ยท Number of ratings ยท Update frequency ยท Ads ยท In-app purchases ยท Monetization ยท Best chart rank ยท Devices ยท Requires iOS

CostPrice ยท In-app purchases ยท Ads ยท Monetization

Katana.run is free to download; Shortly costs $0.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Shortly ships an update every 5 months, Katana.run every 33 months. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences ยท 5 level
Shortly versus Katana.run: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterShortlyKatana.run
Price$0.99Free โ€” better
Positive reviews10.8% of reviewsโ€”
Update frequencyEvery 5 months โ€” betterEvery 33 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeโ€”
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod โ€” better
Requires iOS18.615.1 โ€” better
Further details โ€” not scored
Size9 MB53 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperChris DresslerBits Kingdom LLC

In-app purchases

None

Shortly

No in-app purchases

None

Katana.run

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Shortly free?
Shortly costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Katana.run free?
Katana.run is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Shortly or Katana.run have ads?
Neither Shortly nor Katana.run shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Shortly or Katana.run?
Shortly ships an update every 5 months, and Katana.run every 33 months. Most recently, Shortly was updated on November 1, 2026 and Katana.run on October 25, 2026.

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