Comparison

Shortly vs DNS Shield

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — 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 — 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

DNS Shield

Encrypt your DNS queries and use no-logging servers to safeguard your online presence across all your Apple devices. Easily configure settings, switch servers, and benefit from system-wide protection without needing a VPN. It helps minimize contact with harmful sites and updates DNS providers automatically.

Highlights
  • Encrypts DNS queries
  • No-logging DNS servers
  • Ease of configuration
  • Effortless DNS server switching
  • System-wide protection
  • Minimizes harmful site contact
  • Automatic DNS provider updates
Read full description

Protect yourself on all your Apple devices by encrypting DNS queries and using no-logging DNS servers. Safeguard your online presence. Key features: - Ease of configuration. - Effortlessly switch DNS servers. - No vendor lock in. - No need for VPN. - Minimise or completely eliminate, in some cases, the amount of harmful sites contacted by your device. - Works System wide (not only in the browser). - Extensive In-App Help system. - We don't collect any data and we don't track your activities. - Automatic updates of the DNS providers collection. Your feedback and reviews will be highly appreciated!

Screenshots

Shortly4 screens
DNS Shield4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: DNS Shield at monthly against Shortly's every 5 months. Shortly's advantage is review sentiment (11% vs 0%) and price ($0.99 vs $1.99). On ads, in-app purchases, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Shortly costs $0.99 and DNS Shield $1.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Shortly ships an update every 5 months, DNS Shield monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 20, 2026 and September 21, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Shortly versus DNS Shield: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterShortlyDNS Shield
Price$0.99 — better$1.99
Rating—4.0 (4 ratings) — better
Positive reviews10.8% of reviews — better0.0% of reviews
Number of ratings—4 — better
Update frequencyEvery 5 monthsMonthly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree — betterPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, Mac — better
Requires iOS18.618.4 — better
Further details — not scored
Size9 MB3 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperChris DresslerARETORI SOLUTIONS LTD

Customer experience

Shortly

Written reviews37 reviews
Positive10.8%
Neutral13.5%
Negative75.7%

DNS Shield

All ratings4 ratings
Positive75.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative25.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%

In-app purchases

None

Shortly

No in-app purchases

None

DNS Shield

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Shortly free?
Shortly costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is DNS Shield free?
DNS Shield costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.
Do Shortly or DNS Shield have ads?
Neither Shortly nor DNS Shield shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Shortly or DNS Shield?
Shortly ships an update every 5 months, and DNS Shield monthly. Most recently, Shortly was updated on October 20, 2026 and DNS Shield on September 21, 2026.

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