# Bitly vs Short URL Maker

The clearest difference is rating: Short URL Maker at 4.0 against Bitly's 3.3. Short URL Maker also leads on review sentiment (52% vs 41%) and iOS requirement (8.0 vs 15.6). Bitly's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2) and ratings volume (171 vs 12). On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Short URL Maker sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. Bitly asks for nothing beyond the download.

Short URL Maker holds the better App Store score, 4.0 against 3.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Bitly has 171 ratings behind it against 12, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 41% of Bitly's written reviews are positive against 52% of Short URL Maker's.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 21, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Bitly | Short URL Maker |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.3 (171 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bitly-link-shortener/id525106063/reviews) | **[4.0 (12 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/short-url-maker/id953900963/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **171** | 12 |
| Positive reviews | 40.5% of reviews | **52.4% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Freemium | **Free** |
| Size | 36 MB | 15 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | **8.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | +4 |
| Developer | [Bitly, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/420744919) | [健生 任](https://appshunter.io/developer/937140476) |

## What reviewers say

### Bitly

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bitly-link-shortener/id525106063)

This app allows you to instantly create shortened URLs, share them easily across various platforms, and track their performance. It offers features like custom domains and back-halves for branded links. Access advanced features like QR codes and detailed analytics on the web platform.

**Highlights:** Instant link creation, Custom domains and back-halves, Simple link sharing, Quick access to recent links, Basic click count tracking

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, iMessage stickers, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 📊 Useful analytics
- 🚀 Convenient link sharing
- 💡 Great tool for social media

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Buggy and crashes frequently
- 🔍 Missing key features like link customization
- 📉 Inaccurate or missing analytics data
- 🔒 Security and privacy concerns

**Reported bugs**

- Login issues and inability to connect to server
- Disappearing or non-updating link data
- Crashes when trying to perform basic functions
- Compatibility problems with newer iOS versions

**Requested features**

- Add support for multiple accounts
- Improve UI and user experience
- Expand analytics and reporting capabilities
- Integrate with more social platforms


### Short URL Maker

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/short-url-maker/id953900963)

This tool converts long web addresses into shorter, more manageable links. It also offers a Safari extension for quick shortening directly within your browser. Supports multiple popular shortening services.

**Highlights:** Convert long URLs to short URLs, Safari Shortener Extension, Supports multiple shortening services, Simple and powerful tool

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| A cup of coffee | $1.99 | one-time |
| Remove Ads | $2.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Bitly free?

Bitly is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Short URL Maker free?

Short URL Maker is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Bitly or Short URL Maker?

Short URL Maker is rated higher. Bitly averages 3.3 out of 5 from 171 ratings, while Short URL Maker averages 4.0 from 12 ratings.

### Do Bitly or Short URL Maker have ads?

Neither Bitly nor Short URL Maker shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Bitly or Short URL Maker?

Bitly ships an update every 2 months, and Short URL Maker every 2 months. Most recently, Bitly was updated on October 21, 2026 and Short URL Maker on October 24, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*