Comparison

Dots vs T.LY URL Shortener

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

Head to head
About

Dots

Features
Read full description

Time isn’t just a ticking number—it’s a canvas. Dots transforms deadlines, vacations, exams, product launches, and personal milestones into an intuitive, visual temporal heatmap. See your time progress the way your brain naturally grasps it: patterns, density, and momentum compressed into clean, editorial dots you can scan in seconds. WHY YOU’LL LOVE DOTS: ◆ THE TEMPORAL HEATMAP Watch your days fill in as you approach your target. Whether it is 10 days or 100 days, the dynamic dot grid gives you immediate perspective on elapsed time and what remains. ◆ ELEGANT HOME & LOCK SCREEN WIDGETS Bring your most anticipated moments right to your Home Screen and Lock Screen. Choose from multiple layout families: • Compact (1×1 / 2×2) • Detailed Stats (4×2) • Frosted Glass Canvas (4×4) Widgets stay automatically synchronized with your events. ◆ CURATED DESIGN THEMES Give each countdown its own mood. Pick from meticulously crafted color palettes—Nova, Serene, Celestial, Ember, and Dark Minimal—complemented by custom emojis and typography. ◆ SMART MILESTONE NUDGES Never let critical dates sneak up on you. Receive gentle notifications when you hit key milestones: halfway mark (50%), the final stretch (90%), one week, and the day before. ◆ WALLPAPER & SHORTCUTS STUDIO Generate high-resolution countdown wallpapers directly from your events. Seamlessly integrate with Apple Shortcuts to automatically refresh your lock screen wallpaper every day. ◆ COMPLETE DATA PRIVACY & PORTABILITY • No forced account creation or intrusive sign-ins. • Seamless iCloud backup & restore to keep your data synced across your iPhone and iPad. • Full CSV import and export for ultimate data ownership. FREE TIER: • Create and track up to 3 active countdowns with full heatmap visualization and curated themes. DOTS PRO (One-time Lifetime Purchase): Unlock the complete temporal experience: • Unlimited countdowns • All Home Screen and Lock Screen widget styles • iCloud sync & automatic backup • Smart Nudge milestone notifications • Daily wallpaper generation and automation • Custom photo background albums Stop watching numbers tick away in stressful lists. Download Dots and give your time the perspective it deserves.

About

T.LY URL Shortener

This app allows users to create, manage, and track shortened URLs and custom QR codes on their mobile devices. It provides detailed analytics on link performance, including clicks, unique visits, and geographic data. Designed for existing users of the web service, it offers a convenient way to handle links on the go.

Highlights
  • Shorten long URLs
  • Manage existing links
  • Customize QR codes
  • Track link performance
  • View analytics dashboard
  • Use share extension
Features
Read full description

T.LY URL Shortener is the iOS companion app for your T.LY account. Create short links, manage existing links, customize QR codes, and review performance from your iPhone. Shorten links quickly Paste a long URL or use the share extension to create a clean T.LY short link. Choose your default domain, copy links automatically, and share links anywhere. Manage your links Search your account links, view destinations, edit link details, delete links you no longer need, and open advanced options in the T.LY web app when you need more control. Track performance Monitor clicks, unique visits, QR scans, top links, referrers, countries, cities, browsers, platforms, and languages. Use simple dashboard views to understand which links and campaigns are working. Customize QR codes Preview QR codes for your links, adjust colors and styles, add a logo, and keep your QR experience connected to your short link analytics. Built for existing T.LY users Sign in with your T.LY account to access your links, domains, analytics, and settings. T.LY is designed for marketers, developers, creators, and teams who need reliable short links, QR codes, and link analytics on the go.

Screenshots

Dots4 screens
T.LY URL Shortener4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: T.LY URL Shortener at none against Dots's 1. T.LY URL Shortener also leads on update cadence (every 2 days vs every 4 days). Dots's advantage is iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.0). On price, ads and device support 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

Both are free to download. Dots sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. T.LY URL Shortener asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Dots ships an update every 4 days, T.LY URL Shortener every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on October 11, 2026 and September 28, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 6 level
Dots versus T.LY URL Shortener: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterDotsT.LY URL Shortener
PriceFreeFree
Rating—5.0 (2 ratings) — better
Number of ratings—2 — better
Update frequencyEvery 4 daysEvery 2 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
Monetization—Free
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size69 MB6 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperChuong LeTim Leland

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Dots

One-time1
  • Premium$6.99
None

T.LY URL Shortener

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Dots free?
Dots is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is T.LY URL Shortener free?
T.LY URL Shortener is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Dots or T.LY URL Shortener have ads?
Neither Dots nor T.LY URL Shortener shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Dots or T.LY URL Shortener?
Dots ships an update every 4 days, and T.LY URL Shortener every 2 days. Most recently, Dots was updated on October 11, 2026 and T.LY URL Shortener on September 28, 2026.

Other comparisons