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Rebrandly vs. Short.io: Link management platform comparison

7 min read
Last edited: May 5, 2025

Rebrandly and Short.io both offer link-shortening, but Rebrandly provides greater control, enhanced security, improved reliability, and better performance. These advantages make Rebrandly the preferred choice for teams who need dependable link management.

Rebrandly vs. Short.io: Key features

Rebrandly delivers more than basic link Shortening; it provides complete visibility and control over your links while maintaining security and performance. Businesses choose Rebrandly when they need reliable link management that simplifies their digital workflow.

See how our features compare with Short.io:

RebrandlyShort.io
Generate custom-branded links for complete control over digital identity, or use Rebrandly’s built-in generic shortener at no cost.Users must create links using their own custom domain that they purchase.
Robust conversion analytics, including geographic data, device type, browser insights, scheduling optimization, and campaign performance.Click tracking and audience analytics are available on paid accounts, with the option to set conversion goals manually.
Enterprise-grade security with SOC 2 Type II, GDPR, and HIPAA compliance. SSO is available for paid accounts.GDPR and SOC 2 compliant, with SSO options available on paid accounts.
100+ native API integrations with Zapier, Chrome, Firefox, Windows, MacOS, Android, WordPress, and more.12 native integrations including Slack, Chrome, Make, and Zapier.
Collaboration tools include additional workspace and teammates, a specialized reviewer role, advanced permissions, and role-based account controls.Small selection of user roles. No mention of multiple workspaces on their website.

Rebrandly features 

Rebrandly converts standard URLs into secure, branded assets. These links build trust with your audience, boost click-through rates, and let you customize your messaging and track metrics for every campaign. Create custom domains, generate branded QR codes, and build a customer experience with rich analytics and intelligent traffic routing based on location, device type, date/time, language, and more.

Rebrandly Analytics delivers immediate engagement metrics for every Short link and QR code scan, including geographic data, referral sources, and conversion patterns. These metrics help you make data-driven decisions about campaign performance.

The Rebrandly API has unmatched throughput. By default, it dynamically generates up to 10 API calls per second or 20k API calls per hour, and depending on the use case, it can be activated to accommodate as many as 100k links per second.

Our enterprise-grade security protects your valuable first-party data with GDPR, HIPAA, and CCPA compliance and ensures deliverability for every message. With Rebrandly Workspaces, your team can design a system of permissions and user access for every campaign, ensuring stakeholders within and outside your organization have the necessary visibility.

With Link Gallery, our custom link in bio product, users can transform their social media presence with a fully customizable page on their own domain, delivering a cohesive branded experience that drives conversion and deep audience engagement.

Short.io features

Short.io offers typical link management functionality, including link expiration, geotargeting, QR code generation, and more. Custom domains must be used in Short.io; there is no free generic option for link shortening. Analytics and tracking capabilities are available on all pricing tiers, with some limitations for free accounts.

Advanced security and user management features, including end-to-end ink encryption and password protection, are available on Pro and Enterprise accounts.

Rebrandly vs. Short.io: Integrations

Compare our secure API capabilities with Short.io’s integration options to determine which platform aligns with your technical requirements.

Rebrandly integrations 

Build a more connected tech stack with Rebrandly’s comprehensive integration ecosystem. Our easy-to-use API lets you connect directly with 100+ external tools, including social media management platforms, SMS tools, marketing automation software, and CRM systems. 

Rebrandly native integrations include: 

AutomationSocial Media ProductivityCommunications
Zapier
Bird
Make
SocialBee
MeetEdgar
HootSuite
Ubisend
Wufoo
Gleam
Slack
Bird
ReplyBuy

View the entire list of Rebrandly integrations here.

Short.io integrations

Short.io lists twelve integrations, including three browser extensions, Segment, Google Analytics, Slack, Make, and Zapier.

Rebrandly vs. Short.io: Link tracking and data analytics

Tracking link performance is vital for understanding audience behavior and building more effective marketing campaigns. Both Rebrandly and Short.io offer link analytics, but the depth of insights and customization sets them apart.

Rebrandly 

Rebrandly Analytics provides robust tracking capabilities for every user. The core reporting system captures total clicks, daily and hourly engagement patterns, and country-level geographic distribution. Advanced reporting expands these capabilities with detailed user data, including device types, languages, and social platform sources. User can implement UTM tracking and retargeting pixels inside their links. 

Rebrandly analytics

Aggregated reporting lets advanced users (on the Pro plan or above) explore link performance metrics in depth, enabling analysis by domains, custom tags, and workspaces. The system tracks specific metrics about visitor behavior, including browser types, operating systems, and peak activity periods. All this data is available through standardized reporting dashboards that simplify link performance and streamline campaign optimization.

Short.io

Short.io’s analytics include unique click tracking, conversion goal setting, and targeting based on geolocation, device type, language, and browser. Users can also create A/B tests and set up UTM parameters for more in-depth tracking and insights.

Rebrandly vs. Short.io:  Security and compliance

Link management infrastructure requires robust security protocols and compliance certifications to ensure a consistent experience for every interaction, particularly for organizations handling sensitive data. 

Rebrandly 

Rebrandly’s robust security infrastructure makes link management operations safe and simple for organizations of any size and in any industry. We support highly regulated industries like healthcare, finance, government, and enterprise technology sectors, maintaining rigorous security standards that include:

  • GDPR and HIPAA compliance
  • Annual SOC 2 Type II compliance audits
  • Regular third-party penetration testing
  • Abuse management, malware detection, and AI-powered spam detection
  • Domain security and intelligence monitoring
  • SSO, link expiration, password protection, and user-based permissions

Our partnership with the Internet Watch Foundation enhances our ability to identify and prevent harmful content distribution. Our security documentation, including SOC 2 reports and penetration test results, is available through the Rebrandly Trust Center.

Short.io

Short.io is GDPR and SOC 2 compliant. It offers SAML SSO features for Pro and Enterprise accounts, with additional role-based access control for user permissioning.

How to switch from Short.io to Rebrandly

Migrating from Short.io to Rebrandly is simple. Switching is quick and hassle-free, whether you’re a creator, developer, agency, small business, or enterprise. Here’s how to get started:

  1. Gather all the links you want to move to Rebrandly in a clean CSV file. Your file must contain two columns: the branded Short link and its destination URL.

    Rebrandly will import multiple Short links with the same destination URL; we cannot import duplicates of your branded links.
  2. Add the domain name you have with your current provider to your Rebrandly account here.

    You can add the new domain name without affecting your current setup or update the settings later. Our team will set up DNS verification even if your DNS settings have not changed and aren’t fully propagated yet.
  3. Use the CSV file to import your links, and let us know once complete.
  4. Change your domain’s DNS settings to direct to Rebrandly’s servers.

    DNS propagation can take up to 24 hours to complete. During that time, your links will continue working correctly. Once DNS propagation is complete, the migration is finished.
  5. Congratulations! You’ve successfully switched to Rebrandly for all of your link management needs.

Make the right choice for your link management

When evaluating link management providers, Rebrandly is a comprehensive solution for businesses, agencies, and developers requiring advanced security, complete data ownership, and powerful analytics capabilities.Ready to start transforming your URLs into valuable branded assets? Sign up for a 2-week trial of Rebrandly today and get a free custom domain!