URL Shortener
Shorten a long link so it fits in a simpler, easier-to-scan QR code. The one tool here with a server — and it tells you exactly what it stores.
published
- [FREE]
- [NO_SIGNUP]
- [SAVES_DATA]
⚠ Unlike most of the site, this tool sends your input to a server and stores it to work. It tells you exactly what it keeps and why — see the tool and the privacy page.
A URL shortener turns a long, unwieldy link into a short one that redirects to the original. The main reason to use this one: a shorter link makes a simpler, easier-to-scan QR code.
Why this tool has a server (and the rest of the site doesn’t)
Every other tool on this site runs entirely in your browser — nothing you type leaves your device. A URL shortener is the one exception that is physically impossible to do that way. A short link like …/s/aB3xK9q has to point at your long URL from any device, at any time. That requires a place to store the mapping and a server to perform the redirect. There is no client-side trick that gets around it.
So this tool, and only this tool, uses a small backend: Cloudflare Pages Functions for the /api/shorten and /s/:code endpoints, and Cloudflare Workers KV to store the links.
Exactly what gets stored, and why
When you click Shorten, the server writes one record:
| Stored | Example | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Destination URL | https://maps.google.com/… | So /s/:code can redirect you to it — this is the redirect. |
| Short code | aB3xK9q | The lookup key for that URL, embedded in the link / QR code. |
| Creation timestamp | 2026-06-16T… | Bookkeeping, and to drive the expiry you chose. |
You control retention. Before shortening, pick an expiry — 1 hour, 24 hours, 7 days, 30 days, or Never (default). Timed links are deleted automatically by Cloudflare KV when they lapse, then 404. Permanent links are kept so a printed QR code keeps working.
That’s it. The tool does not store your name, email, or anything you didn’t paste. It does not set tracking cookies or run analytics on your input. Like any web host, Cloudflare may log standard request metadata (IP address, timestamp) at the network layer — that’s outside this tool’s control and applies to every website you visit.
Short links are public. Anyone who has the code can open the destination. Don’t shorten anything private — password reset links, signed download URLs, internal documents.
Long URL → simpler QR code
This is the workflow this tool was built for:
- Paste your long link (a Google Maps place is the classic case — those URLs are enormous).
- Click Shorten.
- Click Make a QR code. The short link is carried straight into the QR Code Generator.
A long Maps URL can be 200+ characters, which forces a dense, high-version QR matrix that scanners struggle with at small sizes or from a distance. The short link is ~30 characters, so the QR code has far fewer modules — larger, cleaner squares that scan reliably even when printed small.
How it compares
| This tool | bit.ly (free) | tinyurl.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free, no signup | ✓ | partial (account for most features) | ✓ |
| States exactly what it stores | ✓ | buried in policy | buried in policy |
| Tracks clicks / builds a profile | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ (ads) |
| One-click QR from the short link | ✓ | ✓ (paid tiers) | ✓ |
| Ad-free | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ |
Related tools
- QR Code Generator with Logo — turn the short link into a branded, scannable QR code.
- URL Encoder / Decoder — percent-encode or decode URL components in your browser.
Frequently asked questions
What information does this tool store, and why?
When you click Shorten, the server stores three things: the destination URL you submitted, the short code it generated, and a creation timestamp. That mapping (code → long URL) is the entire reason a shortener works — the server has to remember where each code points so it can redirect visitors there. It cannot be done in your browser alone. The tool does not store your name, email, or anything you did not type, though Cloudflare (like any web host) may log standard request metadata such as IP address and timestamp.
Why is this the only tool here that uses a server?
Every other tool on this site runs 100% in your browser with no backend. A URL shortener is the one thing that genuinely cannot: a short link has to resolve to the long one from any device, at any time, which requires shared storage and a redirect server. We use Cloudflare Pages Functions plus a KV database for exactly that, and nothing else.
Are my short links private?
No. Short links are public by design — anyone who has the code can open the destination. The codes are random 7-character strings, so they are not guessable in bulk, but you should never shorten a private or sensitive URL (a password reset link, a signed download URL, a private document).
How does shortening make my QR code simpler?
A QR code encodes every character of the URL as black-and-white modules. A long Google Maps or tracking URL packs in hundreds of characters, forcing a dense, high-version QR matrix that is hard to scan from a distance or at small print sizes. A short link is a few dozen characters, so the QR code has far fewer modules — bigger squares, more scan margin. Shorten first, then click "Make a QR code" to carry the short link straight into the QR generator.
Do the short links expire?
Your choice. Before shortening, pick an expiry: 1 hour, 24 hours, 7 days, 30 days, or Never. If you pick a timed option, Cloudflare KV deletes the mapping automatically when it lapses and the link then 404s. Pick Never (the default) and it is kept indefinitely — best for a QR code you intend to print, which should not stop working. There is no edit or delete UI for permanent links; to remove one, contact the maintainer via the address in SECURITY.md.
Can I shorten any link?
Only http and https URLs. Schemes like javascript:, data:, and ftp: are rejected for safety. The URL also has to parse as a real address with a domain, and is capped at 2048 characters.
Is it free?
Yes — no signup, no ads, no usage cap for normal use. It runs on Cloudflare free-tier Workers KV.