Question 1

Is this URL shortener free to use?

Accepted Answer

Yes, the RoughTools URL Shortener is completely free with no account, subscription, or credit card required. You can shorten unlimited URLs, set custom slugs, and configure expiry dates at no cost. RoughTools is funded through non-intrusive advertising, keeping this and all other tools permanently free. There are no hidden limits on the number of links you can create or the number of redirects each link can serve.

Question 2

Do I need to sign up or create an account to shorten a URL?

Accepted Answer

No account, email address, or registration is required to create a short link. Enter your long URL, optionally choose a custom slug and expiry period, and click Shorten. Your short link is created instantly. The only limitation of using the tool without an account is that you cannot manage, edit, or delete previously created links — link management features are available for registered users if that feature is enabled.

Question 3

Is my URL data private — do you store the links I create?

Accepted Answer

Short links must be stored server-side so that redirects can function when someone clicks the link. The original URL and short slug are stored in our database to serve redirects. RoughTools does not sell this data, does not profile users based on URLs shortened, and does not display your URLs to other users. Link data may be deleted after expiry (if an expiry date was set) or after an extended period of inactivity. Do not shorten URLs that contain passwords, private tokens, or personal data in the URL structure.

Question 4

Does the URL shortener work on mobile phones and tablets?

Accepted Answer

Yes, the URL Shortener is fully responsive and works on all modern mobile browsers. You can shorten URLs on mobile and share the resulting short link via messaging apps, social media, email, or QR code. The copy button is touch-friendly and works on iOS Safari and Android Chrome. Short links you create are immediately accessible — anyone clicking the link on any device is redirected to the original URL instantly.

Question 5

Which browsers are supported by this URL shortener?

Accepted Answer

The URL Shortener works in all modern browsers: Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Edge, Safari, Opera, and Brave on both desktop and mobile. The tool requires JavaScript to be enabled for the form submission and clipboard copy functionality. The short links themselves work in any browser or application that can follow HTTP redirects — including email clients, messaging apps, and social media platforms.

Question 6

How accurate and reliable are the short links?

Accepted Answer

Short links redirect reliably as long as the link has not expired and the server is operational. Redirects use HTTP 301 (permanent) or 302 (temporary) status codes, which are universally supported by all browsers, HTTP clients, and web crawlers. Link resolution is typically instantaneous — under 50 milliseconds. Links with custom slugs will return a 404 if the slug is already taken. If a link expires, visitors are shown an expiry notice rather than a broken redirect.

Question 7

How do I create a short URL step by step?

Accepted Answer

To shorten a URL: (1) Paste your long URL into the "Long URL" field. (2) Optionally enter a Custom Slug — a memorable short identifier like "my-event" or "product-launch". Leave blank for an auto-generated slug. (3) Optionally set an expiry in days — the link will stop working after that period. (4) Click "Shorten URL". (5) Copy your new short link using the Copy button. (6) Share the link anywhere — it redirects to your original URL immediately when clicked.

Question 8

Can I use a custom slug for my short link?

Accepted Answer

Yes, custom slugs allow you to create readable short links like "roughtools.com/go/my-event" instead of a random alphanumeric code. Custom slugs must be 2–32 characters and can contain letters, numbers, hyphens, and underscores. Slugs are case-insensitive. If your preferred slug is already taken, the tool will inform you and you can choose a different one. Custom slugs are ideal for marketing campaigns, event links, and shared resources where a memorable URL improves click-through rates.

Question 9

Why should I use RoughTools URL Shortener instead of Bitly or TinyURL?

Accepted Answer

RoughTools URL Shortener is integrated with the rest of the RoughTools suite — you can shorten a URL and immediately generate a QR code for it using the QR Code Generator tool. Unlike Bitly, which limits features on its free tier and requires an account for custom slugs, RoughTools provides custom slugs and expiry dates without an account. There are no mandatory click analytics, no redirect interstitial pages, and no commercial tracking overlays added to your redirects.

Question 10

How do I report a bug or suggest a new feature for the URL shortener?

Accepted Answer

To report a bug or request a feature — such as click analytics, QR code generation alongside the short link, bulk URL shortening, or password-protected links — use the feedback link in the site footer or visit the RoughTools contact page. When reporting a bug, include the URL you were trying to shorten, the browser and OS, and whether you were using a custom slug. Feature requests for link management dashboards and webhook callbacks on link access are reviewed regularly.

Question 11

What happens to my short link when it expires?

Accepted Answer

When a short link reaches its expiry date (if one was set during creation), the redirect stops working. Visitors who click an expired link are shown an expiry notice page rather than being redirected to a broken or misleading destination. Links without an expiry date remain active indefinitely unless they are removed during maintenance. If you need a link to remain active permanently, leave the expiry field blank when creating the short URL.

Question 12

Can I use shortened links on social media platforms?

Accepted Answer

Yes, short links created with RoughTools can be shared on Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, WhatsApp, and any other platform. Social media platforms preview links using Open Graph metadata from the destination URL — the short link passes through this metadata on redirect. Some platforms (particularly Twitter/X) may expand short links to show the destination domain in the preview. Links to adult content, phishing sites, or malware will be removed if reported and violate the terms of service.

URL Shortener

Free URL Shortener with Custom Slugs

Common Uses for URL Shortening

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this URL shortener free to use?

Do I need to sign up or create an account to shorten a URL?

Is my URL data private — do you store the links I create?

Does the URL shortener work on mobile phones and tablets?

Which browsers are supported by this URL shortener?

How accurate and reliable are the short links?

How do I create a short URL step by step?

Can I use a custom slug for my short link?

Why should I use RoughTools URL Shortener instead of Bitly or TinyURL?

How do I report a bug or suggest a new feature for the URL shortener?

What happens to my short link when it expires?

Can I use shortened links on social media platforms?

💬 Feedback or Bug Report

URL Shortener

Free URL Shortener with Custom Slugs

Common Uses for URL Shortening

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this URL shortener free to use?

Do I need to sign up or create an account to shorten a URL?

Is my URL data private — do you store the links I create?

Does the URL shortener work on mobile phones and tablets?

Which browsers are supported by this URL shortener?

How accurate and reliable are the short links?

How do I create a short URL step by step?

Can I use a custom slug for my short link?

Why should I use RoughTools URL Shortener instead of Bitly or TinyURL?

How do I report a bug or suggest a new feature for the URL shortener?

What happens to my short link when it expires?

Can I use shortened links on social media platforms?

💬 Feedback or Bug Report

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