Short.io Link Checker — Reveal & Expand Short.io Short URLs
Paste your Short.io short link:
Expand and preview Short.io custom-domain short links in seconds — instantly see the real destination, no account needed.
What Are Short.io Short Links?
Short.io is a professional URL shortener focused on custom domains, allowing businesses to create branded short links under their own domain (e.g. go.yourcompany.com). Because Short.io supports unlimited custom domains, a Short.io-powered link may not have an obvious domain like 'short.io' — it could be any branded short domain. This makes it especially important to verify Short.io-generated links before clicking.
How to identify a Short.io link
- Official Short.io demo links use the short.io or shrt.io domains
- Most Short.io users create custom branded domains — any unexplained short link might be Short.io-powered
- Links created in Short.io often have short slugs (2–8 characters) after a custom domain
- If you see a link like go.company.com/xyz, it may be hosted on Short.io infrastructure
When to Use This Tool
Received a branded short link you don't recognize?
Short.io-powered links use custom domains that look completely legitimate. Reveal the destination to confirm the link actually belongs to the company it appears to be from.
Checking Short.io marketing emails
B2B marketing campaigns frequently use Short.io custom domains. Use our checker to see exactly where email links redirect before clicking.
Verifying partner-shared links
When a business partner shares a branded short URL in a proposal or contract, reveal the destination to confirm it leads to the right page or document.
Short.io vs clik.so — Full Feature Comparison
See how Short.io stacks up against clik.so across every feature that matters.
| Feature | clik.so | Bitly | Dub.co | TinyURL | Rebrandly | Short.io | Switchy | Bl.ink | Cutt.ly | T.LY | Replug | Sniply |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price (Monthly) | $7 / mo | $10 / mo | $30 / mo | $16 / mo | $14 / mo | $5 / mo | $47 / mo | $48 / mo | $12 / mo | $5 / mo | $19 / mo | $9 / mo |
| Price (Annual) | $60 / yr | $120 / yr | $324 / yr | $120 / yr | $132 / yr | $50 / yr | $468 / yr | $576 / yr (no discount) | $132 / yr | $55 / yr | $108 / yr | $90 / yr |
| Link Volume | 500 / month | 100 / month | 1,000 / month | 250 / month | 250 / month | 2,500 Total | Unlimited | 10,000 Active | 300 / month | 500 / month | 1,000 / month | 250 / month |
| Custom Domains | 2 included | 0 (Need Growth) | 10 Included | 3 Included | 2 Included | 7 Included | 2 Included | 1 Included | 1 Included | 1 Included | 5 Included | 1 Included |
| Tracked Clicks | 20,000 / month | Unlimited | 50,000 / mo | Unlimited | 10,000 / mo | 100,000 / mo | 10,000 / mo | 7,500 / link | Unlimited | Unlimited | 10,000 / mo | Unlimited (impressions metered) |
| Analytics | Advanced + AI | Basic | Full | Full | Basic | Basic | Full | Basic | Basic | Basic | Basic | Basic |
| Password Protection | Login-required links | |||||||||||
| Data Retention | 90 Days | 30 Days | 1 Year | Not disclosed | Not disclosed | 26 Months | Not disclosed | Lifetime of link | 30 Days | Not disclosed | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Custom Back-Half | ||||||||||||
| QR Codes | Unlimited | 5 / mo | Unlimited | Unlimited | 250 / mo | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | 1 Fixed Style | 500 / mo | 100 / mo | Not tier-limited |
| QR Customization | Logo & Color (All Plans) | Colors & Patterns | Advanced (Logo/Color) | Not confirmed | Logo & Color (Essentials+) | Advanced | Not confirmed | Enterprise Only (Logo) | Fixed Style Only | Color & Logo | Not confirmed | Not confirmed |
| Link Expiration | ||||||||||||
| Geo-Targeting | Pro plan ($15+) | Need Professional ($32+) | Country-level | |||||||||
| Device Targeting | Pro plan ($15+) | |||||||||||
| UTM Builder | ||||||||||||
| A/B Testing | Pro plan ($15+) | |||||||||||
| Team Seats | 2 Users | 1 User | 3 Users | 1 User | No teammates | 1 User | 1 User | 1 User | 1 User | 1 User | 1 User | 1 User |
| API Access | Limited | Yes (600/min) | Yes (10,000/mo) | |||||||||
| AI Features | Basic (Bitly Assist) | AI credits (1,000/mo) | Scheduling only | AI slug generation | ||||||||
| Self-Host / On-Premise |
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I check where a Short.io link goes without clicking it?
Paste the Short.io link (or any branded short link you suspect is Short.io-powered) into the checker above and click "Reveal URL". Our tool follows the redirect and shows you the final destination.
Can Short.io links point to dangerous websites?
Short.io links are frequently used by legitimate businesses, but like any URL shortener, the platform can be misused. If you received a Short.io link from an unknown source, always check the destination first.
Why can't I always tell if a link is Short.io-powered?
Short.io's primary selling point is custom branded domains — a Short.io customer might use "go.theirbrand.com" instead of "short.io". This branding is intentional and makes it harder to identify without checking.
Is Short.io better than clik.so?
Short.io is a solid choice for unlimited custom domains. However, clik.so offers AI-powered slug generation, dynamic QR codes, and deeper analytics — at a lower starting price. For teams that want smart link management, not just link creation, clik.so is the better fit.
Choose a URL Shortener to Inspect
Each page provides a dedicated checker tailored to that service, with tips on how to identify and verify those specific short links.
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