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Comparison

ClickDash vs Bitly

The most well-known link shortener on the internet.

ClickDash Hobby
$5/mo
billed yearly
vs
Bitly Starter
$8/mo
billed yearly

Bitly is the household-name link shortener — it built the category. But its pricing has shifted upmarket over the years, and core features like custom domains and click analytics are gated behind higher tiers.

Feature-by-feature comparison

FeatureClickDashBitly
Free tier500 links/mo5 links/mo
Starting paid plan$5/mo$8/mo
Custom domain on entry tier
File sharing with short links
QR codes
UTM builder
Real-time click analytics
Password-protected links
Link expiry
Brand recognition

Pricing last verified 2026-04-23. Plan details may have changed since — check bitly.com for the latest.

Why teams switch to ClickDash

Half the entry-tier price

ClickDash Hobby is $5/mo billed yearly; Bitly Starter starts at $8/mo. Both unlock real-time analytics, but ClickDash also includes a custom domain on the entry tier — Bitly only adds custom domains on Growth ($29/mo).

File sharing is built in

Need to share a PDF, ZIP, or design file with a short link? ClickDash treats files as first-class objects with view & download analytics. Bitly only shortens URLs — you would need a separate file host on top.

Password and expiry on entry tier

ClickDash includes password-protected and time-limited links on every paid plan. On Bitly these are not available at all on consumer tiers — they are an enterprise-only feature.

Where Bitly still has the edge

Honest call-outs — pick the tool that fits your priorities, not the one with the loudest pitch.

Bigger brand recognition

Bitly links carry instant familiarity, especially on B2B materials. If brand-on-the-link matters more than features and price, Bitly is still the safe default.

More mature integrations

Bitly has direct integrations with Hootsuite, HubSpot, Mailchimp, and dozens of legacy CRMs. ClickDash is API-first but does not yet have the same plug-and-play directory.

Migrate from Bitly in 3 steps

  1. 01

    Export your Bitly links

    In Bitly: Account → Settings → Export. You get a CSV with your slugs and destinations.

  2. 02

    Import to ClickDash

    In ClickDash dashboard: Links → Import CSV. Map source URL → destination, slug → custom slug. Done in under a minute.

  3. 03

    Update your custom domain DNS

    Point your branded domain CNAME at ClickDash. Old Bitly short URLs keep redirecting until your subscription lapses, giving you time to migrate marketing collateral.

FAQ

Switching from Bitly to ClickDash

Common questions about migrating from Bitly.

01Will my old Bitly short links break if I switch?
No — your existing Bitly links keep working until your Bitly subscription lapses. You only need to switch new short links to ClickDash and update your custom-domain DNS to start the gradual migration.
02Can I import my Bitly link history into ClickDash?
Yes. Export your Bitly links as CSV, then upload via ClickDash → Links → Import. Slugs, destinations, and titles transfer over. Click history stays on Bitly.
03Does ClickDash work with Bitly QR codes?
No — QR codes are tied to the link domain. You will need to regenerate QRs against your new ClickDash short URLs. ClickDash includes a free QR generator.
04Can I bring my custom branded domain from Bitly?
Yes. Add the domain in ClickDash, update your DNS CNAME, and verify. SSL is provisioned automatically.
05What happens to my Bitly links after I cancel?
Bitly disables redirects when your subscription ends — your old links return 404. Migrate proactively before cancelling.
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