Custom URL Shortener

Create short links with your own custom slugs. Turn a random string of characters into something people actually remember.

No Account Needed 3–16 Characters Alphanumeric + Emoji Free Forever

What Are Custom Slugs?

A slug is the part of a short URL after the domain. By default, zip1.io generates a random slug like zip1.io/x3kq. With custom slugs, you choose what comes after the slash — so you can create links like zip1.io/product-launch or zip1.io/summer-sale.

https://your-website.com/products/category/item?utm_source=email&utm_medium=campaign&ref=newsletter
↓
zip1.io/summer-sale

Why Use Custom Slugs?

🏷️ Branding

Reinforce your brand with every link you share. Consistent, recognizable slugs build trust with your audience.

📣 Shareability

Links like zip1.io/promo are easy to say out loud, type from memory, or include in print materials.

📊 Campaign Tracking

Name your links after your campaigns so analytics are immediately understandable — no deciphering random codes.

How to Create a Custom Slug

Via the web form — go to zip1.io, click "Advanced Options", and fill in the custom alias field.

Via the API — pass the alias field in your POST request:

curl -X POST http://zip1.io/api/create \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "url": "https://your-long-url.com/page",
    "alias": "my-custom-slug"
  }'

Slugs must be 3–16 alphanumeric characters (letters, numbers, hyphens). If the slug is already taken, the API returns a 409 conflict error.

Custom Slugs Across Free URL Shorteners

Most free URL shorteners gate custom slugs behind an account, a free-tier link cap, or a paid plan. Here's how zip1.io compares on the things you actually need to ship a campaign:

Feature zip1.io bit.ly free tinyurl.com short.io free
Custom slugs without an account Yes No (account required) Account required No
Free-tier monthly link cap Unlimited 10 / month (free) Unlimited 1,000 / month
Click analytics on free tier Yes — full Limited No Yes
Click cap (max-clicks) Yes No No Paid only
Public REST API without API key Yes No Limited No
MCP / AI agent integration Yes No No No

Comparison reflects publicly documented free-tier features at time of writing. Vendor terms change — check their current pricing page for the latest.

FAQ

  • Do I need an account to use custom slugs?

    No. Custom slugs work without any account or API key. Just include the alias field in your request.

  • What characters are allowed in a custom slug?

    Alphanumeric characters (a–z, A–Z, 0–9), hyphens, and underscores, up to 12 characters long. Emoji slugs are also supported — see our Emoji URLs page.

  • What happens if my slug is already taken?

    The API returns a 409 Conflict response. Choose a different alias and try again.

  • Are branded slugs good for marketing campaigns?

    Yes — that's their main use case. See our URL shortener for marketing campaigns guide for concrete recipes (multi-region launches, click-capped flash offers, channel-tagged links).

Create Your First Custom Link

No signup required. Works instantly.

Try It Now API Docs