Free URL Shortener API

What the API Does

Quick Start

Pick your language and run it. No authentication step required.

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

import requests

response = requests.post(
    "http://zip1.io/api/create",
    json={"url": "https://your-long-url.com"}
)
data = response.json()
print(data["short_url"])  # https://zip1.io/abc123

const response = await fetch("http://zip1.io/api/create", {
  method: "POST",
  headers: { "Content-Type": "application/json" },
  body: JSON.stringify({ url: "https://your-long-url.com" })
});

const data = await response.json();
console.log(data.short_url); // https://zip1.io/abc123

To use a custom alias:

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

Response Format

All responses are JSON. A successful POST /api/create returns:

{
  "short_url": "https://zip1.io/abc123",
  "created_at": "2026-03-05T10:00:00Z"
}

On error, the API returns an appropriate HTTP status code with a message field explaining what went wrong.

Rate Limits

The API is free and open, protected by sensible per-IP rate limits to keep it fair for everyone:

• POST /api/create — 10 requests per minute
• GET /api/stats/:code — 30 requests per minute
• Shortlinks per day — up to 10 new links per IP per day

There is no paid tier, no API key purchase, and no approval process. These limits exist solely to prevent abuse.

FAQ

• Do I need an API key?

  No. The zip1.io API requires zero authentication. No sign-up, no API key, no OAuth flow — just HTTP requests.

• Is it free?

  Yes, completely free forever. There is no premium tier and no paid plan. All API features are available to everyone.

• What are the rate limits?

  10 create requests per minute per IP, and 30 stats requests per minute. You can also create up to 10 new short links per day per IP.

• What format does the API return?

  All responses are JSON. Successful responses include short_url and created_at. Error responses include a message field with a human-readable description.