Tolinku vs Bitly

Real deep linking,
not a URL shortener

Bitly is a URL shortener that added basic deep linking at $199+/mo. Tolinku is a deep linking platform with Universal Links, App Links, deferred deep linking, and native SDKs from $39/mo.

Why teams choose Tolinku over Bitly

Real deep linking

Bitly is a URL shortener that added basic deep linking at $199+/mo. Tolinku is a deep linking platform with Universal Links, App Links, and deferred deep linking from $39/mo.

5x cheaper for deep links

Bitly's deep linking requires the Premium plan at $199-300/mo. Tolinku includes deep linking in every plan, starting at $39/mo.

Complete mobile toolkit

Deferred deep linking, smart banners, referral tracking, native SDKs, and webhooks. Bitly offers none of these.

Tolinku vs Bitly: what it means for you

Feature Tolinku Bitly What this means for you
Deep linking Universal Links, App Links, deferred Basic deep links, Premium only ($199+/mo) Full deep linking from $39/mo, not locked behind a $199 tier
Deferred deep linking Included in all plans Not supported Users who install your app still land on the right screen
Native SDKs iOS, Android, React Native, Flutter, Web No mobile SDK Handle deep links in your app with callbacks and attribution
Smart banners Included, customizable Not offered Convert mobile web visitors to app users automatically
Referral tracking Built-in with rewards Not offered Grow organically without a separate referral tool
Link limits Unlimited routes 100-3,000 links/mo (plan dependent) Create as many links as you need without hitting caps
Webhooks Included, HMAC signed Enterprise only React to link events in your backend without an enterprise contract

Feature-by-feature comparison

See how Tolinku stacks up against Bitly across every category.

Tolinku Bitly
Deep Linking
Universal Links (iOS) All plans Premium+ ($199+/mo)
App Links (Android) All plans Premium+ ($199+/mo)
Deferred deep linking
Link expiration
OG meta tags
Custom domains All plans Growth+ ($35+/mo)
QR codes Core feature
Analytics
Click tracking
Device / OS breakdown
Geo data All plans Growth+
Analytics retention 7 days (Free) to 2 years 30 days (Core) to 1 year (Premium)
Engagement
Smart banners Included
In-app messages Included
Custom landing pages Standard+ Basic (Bitly Pages)
Developer
REST API
Native SDKs iOS, Android, RN, Flutter, Web
Webhooks HMAC signed Enterprise only
Pricing & Billing
Free tier Forever free 5 links/mo
Deep linking plan $39/mo (all features) $199-300/mo (Premium)
Link limits Unlimited routes 100-3,000/mo (plan dependent)
Billing caps
Deep linking

Built for apps, not just short URLs

Bitly is an excellent URL shortener with QR codes and click tracking. But if you need links that open your mobile app, route users to specific screens, and preserve context when the app isn't installed yet, Bitly's deep linking is limited and expensive ($199+/mo).

Tolinku is purpose-built for mobile deep linking. Every feature (Universal Links, App Links, deferred deep linking, smart banners, native SDKs) is included in all plans starting at $39/mo.

  • Deferred deep linking: users who install your app still land on the right screen
  • Native SDKs: iOS, Android, React Native, Flutter, and Web for full in-app control
  • Smart banners: convert mobile web visitors to app users automatically
  • HMAC-signed webhooks: react to link events in your backend without an enterprise contract
What you need for mobile apps
Universal Links (iOS)
$199+/mo
App Links (Android)
$199+/mo
Deferred deep linking
Native mobile SDKs
Smart banners
Referral tracking
Webhooks
Enterprise
Legend:
Tolinku Bitly
Tolinku Standard All features
$39/mo
Deep linking included in all plans
50K clicks Unlimited routes SDKs + API
Bitly Premium
$199/mo+
Required for deep linking
3,000 links/mo No SDK No deferred
Pricing

5x cheaper for deep linking

Bitly's deep linking requires the Premium plan at $199-300/mo, which caps you at 3,000 links per month. Even at that price, you don't get deferred deep linking, mobile SDKs, smart banners, or referral tracking.

Tolinku includes deep linking in every plan. The Standard tier at $39/mo gives you 50K clicks, unlimited routes, native SDKs, smart banners, referral tracking, and webhooks.

  • $39/mo vs $199+/mo: 5x cheaper with more features
  • Unlimited routes: no 3,000 link/mo cap
  • Free tier: deep linking included at 1,200 clicks/mo, forever free

Different tools for different jobs

Bitly is a great URL shortener. Tolinku is a deep linking platform. Choose based on what you need.

Use Bitly if you need

  • URL shortening for marketing campaigns
  • QR codes for print and physical media
  • Basic click analytics without mobile app integration

Use Tolinku if you need

  • Links that open your mobile app directly
  • Deferred deep linking through app install
  • Smart banners to convert web visitors to app users
  • Referral programs and in-app attribution

Frequently asked questions

Does Bitly support real deep linking?

Bitly offers basic mobile deep linking (Universal Links, App Links) on their Premium plan ($199-300/mo). However, they do not support deferred deep linking (preserving context through app install), don't offer a mobile SDK, and don't provide smart banners or referral tracking. Bitly is primarily a link shortener, not a deep linking platform.

How does Tolinku compare to Bitly for mobile apps?

Tolinku is purpose-built for mobile apps. It includes Universal Links, App Links, deferred deep linking, native SDKs (iOS, Android, React Native, Flutter), smart banners, referral tracking, and webhooks. Bitly is a general-purpose link shortener that added basic mobile routing as a premium feature.

Is Tolinku cheaper than Bitly for deep linking?

Yes. Bitly requires the Premium plan ($199-300/mo) for deep linking, which also caps you at 3,000 links/month. Tolinku starts at $39/mo with unlimited routes and includes every feature. Even Tolinku's free tier includes deep linking with 1,200 clicks/month.

Should I use Bitly or Tolinku for short links?

If you only need URL shortening and QR codes without mobile app deep linking, Bitly is a solid choice. If you need links that open your mobile app, route users to the right screen, and preserve context through install, Tolinku is the better fit.

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