Comparison · Link shorteners
Short.io vs URL Shortener
For marketers and channel owners who want branded, trackable links, Short.io (@Shortio_bot) is the better pick: it is Short.io's own bot, promoted on the company blog, and it shortens links onto your own custom domain without opening the web dashboard. The catch is that you need a Short.io account with a connected domain, and pricing lives in the platform, not in the bot. URL Shortener (@URLShortenerBot) is free with no sign-up, lets you pick one of five shortening services and works inline in any chat, but gives no click statistics or branded links. Choose URL Shortener when you just need a quick short link in a group chat without creating an account.
@Shortio_bot
FreemiumOfficial
66/ 100
#1 in Link shortenersThe Telegram bot from Short.io, a branded-link platform: create a short link on your own custom domain straight from a chat, backed by a real company product rather than a hobby script.
@URLShortenerBot
FreeInline mode
65/ 100
A Telegram bot that shortens any link using five different shortening services and works in inline mode, so a short URL can be created from inside any chat without switching apps.
By the numbers
Short.io is ahead: 66 against 65 out of 100 for URL Shortener. Short.io wins on reliability & speed, popularity & trust, safety & privacy, freshness. URL Shortener wins on price & free tier, usability, no intrusive ads. Short.io: Freemium. URL Shortener: Free.
At a glance
| Short.io | URL Shortener | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing and limits | Freemium | Free |
| Languages | EN | EN |
| Inline mode | no | yes |
| Mini App | no | no |
| Works in groups | no | yes |
| Works in channels | no | no |
| Accepts voice | no | no |
| Accepts files | no | no |
| Requires phone number | no | no |
| Requires registration | yes | no |
| Shows ads | no | no |
| Official | yes | no |
| Developer | Short.io | MarcoBuster |
| Last check | October 22, 2026 | October 22, 2026 |
Score by criterion
| Criterion | Weight | Short.io | URL Shortener |
|---|---|---|---|
| Functionality | 25 | 7 | 7 |
| Reliability & speed | 15 | 7 | 6 |
| Popularity & trust | 15 | 5 | 4 |
| Price & free tier | 10 | 6 | 8 |
| Usability | 10 | 6 | 7 |
| Safety & privacy | 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Freshness | 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Localization | 5 | 10 | 10 |
| No intrusive ads | 5 | 8 | 9 |
| Total | 100 | 66 | 65 |
Pros and cons
Short.io
- Backed by an actual company product (Short.io), not a hobby script
- Branded domain support instead of a generic anonymous short link
- Not meant for anonymous one-off shortening — you need a Short.io account and domain to get real value
- Pricing lives in the Short.io platform itself, not disclosed on the bot's Telegram page
URL Shortener
- Choice of five shortening services in one bot
- Works inline in any chat, no need to open a direct message
- Fully free, no signup
- No click statistics or custom branded links
- No visible update history to confirm how actively it's maintained
Frequently asked questions
Short.io or URL Shortener: which is better?
Short.io is ahead: 66 against 65 out of 100 for URL Shortener. Short.io wins on reliability & speed, popularity & trust, safety & privacy, freshness. URL Shortener wins on price & free tier, usability, no intrusive ads. Short.io: Freemium. URL Shortener: Free.
Are Short.io and URL Shortener free?
Short.io: Freemium. URL Shortener: Free.
Do Short.io and URL Shortener work in groups?
Short.io: no. URL Shortener: yes.