Custom URL Shortener — Shorten Links Online

Shorten any URL into a compact link for sharing. Supports long URLs with query strings, UTM parameters, and complex paths — instant, free, no signup.

What This URL Shortener Does

This tool converts any valid URL into a short, shareable link using the spoo.me shortening service. Paste a URL — no matter how long or complex — and receive a compact link immediately. Useful for any URL that's too long to share comfortably in emails, documents, or messages.

Any valid URL: Handles URLs with UTM parameters, long paths, query strings, and encoded characters
Instant generation: Short link is ready in under a second
Copy to clipboard: One-click copy for immediate use
No account required: No email, no registration, no verification
Free to use: No usage fees or credit card required

Shorten URL →

Choose the Right Variant

This page: Custom URL shortening — any URL, instantly shortened
URL Shortener: Main URL shortening tool
Free Link Shortener: No signup, free short links
URL Shortener for Social Media: Platform-specific guidance

Step-by-Step Tutorial

Copy the URL you want to shorten — including all query parameters if needed for tracking
Paste the complete URL into the input field
Click Shorten URL — the API creates a redirect and returns the short link
Copy the short link with one click
Test the link by clicking it before distributing — confirm the redirect destination is correct

Honest Limitations

No custom slugs: Short link slugs are auto-generated — you can't choose a specific memorable path like /my-launch. For branded or custom slugs, use a managed service like Bitly or Rebrandly
No branded domain: Short links use the shortening service's domain, not your own. Branded short domains require a paid link management platform
No analytics dashboard: Click tracking is managed by the shortening service, not accessible through this tool
Not for sensitive URLs: The destination URL is sent to the external shortening API — avoid shortening URLs that contain access tokens or credentials in the path

Privacy and Data Handling

The destination URL is sent to the spoo.me API to create the redirect. No personal data from this page is collected. Avoid using this tool for URLs that contain sensitive access tokens or private credentials in the URL path or query string.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I shorten a URL that already has a short link?

Technically yes, but don't. Double-shortening (a short link that redirects to another short link) adds an unnecessary redirect hop, increasing load time for the visitor. It also makes link debugging confusing — you have to trace through two redirects to find the final destination. If you want to update where a short link points, use a link management platform that supports link editing. For new links, always shorten the original destination URL directly.

What types of URLs can't be shortened?

A few URL types may fail: (1) URLs that are already very short (the shortener may skip them), (2) URLs with localhost or private IP addresses (not accessible from the external API), (3) malformed URLs missing a scheme (http:// or https://) — though the tool adds https:// automatically if missing, (4) some URL shorteners block known malicious or phishing URLs. If your URL fails, check that it's a valid, accessible public URL first.

How is this different from the browser's "Copy Link" feature?

"Copy Link" in a browser copies the full original URL unchanged. A URL shortener creates a new redirect URL that points to the original. The key difference is length: the full URL might be 300+ characters with UTM parameters, while the short link is 20–25 characters. The short link is functionally equivalent for sharing — clicking it takes the visitor to the same page — but it's vastly more practical in character-limited contexts.