Create an account
A username and a password. No email address, no verification step.
Getting started in three steps
Create the account
Pick a username and a password. There is no email field, no confirmation link and no waiting.
Shorten a link
Paste a URL into the dashboard. Anything you create while signed in is saved to your account; anything you create signed out is not.
Come back to it
Your dashboard lists every link with its click count and its QR code, and tells you whether it is still forwarding.
With an account and without
Most of what URLVanish does needs no account. This is the honest split, not a list arranged to push you into signing up.
| Feature | Signed out | With an account |
|---|---|---|
| Shorten a link | ||
| Unlimited links | ||
| Free QR code | ||
| Password-protected links | ||
| Expiry dates and click limits | ||
| API access | no key | 1,000/hr |
| Custom alias on the website | API only | |
| A saved list of your links | ||
| Click counts | ||
| API keys |
Both columns are free. There is no paid tier to move up to.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need an account to shorten a URL on URLVanish?
No. Shortening works with no account, no email address and no login. An account is optional and only adds custom aliases, click counts and a dashboard for managing the links you create.
Is a URLVanish account free?
Yes. Registration is free and there is no paid tier. Custom aliases, QR codes, unlimited links and API access are all included at no cost.
What information do I need to give to sign up?
A username and a password. That is all: no email address, no phone number, no payment details and no personal information of any kind. Because we hold no email address for you, there is no password reset, so store your password somewhere safe.
What does an account actually add?
Four things. Your links are listed in one place you can search and sort, each one shows how many times it has been followed, you can choose the text after the slash instead of taking a random code, and you can issue API keys that raise the hourly rate limit from 100 requests to 1,000.
Do shortened links expire?
Not on their own. A link stays active indefinitely unless you set an expiry date or a click limit when you create it, or it is suspended for abuse. Expiry and click limits are optional and work with or without an account.
Can I change a link after I have created it?
No. A short link points at one destination for its lifetime and that cannot be edited. Removing a link from your dashboard detaches it from your account but does not stop it working, which is deliberate: links that have already been shared keep resolving.
Still deciding? Compare URLVanish with other shorteners, or shorten a link right now without signing up for anything.