URL shortener & link management guides
Guides, comparisons, and how-tos on link management, click analytics, QR codes, and EU-first privacy - from the people who build Elido.
Browse all articlesStart here: cornerstone guides
ComparisonsYOURLS Alternatives: Self-Hosted and Hosted Options
YOURLS alternatives for teams that outgrew it: Shlink, Kutt, Dub and hosted Elido, with licence, stack, upkeep and a migration path for each option.
7 min read
ComparisonsSniply Alternatives: CTA Overlay Tools and Their Prices
Sniply alternatives checked on their own pricing pages: which tools really put a CTA on pages you share, which only do retargeting, and what each one costs.
6 min read
ComparisonsQR Code Generator Alternatives: 6 Tools Without Traps
QR Code Generator alternatives compared on free dynamic codes, scan caps, export formats, own domains and what happens to printed codes when a plan ends.
7 min read
ComparisonsElido vs Uniqode: Dynamic QR Codes, Pricing and Limits
Elido vs Uniqode compared on dynamic QR pricing, scan limits, QR types, export formats, analytics, data location and what happens when a plan ends.
8 min read
ComparisonsElido vs Switchy: Retargeting Links, Prices and Previews
Elido vs Switchy compared from both pricing pages: retargeting pixels, consent, social link previews, click tiers and seats, with where Switchy wins outright.
7 min read
ComparisonsElido vs Sniply: CTA Overlay Tool or Link Retargeting
Elido vs Sniply, compared honestly: Sniply has the full CTA overlay toolkit, Elido a basic bar. Pricing, impressions, pixels and who should pick which tool.
6 min read
ComparisonsElido vs Shlink: Self-Hosted PHP or Hosted EU Shortener
Elido vs Shlink, from Shlink's docs and Elido's product: licence, stack, redirect rules, visit data, QR codes, upkeep, and who should run which one.
6 min read
ComparisonsElido vs Replug: CTA Overlays, Pixels and Plan Prices
Elido vs Replug compared from Replug's pricing and feature pages: CTA overlays, retargeting pixels, bio links, free plans and seats, with a fair verdict.
6 min read
ComparisonsElido vs QR Tiger: Dynamic QR Codes, Limits and Expiry
Elido vs QR Tiger compared on dynamic QR limits, scan caps, design, export, analytics and what happens to printed codes when a plan ends. Fair verdict.
8 min read
ComparisonsElido vs QR Code Generator PRO: Trials, Limits, Price
Elido vs QR Code Generator PRO compared: what happens to trial codes, scan and code limits, QR types, export formats, analytics and a fair verdict.
7 min read
ComparisonsElido vs Polr: Replacing a Dormant Self-Hosted Shortener
Elido vs Polr: Polr has had no release in years. Its real maintenance status, the self-hosted and hosted options, and how to move links safely.
6 min read
ComparisonsElido vs Pixelfy: Amazon Seller Links or an EU Shortener
Elido vs Pixelfy compared from Pixelfy's pricing and feature pages: Amazon seller links, all-inclusive plans, pixels, previews, click tiers and seats.
5 min read
ComparisonsElido vs Kutt: Self-Hosted Kutt or Managed EU Shortener
Elido vs Kutt compared from Kutt's repo and Elido's product: licence, stack, analytics, custom domains, teams and upkeep, with a fair verdict on each.
8 min read
IndustriesURL Shorteners by Industry: Link Setups for 22 Verticals
URL shorteners by industry: the link types, gotchas and one worked Elido example for 22 verticals, from affiliates and fintech to hotels and menus.
34 min read
FeaturesWhat Is Marketing Attribution? The Link-First Guide
What is marketing attribution? A plain-English definition, how it works for link and QR campaigns, what click data can't prove, and the privacy limits.
9 min read
ComparisonsShort.io vs Rebrandly: Pricing, Features, and Real Fit
Short.io vs Rebrandly on plan limits, custom domains, QR codes, teams and data location, with prices taken from both vendors' pricing pages.
6 min read
EngineeringShort Code Generation: Base62 vs Hash vs Random Codes
Short code generation base62 vs hash vs random: exact keyspace math, birthday-bound collision odds, retry patterns, and which approach fits your shortener.
10 min read
EngineeringRedirect Chain and SEO: How Many Hops Is Too Many?
A redirect chain is two or more redirects in a row. See what Google documents about hops and crawl budget, how to trace chains with curl, and flatten them.
10 min read
TutorialsQR Code Error Correction Levels: L, M, Q, H Explained
QR code error correction levels L, M, Q and H recover 7, 15, 25 and 30% of a damaged code. See module counts per level and when each one pays off.
7 min read
FeaturesSMS Shortened Links Blocked? What Carriers Really Filter
Are SMS shortened links blocked? Carriers and CTIA single out shared public shorteners. See what gets filtered, what's unverified, and how to stay deliverable.
8 min read