A free custom domain shortener
Every shortener gives you a link on theirdomain. That is fine for a personal project and wrong the moment a link goes in a press release, a receipt, or a QR code on a shop window — the domain in the address is a stranger's, and it is the first thing a cautious reader looks at.
Connect a subdomain you own and your short links are served from promo.yourdomain.com instead. Analytics, expiry, passcodes, and QR codes all work the same way. It is free, there is no card, and you can connect up to three domains.
Setting it up takes one TXT record
You need control of the domain's DNS — not your nameservers, not your hosting. Add a subdomain and leave the rest of your DNS configuration alone.
- Open Account → Custom Domains in your dashboard and add the subdomain you want to use.
- In your DNS provider, add a TXT record named _ilync.yourdomain.com with the verification token we show you.
- Wait for DNS to propagate, then press Verify. Your domain stays Pending until the record is visible.
Full detail, including what to do if verification fails, is in the documentation.
What changes, and what does not
| Aspect | What you get |
|---|---|
| The address people see | promo.yourdomain.com/xmas instead of a shortener's own domain. The brand is yours, and the domain is one you already have credibility with. |
| Link previews in chat apps | iMessage, WhatsApp, and Slack read the destination for a title and image. A link on your own domain is no longer a stranger's domain in a preview card. |
| What it does not change | Analytics, expiry, passcodes, QR codes, and destination screening behave exactly the same — it is the same link, reached on a different hostname. |
| Domains per account | Up to 3, so you can run one for campaigns, one for a product line, and one for a client. |
Your domain does not skip the safety checks
A custom domain is a hostname you control, and a compromised one is a genuine attack surface. Every link served from it still goes through destination screening — threat denylist, DNS resolution, local heuristics, reputation, redirect chain, and an ML phishing classifier — at creation and for the life of the link.
That check is the same engine behind the free link safety checker, so you can score any destination yourself before pointing a branded link at it.
When a custom domain is worth it
- Anything printed — packaging, a menu, a conference badge, a poster — where the URL has to stay short and the domain has to survive the person typing it.
- Paid campaigns where the destination domain is part of the offer and a stranger's domain costs you conversions.
- Multiple audiences, where each gets its own subdomain and its own campaign links.
If a link is only ever pasted into a chat, the default short domain is fine and you can skip this entirely.
Custom domain questions
Is a custom domain really free here?
Yes. Connecting a domain and serving short links from it is part of the free product — up to three domains per account, with no card on file and no paid tier to unlock. What you pay for is the domain itself, at whatever registrar you already use.
What do I have to be able to do to add a domain?
You need control of the domain's DNS. That means a TXT record at _ilync.yourdomain.com with a token we show you, and then a verification check. You do not need to move your nameservers or change where the site is hosted — add a subdomain and leave the rest of your DNS alone.
How long does it take to verify?
Most DNS providers publish a new TXT record within five to thirty minutes, and verification succeeds as soon as it is visible. DNS changes can take up to 48 hours to propagate everywhere, so if verification fails immediately, wait and press Verify again rather than re-adding the record.
Can I use my root domain, like yourdomain.com?
Use a subdomain — promo.yourdomain.com or go.yourdomain.com works well, and go is a common shorthand. The verification TXT record has to sit on the exact subdomain shown, so the root domain is not the thing being verified.
Do I get separate click analytics for each domain?
Clicks are counted per link, and a link keeps its history no matter which hostname it is opened through. If you want to separate results per campaign, the cleaner approach is a different short code — or a different subdomain — per campaign rather than reusing one code everywhere.
What happens to my links if I stop paying, or leave?
There is nothing to stop paying. If you close your account the links stop resolving, which is worth knowing before you print a short link on 5,000 flyers — as it is on any hosted shortener. There is no way to export the resolver out to a self-hosted redirector.
Shorten a link, then point it at your domain
Start with a default short link to see the dashboard, then connect a subdomain when you are ready. Both are free and neither needs a card.