Honest Comparison · Updated May 2026
Short.io charges $228/year for API access and custom domains. urldn Pro gives you unlimited API calls — and early waitlist members get 3 months completely free.
Our Verdict
urldn Pro is the better choice for developers
Same developer experience, unlimited API calls, no rate limits — built for teams that ship fast.
3 months
urldn Pro free (waitlist)
$228/yr
Short.io Business cost
Limited
Short.io API (free tier)
Join Waitlist — Get 3 Months Pro Free →
SaaS Developers
Integrate link shortening directly into your product. No rate limits means you can scale without worrying about API costs or throttling.
Unlimited API in Pro →
Automation Engineers
Build workflows with webhooks and bulk operations. Create thousands of links programmatically without hitting limits or paying per-call fees.
Webhooks included →
Self-Hosters
Want full control? urldn is open source. Deploy on your own infrastructure, customize the code, and keep all your data in-house.
Open source available →
🚀 Coming Soon: URLDN Pro
Unlimited API & Developer Tools
Join the waitlist — first members get 3 months of Pro access completely free
No credit card required to join. Lock in your free period before we launch.
Unlimited API
Webhooks
Custom Domains
Open Source
Claim 3 Months Free — Join Waitlist
2,500+ users already on the waitlist
How does urldn's API compare to Short.io?
urldn Pro's REST API has no rate limits or call restrictions. Short.io limits API calls on their free tier and charges based on usage at scale. Both APIs are well-documented and RESTful, but urldn gives you unlimited access from day one.
Can I self-host urldn like I can with Short.io?
Yes! urldn is open source and can be self-hosted on your own infrastructure. Short.io offers a self-hosted option but it's enterprise-only. With urldn, you can deploy on any server, customize the code, and maintain full control.
What's included in the 3-month free offer?
Full access to urldn Pro for 3 months: unlimited links, custom domains, unlimited API calls, webhooks, advanced analytics, bulk operations, and priority support. No credit card required to join the waitlist.
Does Short.io have any advantages?
Short.io has been around longer and has more enterprise features like white-labeling and dedicated infrastructure. If you need enterprise SLAs or dedicated support, Short.io's higher tiers offer that. For most developers, urldn Pro provides the same core functionality at better value.
Ready to switch from Short.io?
Join the waitlist now and lock in 3 months of urldn Pro completely free before we launch.
No credit card required · 2,500+ already on the list