Free URL Shortener

How the URLMode shortener works

When you paste a long address, URLMode stores it and gives you a six-character code on our short domain, fvj.io. Anyone who opens https://fvj.io/yourcode is sent to the original page with an HTTP 302 redirect in a few milliseconds. Because every visit passes through our server first, we can count clicks and show where they came from — without adding anything to the destination page.

Why use short links?

• Cleaner sharing. Long URLs with tracking parameters look spammy in social posts, SMS and email. A short link is trusted more and fits character limits.
• Print and offline. On flyers, packaging and slides, people have to type the link — fvj.io/menu is easy; a 140-character URL is not.
• Measurement. Click counts by day, country, device and referrer show which channel actually works.
• Editable destinations. With a free account you can change where a short link points without changing the link itself — perfect when a campaign page moves.

301 vs 302: which redirect does a shortener use?

Short links use a 302 (temporary) redirect on purpose. Browsers cache 301 redirects aggressively, which would stop clicks from being counted and prevent you from changing the destination later. Search engines handle 302s from shorteners fine: link equity is attributed to the destination, and the short URL itself is never indexed (we send X-Robots-Tag: noindex). If you want to check any redirect yourself, use the Redirect Checker.

Free limits and accounts

Without an account, each visitor can create 2 short links and 2 QR codes. A free account removes the limit and unlocks custom back-halves (fvj.io/spring-sale), titles, editable destinations and a dashboard with click statistics.

Safety and acceptable use

Short links are popular with spammers, so every destination is screened: we reject other shorteners (to stop redirect chains that hide the real target), raw IP addresses, unregistered domains, adult content and known abuse keywords, and we disable links reported for phishing or malware. If you find a bad link, please report it.

Best practices for short links

1. Tag before you shorten. Add UTM parameters with the UTM Builder first, then shorten the tagged URL so analytics attribute every visit correctly.
2. Use a descriptive back-half for printed or spoken links — readers trust fvj.io/webinar more than random characters.
3. Test the destination with the HTTP Status Code Checker; a short link to a 404 page wastes every click.
4. Pair it with a QR code for posters and packaging using the QR Code Generator.

Frequently asked questions