Best goo.gl Alternative 2025
Google discontinued goo.gl in August 2025, affecting 3.6 billion links.
URLcut.ai reads your page content to create smart short links. Google never did that.
URLcut.ai vs Google URL Shortener
Everything Google had, plus AI features they never offered
| Feature | URLcut.ai
Recommended |
Google Shortener
Discontinued |
|---|---|---|
| Service Status | ✅ Active & Growing | ❌ Discontinued Aug 2025 |
| Reads Your Page Content | ✅ AI visits and analyzes your URL | ❌ Never had this feature |
| AI-Powered Suggestions | ✅ 10 smart, readable URLs per link | ❌ Random strings only |
| Custom Slugs | ✅ Full control over your short URLs | ⚠️ Limited customization |
| Analytics | ✅ Comprehensive - clicks, location, devices, referrers | ⚠️ Basic analytics (was limited) |
| QR Codes | ✅ Custom colors + logos (Pro) | ❌ Not available |
| Password Protection | ✅ Protect sensitive links | ❌ Not available |
| Link Expiration | ✅ Set expiry dates | ❌ Not available |
| Free Tier | ✅ 10 links + 10 AI suggestions/month | ❌ Service ended |
| Pro Plan | $12/month (early adopter) | Was free (now unavailable) |
Why Did Google Discontinue goo.gl?
The timeline of Google URL Shortener's shutdown
New Users Blocked
Google stopped accepting new users for goo.gl, citing a shift toward Firebase Dynamic Links.
Existing Users Cut Off
Existing users could no longer create new goo.gl links. Only previously created links continued working.
Warning Interstitials
Google added warning pages to goo.gl links with no activity, alerting users of the upcoming shutdown.
Final Shutdown
Inactive goo.gl links stopped working entirely. 3.6 billion active links affected.
What Google Never Offered: AI-Powered URLs
The #1 reason URLcut.ai is better than goo.gl ever was
❌ Google's Approach
Random & Discontinuedgoo.gl/xY7kQ2
Random characters. No meaning. No longer works.
Google never analyzed your page content.
✅ URLcut.ai's AI
Smart & Activeurlcut.ai/summer-sale-50-off
AI reads your page, suggests readable URLs.
Studies show 39% better click-through rates.
Works with ANY URL - Even Messy Tracking Links
Google gave you random characters no matter what. URLcut.ai's AI understands your intent.
Your Short Link
Context-Aware
AI analyzes your destination page and suggests 10 relevant, readable slugs
Instant Results
Get smart suggestions in under 2 seconds. No manual thinking required
Better Performance
Studies show readable URLs get 39% more clicks than random character strings
Better Than Free - With AI Features
Google was free but limited. URLcut.ai gives you more.
URLcut.ai Free
Forever free, no credit card
- AI reads your page content
- 10 AI suggestions per month
- 10 custom links per month
- Basic analytics (30-day retention)
- Basic QR codes
- No password protection
- Instant redirects
URLcut.ai Pro
Lock in $12/mo forever
- AI reads your page content
- Unlimited AI-powered suggestions
- Unlimited links
- Advanced analytics (unlimited retention)
- Custom QR codes with logos
- Password-protected links
- Instant redirects (no delay)
Google URL Shortener
No longer available
- No page content analysis
- No AI suggestions
- Random strings only
- Basic analytics
- No QR codes
- No password protection
- Service ended Aug 2025
Switching from Google is Easy
Your questions answered
What happened to my goo.gl links?
Google discontinued goo.gl in August 2025. Inactive links no longer work. If you had active links, they may still redirect but Google is no longer maintaining the service.
Can I recreate my old goo.gl links?
You can't restore exact goo.gl links, but you can create new URLcut.ai links for the same destinations. Our AI will suggest even better, more memorable slugs than Google's random strings.
How long does migration take?
About 2 minutes. Sign up, paste a URL, see AI suggestions, and create your first link. Start using URLcut.ai for all new links going forward.
Will I lose my analytics data?
Google's analytics for goo.gl links are gone with the service. URLcut.ai will track all new link analytics with detailed insights on clicks, locations, devices, and referrers.
Is URLcut.ai free like Google was?
URLcut.ai has a generous free tier (10 links + 10 AI suggestions/month). For unlimited links and full features, Pro is just $12/month - worth it for the AI features Google never had.
Is URLcut.ai reliable? Will it shut down?
URLcut.ai is actively developed and growing. We're committed to long-term service - unlike Google, URL shortening is our core product, not a side project to be deprecated.
We Ship Features Every Week
Unlike Google's abandoned service, URLcut.ai is constantly improving.
Recently Shipped
- AI page content analysis
- Smart slug suggestions (10 per link)
- Custom QR codes with colors
- Click analytics dashboard
- Password-protected links
- Link expiration dates
In Development
- Custom domains (BYOD)
- REST API for developers
- QR codes with logo upload
On the Roadmap
- Bulk link creation
- Team collaboration
- Link retargeting pixels
- A/B testing for links
Have a feature request? We actually listen!
Suggest a FeatureJoin Users Who've Made the Switch
Real feedback from Google Shortener switchers
"After Google shut down goo.gl, I tried several alternatives. URLcut.ai's AI suggestions are something none of them offered. Finally, meaningful short links!"
"I used goo.gl for years because it was free and simple. URLcut.ai is just as easy but the AI features make my links so much more professional."
"The analytics are so much better than what Google offered. Plus the AI-suggested slugs actually make sense instead of random characters. Worth every penny."
Quick Decision Guide
Choose URLcut.ai if you want:
- Readable, branded short links
- AI-generated slugs instead of random strings
- A modern replacement for goo.gl
- Analytics and QR codes included
Consider other options if you:
- Need Firebase Dynamic Links (Google's successor)
- Want to stay within Google ecosystem
- Require deep Google Analytics integration
Google's Gone. Get Something Better.
URLcut.ai is the only URL shortener that reads your page content to create smart links.
Try it free - no credit card required. Cancel anytime.