Do Bitly Links Expire? Not on a Timer, But...
No, Bitly links do not expire on their own. But Bitly keeps changing what your links do, on links you already published.
Here is what actually happened, with the receipts.
The Short Answer
The honest answer, and the part Bitly leaves out
No, but Bitly keeps changing the deal
Bitly links do not expire on a timer, and neither do their QR codes. The catch is what Bitly changes around your links. In February 2025 Bitly added an ad page to every free link, retroactively, including links created years ago. The free plan has been cut to 5 links a month. Downgrade a paid plan and your custom domain, and the links on it, stop working. Your link never expired. Bitly just changed what it does.
URLcut.ai leaves your links alone
Free tier or Pro, your links keep working the way you made them. We never inject third-party ads onto your links, we don't quietly gut the free plan from under you, and we don't change what your links do after you publish them.
If you actually want a link to stop working, that is a setting you choose rather than something done to you. See link expiration for the 7, 14, 30, and 90 day windows and how to create a temporary link.
How Bitly's Free Plan Changed
What the free plan looks like now, after the 2025 changes
| Limitation | Bitly Free | URLcut.ai Free |
|---|---|---|
| Links per month | ❌ 5 links/month | ✅ 10 links/month |
| Retroactive changes to existing links | ❌ Yes (ads added 2025) | ✅ Never |
| Free QR codes | ❌ 2 per month | ✅ Unlimited (black & white) |
| Edit after creation | ❌ Cannot edit | ✅ Edit destination anytime |
| AI suggestions | ❌ Not available | ✅ 10 AI suggestions/month |
| Analytics | ⚠️ Basic | ✅ Clicks, geo, device (14-day free) |
Do Bitly QR Codes Expire?
Short answer: no. But here is what changed in 2025.
Bitly QR Codes
Limited- Free tier: 2 QR codes per month
- Free QR scans now route through a Bitly ad page (2025)
- Custom branding requires paid plan
URLcut.ai QR Codes
Forever- Free tier: Unlimited QR codes
- No third-party ads on your QR scans
- Black & white free, colors and logo on Pro
If you printed a Bitly QR before 2025, every scan now passes through Bitly's ad page. A URLcut.ai QR goes straight to your destination on any paid plan (from $4), and never carries someone else's ad.
The URLcut.ai Alternative
Why users are switching from Bitly
We Don't Change the Rules
Free or paid, your links keep working the way you made them, and we never change what they do after you publish. No ads bolted onto old links, no free plan gutted from under you.
AI-Powered Suggestions
Our AI reads your page content and suggests meaningful slugs.
No more random character strings like bit.ly/3xK9mPq.
Edit After Creation
Made a typo? Changed the destination? Update your link anytime. Bitly locks you in once you create a link.
Flat $12, No Ad Upsell
URLcut.ai Pro is $12/month, flat. On Bitly, removing the ad page from your links means upgrading to their pricier Growth tier. See the full comparison.
2x More Free Links
URLcut.ai free tier: 10 links/month. Bitly free tier: 5 links/month. Do the math.
QR Codes Without Ads
Generate a QR for any link. On a paid plan the scan goes straight to your destination, with no ad page in between and no third-party ads, ever.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about link expiration
Do Bitly links expire on the free tier?
No. Bitly's official policy is that links do not expire, and their support docs confirm it. What changed is everything around your links: in February 2025 Bitly added an ad page to every free link, retroactively, and it has cut the free plan to 5 links a month. URLcut.ai leaves your links, and the terms, alone.
Do Bitly QR codes expire?
No. Bitly QR codes do not expire and keep working as long as you keep the link. But since 2025, scanning a free Bitly QR sends people through a Bitly ad page first. URLcut.ai never puts third-party ads on your links or QR codes.
How can I prevent my links from expiring?
Bitly links do not expire, so there is nothing to prevent there. The thing worth avoiding is a platform that changes what your links do after you publish them. URLcut.ai keeps your links and your plan terms stable, so what you ship is what stays.
What happens to printed QR codes if my link expires?
Bitly links do not expire, so a printed QR keeps resolving. What changed in 2025 is that free Bitly links now show an ad page first, so a code you printed years ago now routes scanners through an ad. A URLcut.ai QR goes straight through on any paid plan, from $4, with no third-party ads.
Can I migrate my Bitly links to URLcut.ai?
While you can't directly import Bitly links (they're hosted on Bitly's servers), you can start using URLcut.ai for all new links. Your old Bitly links will continue working as long as Bitly keeps them active.
Is URLcut.ai really free?
Yes. URLcut.ai's free tier gives you 10 links per month with click analytics, AI suggestions, and QR codes. Links never expire. No credit card required. Not a trial, free forever.
Ready for Links That Never Expire?
Stop worrying about link expiration. URLcut.ai links work forever.
Try it free, no credit card required.