Introducing T.LY

3 min read
Introducing T.LY

I launched T.LY in 2019. The site has changed quite a bit since then, so I kept these screenshots in the post. It’s fun to look back at where it started.

2019: The first T.LY site

My Link Shortener Extension already let people shorten a page in one click. It worked with several services, but I didn’t love relying on someone else’s shortener. Google had announced the end of goo.gl, which made that feel even more urgent. So I built T.LY and made it the extension’s default.

At first, I kept it simple. Paste in a long URL, get a short one, and copy it. You could add a + to see public stats, and I added an API for developers who wanted to use T.LY in their own apps.

2019 T.LY homepage with an orange header, Less is More headline, and URL shortener form
The first T.LY homepage, back in 2019.

I wrote down a few things I wanted to add next:

  • Let links expire after a date or number of clicks
  • Change where a short link goes
  • Pick custom link endings
  • Use custom domains

I ended up building all four, and a lot more.

By 2023, I was giving click stats and the browser extension more space on the homepage. You could still shorten a URL right away, then see how the link performed after you shared it.

2023 T.LY homepage showing the shortener, click stats, and browser extension
The T.LY homepage in 2023.

By May 2026, T.LY could handle a lot more: QR codes, OneLinks, custom domains, editable links, private stats, teams, and the API. I like that you can start with one short link and add the other tools when you need them.

May 2026 T.LY homepage with short links, OneLinks, and QR codes
T.LY in May 2026.

I finally brought the extension to Safari that June. It now works in Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Opera, and Safari.

September 2026: T.LY today

The shortener is still the first thing you see. Paste in a URL and get a short link. Done. The rest of T.LY is there when you need it.

September 2026 T.LY homepage with the Shorten and Track Links headline and URL field
The T.LY homepage in September 2026.

You can use the QR code generator to create a custom QR code for any URL. Change the colors, pick a style, add a logo, and download it when it looks right.

T.LY QR code generator with a code for t.ly, color options, and download buttons
Making a custom QR code for t.ly.

With OneLinks, you can put your links on one page instead of sending people a list of URLs. It works well for a creator bio, digital business card, event, or product launch. Share it as a link or QR code.

T.LY OneLinks page with a link-in-bio preview on a phone
OneLinks in September 2026.

I’m proud of how much T.LY has grown, and I still want it to feel fast for the simple stuff. Try it out or add the extension if you want to shorten links without opening another tab.