Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

adf.ly VS Ow.ly

Compare adf.ly VS Ow.ly and see what are their differences

adf.ly logo adf.ly

Earn money for each visitor to your shortened links with adf.ly!

Ow.ly logo Ow.ly

Shorten links, measure traffic, and demonstrate social ROI right inside the Hootsuite dashboard.
  • adf.ly Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-06-26
  • Ow.ly Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-07-23

adf.ly features and specs

  • Monetization
    Adf.ly allows users to earn money by shortening URLs and sharing them. Users get paid for the number of clicks their shortened links receive.
  • Simple Interface
    The platform offers an easy-to-use interface for users to shorten URLs and track their performance.
  • Global Reach
    Adf.ly has a wide reach, allowing users to target a global audience and increase the potential for earning through international clicks.
  • Link Analytics
    The service provides detailed analytics on link performance, including the number of clicks, geographic data, and referral sources.
  • Custom Link Options
    Users can customize their shortened URLs, making them more recognizable and branded.

Possible disadvantages of adf.ly

  • Ad Intrusiveness
    The ads displayed can be intrusive and annoying for users clicking the links, potentially leading to a negative experience.
  • Security Concerns
    Some adf.ly short links have been associated with redirecting to malicious sites, raising concerns about security and trustworthiness.
  • Decreased Click-Through Rate
    Users may be wary of clicking on adf.ly links due to their association with ads and potential malware, leading to a lower click-through rate.
  • Limited Earnings
    While users can earn money through adf.ly, the amount is generally low and may not be worthwhile for all users.
  • Ad Blocker Impact
    Ad blockers can prevent the ads from displaying, which in turn prevents earnings for the user who shared the shortened URL.

Ow.ly features and specs

  • Link Shortening
    Ow.ly provides a simple way to shorten long URLs, making them easier to share on social media platforms and within content that has character limits.
  • Click Tracking
    Users can track the number of clicks each shortened link receives, providing valuable insights into how content is being consumed and shared.
  • Integration with Hootsuite
    Ow.ly is integrated with Hootsuite, allowing users to manage link sharing and monitoring within the same platform they use for social media management.
  • Link Management
    Users can organize, edit, and manage their shortened links which helps in maintaining a streamlined process for handling multiple URLs.
  • Comprehensive Analytics
    Provides detailed analytics on how each link performs, which is essential for businesses looking to measure the effectiveness of their campaigns.

Possible disadvantages of Ow.ly

  • Limited Standalone Features
    Ow.ly's functionalities are mainly tied to Hootsuite, making it less appealing for users who aren't already using Hootsuite for social media management.
  • Potential for Service Dependency
    Reliance on Ow.ly means dependence on Hootsuite's service for link shortening and management, which may not be ideal for users seeking an independent solution.
  • Cost
    While Ow.ly offers powerful features, access to its full capabilities is tied to Hootsuite subscriptions, which may not be cost-effective for all users.
  • Complexity for New Users
    New users might find the integration and overall platform complex to learn, particularly if they only require a basic URL shortener.
  • Privacy Concerns
    Users may have concerns about data privacy and how their link click data is used or shared with third-party services.

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to adf.ly and Ow.ly)
URL Shortener
61 61%
39% 39
Link Management
62 62%
38% 38
Branded URLs
67 67%
33% 33
Links
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare adf.ly and Ow.ly

adf.ly Reviews

  1. Deepak Kumar
    · Manager at Best URL Shorteners ·
    Best URL Shortener To Make Money Online

    AdFly is one of the oldest high-paying URL shorteners that not only has a really good reputation but a track record of paying its link shrinkers (users) on time and a great place for advertisers to spend their marketing budget.

    🏁 Competitors: Linkbucks
    👍 Pros:    Legit url shortener|Minimum payout: $5|Timely payments
    👎 Cons:    Low quality ads

45 Best URL Shorteners To Make Money Online (2021 List)
You might have hit upon Adfly while downloading movies from sites on the Web. That is because a large high number of users around the world have registered with Adfly link shortener over the years. Folks with movie downloading sites are using Adfly as their link shortener to make a huge amount of money daily – provided they have enough web traffic.

Ow.ly Reviews

11 Best URL Shorteners For 2025 (Comparison)
Ow.ly is a URL shortener offered by the popular social media marketing tool Hootsuite. With Ow.ly, you can create unlimited branded and shortened links.
10 Excellent Google URL Shortener Alternatives
Hootsuite, a popular social media management platform, owns and operates its own URL shortener, Ow.ly. This means that Ow.ly integrates seamlessly with Hootsuite’s other tools and services, allowing businesses to streamline their social media marketing efforts.
Source: bitly.com

What are some alternatives?

When comparing adf.ly and Ow.ly, you can also consider the following products

Bitly - Get the most out of your social and online marketing efforts. Own, understand and activate your best audience through the power of the link with Bitly Enterprise.

YOURLS - YOURLS is a website that contains all the tools you need to create and launch your very own URL shortener. URL shorteners like bitly or TinyURL are fine for public use, but they offer limited options in terms of URL customization.

Polr - An open source URL shortener. A great non-profit and free alternative to bit.ly, TinyURL, or goo.gl.

Shorte.st - Smart and easy way to get extra income from your traffic.

Tiny.cc - Changes a big URL into tiny URL. With link editing, detailed click statistics, QR Codes and Custom Domains.‎Info · ‎Example · ‎Help · ‎Tinycc Blog – Branding .

TinyURL - Are you sick of posting URLs in emails only to have it break when sent causing the recipient to...