Sharing links should be easy. Long web addresses look messy and often break when sent through text or email. That’s why URL shorteners are so useful. They turn long links into short, clean ones.
For a long time, people trusted the Google URL Shortener — a simple, free tool by Google. But many users today still search for it, wondering where it went and what they should use instead.
Let’s talk about what happened to it, why Google shut it down, and what the best free link shorteners are in 2025.
What Was the Google URL Shortener?
The Google URL Shortener (also called goo.gl) launched in 2009. It helped users shorten links fast, especially for Google services like Gmail and YouTube.
You could:
- Paste a long link and get a short one instantly
- Track how many people clicked it
- Use it without needing deep technical knowledge
It was simple, fast, and trusted. But in 2018, Google started shutting it down for the public.
Why Did Google Stop It?
Google said the tool was mainly for developers, but over time, other users started depending on it. Instead of keeping the same tool, they decided to shift focus to something called Firebase Dynamic Links — a tool more useful for app developers.
While it was a good move for technical users, it left everyday users without a go-to free URL shortener from Google.
Can You Still Use Google URL Shortener in 2025?
No, not in the way it was before. The original goo.gl service no longer works for the public. If you had links made before the shutdown, they still work. But you can’t create new ones.
So now, people search for things like:
- "Google*: Free URL Shortener"
- "Is there a new Google URL Shortener?"
- "Google Link Shortener alternative"
Let’s look at the best options you can use instead.
