How to Import Selected Bitly Links into LynURL

Why Teams Are Switching

Compare the allowance units and features you need before switching providers. Bitly uses monthly creation allowances; LynURL holds links and saved QR artifacts within account capacity. Review current official Bitly pricing and billing terms rather than assuming equivalent quotas or a fixed saving.

The importer creates new LynURL links for selected owned Bitly links. Review confirmed mappings and failed or paused rows; existing Bitly URLs remain managed separately at Bitly and historical clicks are not transferred.

Before You Start

You'll need two things:

1. A LynURL account — Sign up for free if you haven't already.
2. Your Bitly API access token — You can find this in your Bitly account under Settings > API. If you're on Bitly's free plan, you can generate a generic access token. Enterprise users may need to use an OAuth token.

That's it. No CSV exports, no manual copy-pasting.

Step-by-Step Migration

Step 1: Open the Import Tool

Log in to your LynURL dashboard and navigate to Settings > Import. Select Bitly as the source platform.

Step 2: Connect Your Bitly Account

Paste your Bitly API access token into the provided field and connect to preview owned links. Keep the import page open while processing and review the links before selecting a batch.

Step 3: Choose What to Import

Select owned links within your current held link capacity and map supported tags. The preview shows source information such as:

• Short link slugs
• Original destination URLs
• Tags and metadata
• Creation dates

Review the preview to make sure everything looks correct.

Step 4: Start the Import

Start the selected import. LynURL processes small foreground batches within current held link capacity. Review confirmed results and any row failures. An unconfirmed request pauses the workflow; use explicit Resume or Cancel rather than assuming completion. Completion time is not guaranteed.

Step 5: Verify Your Links

Check the confirmed LynURL link mappings and open the new LynURL URLs to verify their destinations. Custom aliases are attempted when available; conflicts can receive different aliases. Supported tags are included according to your mapping choices, and new recorded LynURL clicks start after import. This does not change the original Bitly URLs.

Branded-subdomain activation is currently pending. Existing eligible Pro and Premium accounts retain allowances of 3 and 10 subdomains respectively. Do not switch production DNS until activation is available and the hostname and certificate are verified.

What Gets Imported

| Data | Imported? | |-------------------|-----------| | Short link slugs | Yes | | Destination URLs | Yes | | Tags | Yes | | Creation dates | Yes | | Click history | No* | | Custom back-halves| Yes |

*This importer does not transfer historical clicks. New recorded LynURL clicks begin after import. Keep any existing provider reports you need before migrating.

LynURL vs. Bitly: Key Differences

Here's what you gain by making the switch:

• Current allowances — Free holds 10 links and 5 saved QR codes. Existing eligible Pro accounts at $9/month retain 100 links and 50 saved QR codes; existing eligible Premium accounts at $29/month retain 1,000 links and 500 saved QR codes. New paid subscriptions and self-service billing are temporarily unavailable.
• Measured analytics — UTC daily clicks and recorded-event geography, device, browser and referrer breakdowns where available. Historical clicks are not transferred from Bitly, and unmeasured history remains unavailable.
• Saved and basic QR workflows — Save PNG/SVG artifacts within held capacity, then download the same file again without using another slot. Free saved artifacts use black on white; eligible paid accounts can choose colors. Saved artifacts do not embed logos. Basic local PNG/SVG/PDF exports and plan-supported logo tools remain separate from saved capacity.
• Team features — Role-based access, shared link libraries, and team analytics are included in the Premium plan, not locked behind an enterprise paywall.
• API integration — Use the documented REST API and SDK source previews with local installation instructions.
• Visible saved capacity — The QR page reports verified held slots separately from older records. Removing an older record without a verified reservation cannot free a saved slot; no historical counter repair is implied.

Common Questions

Will my existing Bitly links still work? The import creates new LynURL links and does not control the bit.ly hostname. Manage existing Bitly URLs separately at Bitly and review the relevant service and account settings before changing shared URLs.

Can I use the same custom domain? Branded-subdomain activation is currently pending. Keep your existing DNS in place until activation is available and the hostname and certificate are verified.

What if I have thousands of links? Select batches within your current held link capacity. Processing happens in the open import page, with confirmed results, explicit failures and pause/resume controls. Keep the page open; there is no automatic background completion or completion notification.

Ready to Switch?

Review your available held capacity, preview selected owned links and check confirmed results before switching shared URLs. Create your free LynURL account to use the import tool.

If you run into any issues, our support team is here to help. Reach out through the dashboard or email us at support@lynurl.com.