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Short answer: every annual ShortPen plan includes one free .link domain. You choose the name, ShortPen registers it and connects it, and it renews free every year while your annual plan is active. There are no DNS records to add.
The free .link domain is included on annual paid plans only. Monthly plans, lifetime plans, and the Free plan don’t include it.

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What you get

A real registered domain, such as yourbrand.link, connected to your organization and available in the Domain dropdown when you create a link.
https://yourbrand.link/summer-promo → Landing Page
This is not the same as the custom domain slot in your plan. The custom domain slot lets you connect a domain you already own using DNS records at your provider. The free .link domain is one ShortPen registers for you.

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Before you begin

  • Your organization needs an active annual subscription.
  • Owner or Admin access to the organization. Admins can manage domains.
  • Accurate registrant contact details: name, email, postal address, and phone number. Domain registration requires them.
  • One free .link domain per organization.
1

Open Domains

Go to Settings → Organization → Domains. Click Claim domain in the “Get a free .link domain” banner, or click Connect domain and choose the free .link option.
2

Choose a name

In Choose your .link domain, type the name you want. Availability is checked as you type. If the name is taken, ShortPen suggests alternatives you can pick instead.Names can contain letters, numbers, and hyphens, up to 63 characters. Spaces and typos are cleaned automatically. Premium names can’t be claimed. See premium .link domains. Click Claim domain to continue.
3

Enter your contact details

Fill in your first and last name, email, country, address, city, state or province, postal code, and phone number. Organization is optional. Tick I confirm the information above is accurate.These details become the registrant record for the domain and are sent to the domain registry. They aren’t used for marketing. Wrong details put the registration at risk.
4

Wait for registration

ShortPen registers the domain and connects it. You don’t need to do anything else.Activation isn’t instant. You’ll get a confirmation email when the domain is ready, or you can check the Domains page again later.

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Use your domain

Once active, the domain appears in your Domains list with an Included .link domain badge. Pick it from the Shortened URL → Domain dropdown when you create a link.

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Turn the domain on or off

Each included .link domain has a toggle: Disable this domain and Enable this domain.
Disabling the domain stops the domain and every link that uses it. Those links stop working until you enable the domain again.

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Automatic renewal

Click the pencil icon on the domain row to open Edit domain settings, then find the Automatic renewal section. It’s on by default, and renewal is free while your annual plan is active. Premium .link domains aren’t available as your free domain. A premium domain is a name the domain registry prices above the standard registration fee. Registries mark names as premium when they’re short, easy to remember, easy to brand, or made of popular keywords. Single dictionary words and very short names are often premium. If the name you want is premium, pick another name or one of the suggested alternatives. If you need that exact name, buy it from a domain registrar and connect it as a custom domain.

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What isn’t available

  • No DNS configuration screen. ShortPen manages DNS for included .link domains.
  • No delete button. Included .link domains can be disabled, not removed.
  • No premium names.
  • The name is permanent in practice. It’s a real registered domain, so choose carefully. Contact support if you need to change it.

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Troubleshooting

Check that your organization is on an annual paid plan. If it is, you may have reached your plan’s custom domain limit, which shows as “Custom domains limit reached”. Removing an unused domain frees the slot.
Another ShortPen account is already using that name. Choose a different one, or pick one of the suggested alternatives.
The name was registered between your search and your claim. Search again and pick another name.
Domain names can be up to 63 characters. Shorten the name and try again.
Registration takes some time. You’ll get a confirmation email when the domain is ready. If it doesn’t appear after that, contact support.

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FAQ

No. It’s included in annual subscriptions and renews free every year while the plan is active.
Annual subscriptions. Monthly plans and lifetime plans don’t include it. Switching to annual unlocks it straight away.
One per organization. For more domains, connect your own or move to a higher plan.
Yes. Use Connect domain on the Domains page. That path uses DNS records and takes a few minutes.
Registering a domain legally requires registrant contact details. They go to the domain registry, not to marketing.
It’s a real registered domain, so choose carefully. Contact support for changes.