Free .link Domain, Included with Every Annual ShortPen Plan

Today we're announcing a partnership with Nova Registry, the operator of the .link top-level domain.

Here's what it means: every annual ShortPen plan now includes a free .link domain.

We register it. We connect it. It renews free every year while your plan is active.

No registrar account. No DNS records. No waiting on propagation. You pick a name, and about a minute later you own a branded domain built for links.

Why we did this

Branded links work. They tell people where a link goes before they tap it, they carry your name through every channel you don't control, and they get clicked more than a generic shortener URL.

Almost nobody sets one up.

The reason is always the same. You have to find a registrar, create an account, pay, hunt for the DNS panel, add a CNAME, add a TXT record for verification, wait, then come back and hope it verified. Seven steps, six of which have nothing to do with marketing.

Most people quit at the DNS panel, usually at a registrar they set up years ago and can't remember the password for.

That's the real cost of a branded domain, and it was never about the money.

So we removed it. Every step of it.

What's included

• One free .link domain on every annual plan

• Registered and connected by us. There is nothing to configure

• Free renewal every year while your annual plan is active

• Included in the plan price. It's not an add-on and there's no upsell attached

• Names up to 63 characters, using letters, numbers and hyphens

One domain per organization.

Claiming it takes about a minute

Head to Settings → Organization → Domains. You'll see a banner at the top with a Claim domain button.

To learn more about the .link domain configuration → See the documentation page.

Pick your name

Type what you want. ShortPen checks availability live as you type. Short brand names on .link move fast, so if yours is gone you'll get available alternatives to choose from on the spot.

Add your contact details

Domain registration legally requires registrant details: name, email, address, country and phone. That's a registry rule, and the information goes to the domain registry rather than into any marketing list.

Get it right the first time, since inaccurate details put the registration itself at risk.

Done

That's the whole flow. We register the domain and connect it for you. You'll get a confirmation email the moment it goes live.

What happens after it's live

Your domain shows up in the Domains list with an Included .link domain badge and appears in the domain dropdown every time you build a link.

From there it behaves like any custom domain in ShortPen, which means every link on it gets the full picture:

Click analytics. Clicks over time, referrers, devices, browsers and locations, in real time.

Dynamic QR codes. Every link can become a QR code, and every QR code in ShortPen is dynamic by default. Scans are tracked separately from clicks, so print and digital never blur together.

Post-click conversions. Install the ShortPen Pixel once, create events from the dashboard, and attribute signups, purchases or any custom action back to the exact branded link that drove it.

Clean organization. Group your .link campaigns into workspaces and folders instead of scrolling one endless list.

API access. Generate branded links on your new domain programmatically through the ShortPen API, on any paid plan.

Already own a domain?

Then keep using it. Connect domain is still right there on the same page, and the CNAME plus TXT flow works exactly as it always has.

Worth keeping the two straight: the custom domain slot in your plan connects a domain you already own. The free .link domain is one we buy and register for you. Different paths, same page, and you can use both.

Who gets it

The free .link domain is included with annual subscriptions.

On a monthly plan? Switching to annual unlocks it immediately, and annual pricing works out cheaper across the year. The domain is the bonus.

On the free plan? Unlimited links, unlimited QR codes and unlimited clicks are yours already. Paid plans come with a 14-day trial, and moving to an annual plan is what unlocks the domain.

Why .link

.link was delegated in ICANN's 2012 new gTLD round and went live in January 2014.

We picked it because it explains itself. yourbrand.link reads as exactly what it is before anyone clicks it, which is the entire point of a branded short link.

FAQ

Does it cost anything?

No. It's included in annual subscriptions and renews free every year while the plan is active.

Which plans include it?

Annual subscriptions. Monthly plans don't include it. Switching to annual unlocks it straight away.

Can I get more than one?

One per organization. For more domains, connect your own or move to a higher plan.

Can I use my own domain instead?

Yes, through Connect domain. That path uses DNS records and takes a few minutes.

Why do you need my address and phone number?

Registering a domain legally requires registrant contact details. They go to the domain registry, not to marketing.

Can I change the name later?

It's a real registered domain, so choose carefully. Contact support for changes.

I claimed it but I can't see it yet.

Registration takes a little time. You'll get a confirmation email when it's ready. If it doesn't show up, contact support.

Do my links break if I turn the domain off?

Yes. Disabling the domain stops the domain and every link on it until you re-enable it.

Is my .link domain different from the custom domain slot in my plan?

Yes. The custom domain slot lets you connect a domain you already own. The free .link domain is one we register for you.

Go claim it

If you're on an annual plan, your domain is sitting in Settings → Organization → Domains waiting for a name. Good ones go fast, so it's worth doing before someone else takes the one you want.

If you're not on annual yet, this is the easiest reason we've ever given you to switch.

To learn more about the .link domain configuration → See the documentation page.