Google URL Shortener: gone. Here's the free replacement.
Google shut down goo.gl on August 25, 2025 — every shortened link now returns a 404, and Firebase Dynamic Links (its "official" successor) died the same day. Pageloot is the free replacement: shorten any URL into a short pageloot.com/s/ link, get a QR code, and track your clicks.
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What happened to the Google URL Shortener?
The Google URL Shortener (goo.gl) is permanently shut down. Google launched it in 2009, stopped letting anyone create new links in 2019, and on August 25, 2025 turned off the redirect servers entirely. Any link in the form goo.gl/xxxx now returns a 404 error instead of going anywhere.
There's no official Google replacement. Google pointed developers to Firebase Dynamic Links back in 2018 — but that service was discontinued on the same day, August 25, 2025. So if you're searching for "Google URL shortener," the tool you're looking for no longer exists, and neither does its successor.
What to use instead of goo.gl
Use a dedicated URL shortener. Pageloot does everything goo.gl did — turn a long link into a short, shareable one — plus the things goo.gl never offered: a QR code for every link, click tracking, and, on paid plans, editable links, detailed analytics, and a white-label short domain.
goo.gl (discontinued)
Shortened a URL. Basic click count. No QR codes. No way to edit a link after sharing it. No custom domain. Shut down in 2025 — all links dead.
Pageloot (free)
Shortens any URL into a pageloot.com/s/ link, generates a QR code automatically, and tracks clicks. On paid plans you can edit where a link points after sharing, see detailed analytics, and use a white-label short domain (qrcd.ee). Still here.
QR code with every link
Every short link comes with a downloadable QR code, so the same link works online and in print. goo.gl never did this.
Editable links PAID
Change where a short link points anytime — the link and its QR code stay the same. No reprinting, no resharing.
Click analytics
Track clicks on every link. Free shows basic stats; paid adds detailed location, device, and time data.
How to shorten a URL with Pageloot
Three steps, and unlike goo.gl it won't shut down on you:
- Paste your long URL — drop any web address into the URL shortener. A Google Maps link, a Google Form, a product page, anything.
- Shorten it — click Shorten and you get a
pageloot.com/s/short link instantly, with a matching QR code. - Share and track — copy the link, share it anywhere, and see your click stats.
On a paid plan you can also edit the destination later, see detailed analytics (location, device, time), and use the white-label qrcd.ee short domain instead of the default.
Pageloot vs the old Google URL Shortener
What goo.gl could and couldn't do, next to what you get now:
| Feature | goo.gl (gone) | Pageloot |
|---|---|---|
| Still works in 2026 | ✕ Shut down | ✓ Yes |
| Shorten a URL | ✓ | ✓ |
| QR code per link | ✕ | ✓ Automatic |
| Edit destination after sharing | ✕ | ⚠Paid |
| White-label short domain | ✕ | ⚠Paid (qrcd.ee) |
| Click analytics | ⚠Basic count | ✓ Basic free, detailed paid |
| Price | Free (defunct) | Free to start |
Already have goo.gl links? Here's how to replace them
You can't recover or transfer a goo.gl link — once Google turned off the servers, the redirect is gone and there's no way to reactivate it. But replacing it is quick:
- Find the original destination. If you still know where a goo.gl link pointed, you're set. If not, check old emails, docs, or analytics for the full URL.
- Create a new short link in Pageloot pointing to that same destination.
- Swap it into your materials. Update the link anywhere it's live — bios, emails, websites. For anything already printed, use the new link's QR code or reprint during your next natural cycle.
Who needs a Google URL shortener replacement
- Marketers — shorten campaign links, add UTM tags, and track clicks across channels. → URL shortener
- Social media — clean links for bios and posts on Instagram, X/Twitter, and LinkedIn.
- Developers — who relied on goo.gl or Firebase Dynamic Links and need a stable replacement with an API on the roadmap.
- Print & QR — pair every short link with its QR code for offline use. → QR code generator
- Anyone with dead goo.gl links — replace them once and use editable links so it never happens again.
Frequently asked questions
Shorten your first link free
The goo.gl replacement that does more — a QR code and click tracking on every link, free. No credit card required.
Shorten a link → See plans →No. goo.gl shut down on August 25, 2025 and all its links now return a 404 error. New links stopped in 2019, and Firebase Dynamic Links — Google’s official replacement — was discontinued the same day. There is no current Google URL shortener.
Nothing official from Google. To shorten links now you need a dedicated tool. Pageloot is a free replacement: shorten any URL, get a QR code with every link, and track clicks. On a paid Pageloot plan you can also edit links and see detailed analytics.
No. As of August 25, 2025, goo.gl links return a 404 and can’t be reactivated. The one exception is short links generated by Google’s own apps, like Google Maps location links, which may still work.
Yes. Pageloot’s URL shortener is free — unlimited links, basic click stats, and a QR code on every link. A paid Pageloot plan adds editable links, detailed analytics, and a white-label short domain.
Copy the long Google URL, paste it into Pageloot’s URL shortener, and click Shorten. You’ll get a short link plus a QR code. On a paid plan you can edit the destination later if the form or map changes.
Yes. You can add your own keyword to the short link (for example pageloot.com/s/my-form) for free. Custom (your-own) domains aren’t supported yet; paid plans include a white-label short domain (qrcd.ee).
No, there’s no way to restore a goo.gl link. Recreate it as a new short link pointing to the same destination, then swap it into your bios, emails, and printed materials.
Yes, and more. Every Pageloot link shows basic click stats for free; a paid plan adds detailed location, device, and time data — more than goo.gl ever offered.
Shorten your first link free
The goo.gl replacement that does more — a QR code and click tracking on every link, free. No credit card required.
Shorten a link → See plans →Pageloot is a link and QR code platform used by 20,000+ brands across 110 countries. goo.gl shutdown details are based on Google's own developer announcements: new link creation ended in 2019 and the redirect service was turned off on August 25, 2025, after which goo.gl links return a 404. Firebase Dynamic Links was discontinued on the same date. Short links generated by Google's own apps may continue to work. Google, goo.gl, and Firebase are trademarks of Google LLC; Pageloot is not affiliated with or endorsed by Google.
