is.gd — Free URL Shortener API (No Key)

TL;DR

is.gd provides a dead-simple URL shortening API that takes any long URL and returns a compact is.gd short link. Just pass a URL as a query parameter and choose your output format (simple text, JSON, or XML). No registration, no API keys, no OAuth. It also supports custom short URL aliases and optional link statistics. Perfect for social media sharing, SMS links, and any scenario requiring compact URLs.

Quick start: https://is.gd/create.php?format=simple&url=https://www.example.com

No API key needed — just make a request!

How to Use This API

1. Shorten a URL (Simple Text Output)

https://is.gd/create.php?format=simple&url=https://www.example.com

Returns just the short URL as plain text: https://is.gd/abc123

2. Shorten with Custom Alias

https://is.gd/create.php?format=simple&url=https://www.example.com&shorturl=myalias

3. JavaScript — Create Short Links

async function shorten(url) {
  const resp = await fetch(
    'https://is.gd/create.php?format=json&url=' +
    encodeURIComponent(url)
  );
  const data = await resp.json();
  return data.shorturl;
}

shorten('https://very-long-url.com/page?with=params')
  .then(short => console.log('Short URL:', short));

4. Python — Bulk Shortener

import requests

urls = [
    'https://github.com/opencode-ai/opencode',
    'https://free-api-explorer.pages.dev',
    'https://example.com'
]

for url in urls:
    resp = requests.get(
        'https://is.gd/create.php',
        params={'format': 'json', 'url': url}
    ).json()
    print(f"{url} -> {resp['shorturl']}")

Shorten example.com: https://is.gd/create.php?format=simple&url=https://www.example.com

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Frequently Asked Questions

What output formats does is.gd support?: Use format=simple for plain text, format=json for JSON (returns {"shorturl": "..."}), or format=xml for XML output.
Can I use custom short URLs?: Yes, add &shorturl=yourchoice to the request. The custom alias must be available (not already taken) and meet is.gd's length requirements.
Is there a rate limit?: is.gd doesn't publish strict rate limits but asks users to be reasonable. For high-volume needs, consider their affiliate program.
Does is.gd provide link statistics?: Yes, add &logstats=1 to enable basic click tracking. Note that stats are limited and not as detailed as dedicated analytics platforms.
Are the short links permanent?: Yes, is.gd short links do not expire as long as they receive at least one click every 12 months. Inactive links may be recycled.
Can I check where a short URL redirects?: Use the https://is.gd/forward.php?shorturl=abc123&format=simple endpoint to see the destination URL without following the redirect.

API Details

API URL: https://is.gd/create.php
Documentation: is.gd/api.php
Category: Utility
Authentication: Not Required
Geographic Coverage: Global

What You Can Build

Social media post scheduler that automatically shortens shared links
SMS marketing tool that converts long URLs to compact short links
URL management dashboard with custom aliases for brand consistency
Email campaign builder that shortens tracking links before sending
API wrapper service that adds custom analytics to is.gd shortened URLs