Everything you need to get going
Guides, answers and background on how URL BOT keeps your links fast and your analytics clean.
Last reviewed September 15, 2026 · Bot Shield click-fraud protection on every plan, including Free.
On this page
- Guides
- FAQ
- How Bot Shield works
- Getting started
Guides to cleaner links & campaigns
Practical, plain-English reads on bot detection, campaign tracking and branded links.
How click-bot detection works (and why raw click counts lie)
Why unfiltered click counts overstate traffic, the signals a filter scores, and how Bot Shield removes bots before analytics are recorded.
UTM parameters for beginners: track every campaign click
The five UTM tags explained, a naming convention that stays consistent, and how to build tagged links fast with the free UTM builder.
Custom domains and free SSL for your short links
Why branded domains lift trust, how DNS verification works, how free SSL is handled for you, and which plans include custom domains.
Find the page for your use case
Start from your audience, then see how URL BOT compares to the shortener you already know.
URL shortener for affiliate marketing
Cloak, track and protect every offer link with click-fraud protection.
Short links with bot protection
Keep paid-traffic click data clean and defensible.
Clean link analytics for agencies
Bot-filtered numbers your clients can trust in reports.
URL BOT vs Bitly
The same short-link essentials, with click-fraud protection built in.
URL BOT vs Dub
Modern link analytics, with bots filtered out before your stats.
URL BOT vs Rebrandly
Branded custom-domain links, plus analytics that ignore bots.
No-signup tools to start with
Use these free, then wrap the result in a protected short link for bot-filtered analytics.
How Bot Shield works
Every visit to a short link passes through Bot Shield before the redirect happens. Each request is scored on a range of signals — known bot user agents, VPN and datacenter IP ranges, request rate and reputation. Requests that cross your configured threshold are blocked and logged, while genuine visitors are redirected in milliseconds.
Because filtering happens before analytics are recorded, your click counts reflect real people — not scrapers or crawlers. You can review every blocked request and tune the threshold from the Shield dashboard.
| Signal scored on every visit | Example | What Bot Shield does |
|---|---|---|
| User agent | Known bot & headless-browser fingerprints | Blocked & logged before redirect |
| IP reputation | Datacenter & VPN ranges | Filtered out of analytics |
| Request velocity | Rates no human could produce | Rate-limited & blocked |
| Threat lists | Addresses seen abusing links | Blocked, with IP / range blocking |
Illustrative summary of the signal categories Bot Shield weighs. Thresholds are configurable, and whitelisted partners are always allowed through.
Ship your first link
- 1Create an account. Sign up free — no credit card required.
- 2Add a destination. Paste any URL and choose a custom alias, or let us generate one.
- 3Share and track. Share your short link and watch verified clicks roll in live.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a free plan?
Yes. The Free plan lets you create and track links with no credit card. Upgrade any time as your volume grows.
How are clicks counted?
Only verified visits are counted. Bots, VPNs and datacenter traffic are filtered out by Bot Shield before analytics are recorded.
Can I use my own domain?
Yes — links are served from your own domain with custom back-halves, so every link stays on-brand.
Is my data private?
URL BOT is self-hosted, so your links and analytics live entirely on your own infrastructure. See our Privacy Policy for details.
Short links that count real people
Create your first protected link free — Bot Shield included. Pro at $9/mo, Business at $29/mo.