How to move from Bitly to rdyrct
Moving from Bitly starts with knowing which URLs you can keep. Links on bit.ly remain under Bitly's control. You cannot recreate those addresses in rdyrct. Links on a custom domain you own may be transferable, but only after you recreate the required paths and test the redirects.
Keep the existing service available until you have checked the links people still use. Changing providers does not automatically move old QR codes, click history, or published links.
Save your link inventory
List each short URL, its destination, its title, and where you have published it. Include printed QR codes, email templates, social profiles, and campaign documents.
Bitly offers CSV export on eligible plans. Its export instructions explain how to select links and download the report. Check your account's current export options rather than assuming every plan includes them.
Save the destination URLs exactly, including query parameters. Keep a separate copy of any historical analytics you need. Those records will not become historical rdyrct clicks.
Which links can you keep?
| Existing address | What happens when you move |
|---|---|
A link on bit.ly | Create a new rdyrct address and update places where you can edit the old link. The old address still depends on Bitly. |
| A link on a custom domain you own | Recreate its path and destination before changing DNS. Confirm rdyrct accepts every path you need. |
A printed QR code containing a bit.ly URL | The code continues to use Bitly. A new destination service does not change the printed pattern. |
| A printed QR code containing your own custom-domain URL | It can keep working if the same hostname and path redirect correctly after the move. |
Domain ownership alone is not enough: the paths must match too. Check for reserved words, unsupported paths, and conflicts before switching a live domain.
Create and test links in rdyrct
- Create your account. Start with a few test links. The free plan supports 30 links on the shared domain.
- Choose the domain. Custom domains are a paid feature. If you use the shared domain, rdyrct generates random slugs, so they will not match your old Bitly paths.
- Add the destination and title. For a custom domain, enter the matching slug where it is valid and available.
- Test the result. Confirm the exact destination, its query parameters, and any further redirects. Open it on a phone as well as a desktop.
rdyrct currently has no CSV import screen. You can create links in the app or use the API to build a migration script from your mappings. Review the current link and domain limits before choosing a plan.
Branded links on your own domain start at $4 a month. See the plans and limits.
Switch a custom domain carefully
Follow the branded short-link setup guide. rdyrct shows the CNAME target in Domains and checks DNS before issuing the certificate. Wait for the domain to become active, and allow for a transition period while DNS and HTTPS settle.
If you are moving a domain already used by Bitly, plan for possible interruption during activation. A separate test hostname lets you check the setup first, but it does not prove every production path has been recreated.
Keep a copy of the previous DNS record so you can restore it if needed. Do not close the old account or remove its links while you are still checking the move.
Check the published links
- Test your busiest links and every URL printed on physical materials.
- Scan the original QR images, not just newly generated replacements.
- Check links with UTM parameters and fragments.
- Update editable placements that still use
bit.ly. - Keep monitoring the old service for links you missed.
rdyrct records country, referrer, device, and timestamp for visits without storing visitor IP addresses. Redirect counts are not necessarily unique people, and the old provider's history stays separate.
Common questions
Can rdyrct take over my bit.ly links?
No. Bitly owns that domain. You can replace those links where you control the content, but you cannot make rdyrct serve the original addresses.
Will my old QR codes still work?
They still open whatever URL is stored in the pattern. If that is a Bitly URL, it depends on Bitly. If it is your own domain, preserve the exact address and verify its redirect after the move.
Can I import my Bitly click history?
No. Keep exported reports separately. rdyrct starts collecting its own visit data when the new links are used.
Create a test account, or read the API documentation before planning a larger move.