Head-to-head · October 2026
BetterLinks vs Custom Link Shortener
BetterLinks comes out ahead, winning 6 of 6 head-to-head checks against Custom Link Shortener.
BetterLinks
BetterLinks is the complete link management plugin for WordPress. Turn long, ugly URLs into short, branded…
Custom Link Shortener
Custom Link Shortener is a lightweight URL management, keyword auto-linking, and deep-dive analytics engine…
| Metric | BetterLinks | Custom Link Shortener |
|---|---|---|
| Active installs | 20K+ | 10+ |
| Downloads (30 days) | 19K | 79 |
| Download trend | -42.1% | -45.5% |
| Rating | 4.8/5 | — |
| Reviews | 85 | 0 |
| Health score | 93/100 | 62/100 |
| Last updated | 3 weeks ago | 1 month ago |
| Tested up to | WP 7.1.3 | WP 7.1.3 |
| Support resolved | 100% | — |
| Requires PHP | 7.4+ | 7.4+ |
| First released | Jan 2021 | Jun 2025 |
Daily downloads, last 90 days
BetterLinksCustom Link Shortener
Choose BetterLinks if…
You care most about active installs, downloads (30 days) and download trend.
- Proven at scale on 20K+ active sites
- Loved by users — 4.8/5 from 85 reviews
- Actively developed — last update 3 weeks ago
- Tested with the latest WordPress (7.1)
Choose Custom Link Shortener if…
You prefer its feature set and workflow — it holds its own on the fundamentals.
- Tested with the latest WordPress (7.1)
- Small user base (10+ active installs)
- Very few reviews so far
Both compete in: affiliate links url shortener
FAQ
BetterLinks vs Custom Link Shortener: quick answers
Straight answers, pulled from live WordPress.org data.
Live data from WordPress.org · checked Oct 13, 2026
Which is better, BetterLinks or Custom Link Shortener?
BetterLinks comes out ahead, winning 6 of 6 head-to-head checks against Custom Link Shortener. Choose BetterLinks if you care most about active installs, downloads (30 days) and download trend.
Is BetterLinks more popular than Custom Link Shortener?
BetterLinks is the more popular of the two with 20K+ active installs, compared with 10+ for Custom Link Shortener.
Can I use BetterLinks and Custom Link Shortener together?
Both plugins cover affiliate links and url shortener, so most sites only need one. Running two plugins that do the same job can cause conflicts and slow your site down — pick the one that fits best and remove the other.
Are BetterLinks and Custom Link Shortener free?
Yes. Both are free to download from the official WordPress.org plugin directory. Either may also offer paid upgrades from its developer.
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