CleanLinks
Create branded short links, manage redirects, cloak affiliate URLs, and export links via CSV – all from your WordPress dashboard.
Solid choice
CleanLinks is a solid plugin choice in 2026, with a few things worth checking first. Was last updated 3 weeks ago, and scores 64/100 on our health check.
- Actively developed — last update 3 weeks ago
- Tested with the latest WordPress (7.1)
- Small user base (<10 active installs)
- Very few reviews so far
- Needs PHP 8.1 or newer
How does it stack up?
Side-by-side on installs, updates, ratings & support
Daily downloads
Download spikes usually follow a new release — each site that auto-updates counts as a download.
Rankings
Where CleanLinks stands todayWordPress.org search rankings
Live position in the plugin search, top 100| Keyword | Position |
|---|---|
| affiliate links | >100 |
| link branding | >100 |
| link cloaking | #41 |
| link shortener | #85 |
| redirect manager | >100 |
About CleanLinks
From the official readme · v1.1.1Description
CleanLinks is your all-in-one solution for creating branded, customizable short links directly within WordPress. Whether you’re managing affiliate campaigns, simplifying external URLs, or just looking for a professional way to share links, CleanLinks makes it easy.
Designed to be lightweight yet powerful, CleanLinks lets you create 301 and 302 redirects, track clicks, categorize links, and export all your links to CSV – with a single click.
Key Features
- Branded Short Links – Cloak long URLs under your own domain.
- CSV Export Tool – Export all your links in CSV format with one click for backup or reporting.
- Click Tracking – Optional built-in analytics to track link clicks.
- Organize Your Links – Group links with tags for easy management.
- SEO-Friendly – Compatible with SEO and caching plugins.
- Developer Friendly – Built using WordPress standards with hooks/filters.
Minimum Requirements
- WordPress 5.5 or higher
- PHP 8.0 or higher
- MySQL 5.5 or higher
Automatic Installation
- Go to your WordPress dashboard.
- Navigate to Plugins → Add New.
- Search for “CleanLinks”.
- Click “Install Now” and activate.
Manual Installation
- Download the CleanLinks plugin.
- Upload it to your
/wp-content/plugins/directory via FTP or File Manager. - Activate CleanLinks from the “Plugins” screen in your WordPress dashboard.
- Navigate to CleanLinks menu to start managing your branded links.
Frequently asked questions
Can I export all my links?
Yes! CleanLinks includes a simple Export tool that lets you download all your links in CSV format with a single click.
Does CleanLinks support affiliate links?
Absolutely. You can cloak affiliate links using 301 or 302 redirects and group them with tags for easy management.
Can I track clicks on my links?
Yes. Click tracking is available per link.
Is it compatible with caching and SEO plugins?
Yes, CleanLinks is fully compatible with popular caching and SEO plugins.
Changelog
Click tracking now records redirects only for published CleanLinks; draft and non-public links continue to avoid analytics side effects.
1.1.1
- Security Improvements: Neutralize spreadsheet formula-leading values in CSV exports and remediate Composer development-tool security advisories.
- Improved URL Handling: Reject malformed redirect URL values without fatal errors or unintended metadata changes.
- Bounded Export Cache Cleanup: Stream large CSV exports in bounded batches, clean page caches as they are processed, and remove temporary files on completion or failure.
- Click Counter Reliability: Update redirect click counters atomically and invalidate cached counts after clicks are recorded.
- Confirm compatibility through WordPress 7.1.
1.1.0
- Count redirect clicks only for published CleanLinks to avoid analytics changes for drafts and non-public links.
- Add WordPress.org icon and banner assets for the CleanLinks plugin listing.
- Confirm release metadata compatibility through WordPress 7.0.
1.0.3
- Update blueprint.json
1.0.2
- Update blueprint.json
1.0.1
- Update blueprint.json
1.0.0
- Initial release.
- Create and manage branded links.
- One-click export to CSV.
- Built-in click tracking.
- Lightweight and SEO-friendly.
For developers
Is this your plugin? Show off the numbers.
Add a live badge to your site, docs or GitHub README. It updates on its own — no account needed.
Best CleanLinks alternatives
All affiliate links plugins →
FAQ
CleanLinks: quick answers
Straight answers, pulled from live WordPress.org data.
Live data from WordPress.org · checked Sep 28, 2026
Is CleanLinks free?
Yes. CleanLinks is free to download and use from the official WordPress.org plugin directory.
Is CleanLinks safe to use in 2026?
CleanLinks is a solid plugin choice in 2026, with a few things worth checking first. Was last updated 3 weeks ago, and scores 64/100 on our health check.
How many websites use CleanLinks?
CleanLinks is active on <10 WordPress websites and has been downloaded 738 times since it launched in June 2025. It was downloaded 118 times in the last 30 days.
Does CleanLinks work with WordPress 7.1?
Yes. The developer has tested CleanLinks up to WordPress 7.1.2, the latest release. It requires WordPress 5.5 or newer.
What PHP version does CleanLinks need?
CleanLinks requires PHP 8.1 or higher. Most hosts run PHP 8.x today, so it works on any modern WordPress hosting.
When was CleanLinks last updated?
The latest version, 1.1.1, was released on September 10, 2026 (3 weeks ago).
Who makes CleanLinks?
CleanLinks is developed and maintained by Mehul Gohil.
What are the best alternatives to CleanLinks?
The most popular alternatives to CleanLinks are PrettyLinks (200K+ installs), ThirstyAffiliates (30K+ installs) and BetterLinks (20K+ installs).
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