short.io
Use short.io generated shortlinks for all your WordPress posts and pages, including custom post types.
Consider an alternative
short.io shows warning signs in 2026 — compare the alternatives below before installing. It runs on 200+ sites, is rated 5/5 and was last updated 1 year ago, and scores 25/100 on our health check.
- Small user base (200+ active installs)
- Very few reviews so far
- No update in over a year
- Only tested up to WordPress 6.7 (latest is 7.1)
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 short.io stands todayWordPress.org search rankings
Live position in the plugin search, top 100| Keyword | Position |
|---|---|
| link | >100 |
| short | >100 |
| shortcm | #1 |
| shortlink | #52 |
| url | >100 |
Version adoption
Share of active sites per release.
Rating breakdown
★★★★★★★★★★ 5 from 1 reviews
About short.io
From the official readme · v2.4.2Description
WP-Short.io is the easiest way to generate short links for your WordPress posts. It is a timesaving integration since you don’t need to copy a long link and manually shorten it on Short.io.
Specify an API key (you’ll find it in your Short.io account), identify the post types to create short links for, and forget about it! WP-Short.io automatically shortens URLs for WordPress posts.
After you finish writing a striking post, share it with your friends on social media.
Now, instead of a long URL, a short and automatically generated link is already waiting for you. Just copy and send it!
Feature Requests are welcome via https://feedback.short.cm/
Installation
Add New Plugin
-
From the WordPress Dashboard, opt for Plugins > Add.
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Search for WP-Short.io in the search bar.
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Select Install > OK > Activate Plugin.
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This will return you to the WordPress Plugins page. Find WP-Short.io in the list and click Settings to configure.
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Enter your API key. For this, go to your Short.io account, choose “Integrations & API” and copy the API key!
Frequently asked questions
After installation, do I need to update all my posts for short links to be created?
No. The first time a shortlink is requested for a particular post, WP Short.io will automatically generate one.
What happens if I change a posts permalink?
WP Short.io will verify the shortlink when it’s requested and update as necessary all on its own.
Can I include the shortlink directly in a post?
Sure can! Just use our handy dandy shortcode [wpshortcm] and shazam! The shortcode accepts all the same arguments as the_shortlink(). You can also set “post_id” directly if you wish.
How do I include a shortlink using PHP?
(You don’t have to include the php comment, but you can if you want.)
Changelog
Minor fixes, including a typo in the main callback. Also disables previously generated shortlinks after the fact for unselected post types.
2.4.2
- Security fix: Properly escape external API data to prevent XSS vulnerabilities
2.4.1
- Previous stable release
1.0.1
- API URL updated
1.0.0
- Initial release
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.
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FAQ
short.io: quick answers
Straight answers, pulled from live WordPress.org data.
Live data from WordPress.org · checked Oct 1, 2026
Is short.io free?
Yes. short.io is free to download and use from the official WordPress.org plugin directory.
Is short.io safe to use in 2026?
short.io shows warning signs in 2026 — compare the alternatives below before installing. It runs on 200+ sites, is rated 5/5 and was last updated 1 year ago, and scores 25/100 on our health check.
How many websites use short.io?
short.io is active on 200+ WordPress websites and has been downloaded 5,899 times since it launched in June 2016. It was downloaded 119 times in the last 30 days.
Does short.io work with WordPress 7.1?
short.io is officially tested up to WordPress 6.7.9, while the latest release is 7.1.2. It may still work, but try it on a staging site first.
When was short.io last updated?
The latest version, 2.4.2, was released on September 16, 2025 (1 year ago).
Who makes short.io?
short.io is developed and maintained by gugu.
What are the best alternatives to short.io?
The most popular alternatives to short.io are Custom Post Type Permalinks (200K+ installs), Page Links To (100K+ installs) and Custom Permalinks (100K+ installs).
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