What is refer.is and what does it do?

refer.is is a link management tool that turns long URLs into short, branded links, generates a QR code for each link, and tracks how those links perform. It fits affiliate marketers, creators, and campaign owners who share links across channels and want to know which ones get clicked. The free tier includes 1,000 tracked clicks and unlimited redirects per month, with no credit card required.

Core capabilities

The homepage groups the product into four main jobs:

• Branded links — Short, memorable URLs for affiliates, creators, and campaigns. The example on the site shows a long Amazon affiliate URL (amazon.com/dp/B0C8J1QXKR/ref=sr_1_3?tag=affiliate-21) reduced to refer.is/deal.
• QR codes — Every link can get a QR code for flyers, posters, and events.
• Browser extension — Shorten any page without leaving the tab you are on.
• Custom domains — Put links on your own domain so people trust the click. The site shows domain states as Verified or Pending.

Click analytics

Analytics is the part that separates refer.is from a plain URL shortener. The dashboard reports:

The stated purpose is to see which campaigns and channels drive clicks in real time, and where your audience is.

Building on refer.is

For developers, refer.is exposes an API. The documented example creates a link:

POST https://api.refer.is/v1/links
{
  "url": "https://example.com",
  "domain": "refer.is"
}

A 201 Created response returns a short link such as refer.is/x7Kp. Integrations with Zapier, Make, n8n, and Slack, plus MCP support for AI agents like Claude, Cursor, and Codex, are listed as coming soon — not yet available.

Who it is for

• Affiliate marketers — Replace long tracking URLs with a branded short link and see which placements convert.
• Creators — One memorable link per campaign (refer.is/podcast, refer.is/newsletter) with click counts attached.
• Event and campaign teams — A QR code per link for print materials, plus country and browser breakdowns.

What to check before committing

• The free tier covers 1,000 tracked clicks and unlimited redirects monthly; pricing for higher volumes is listed on the pricing page rather than the homepage.
• Integrations and MCP are marked "coming soon," so don't plan a workflow around them yet.
• Custom domains require verification, and the site shows a Pending state — expect a setup step before links go live on your own domain.