Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers about GoTo.now. For step-by-step walkthroughs, the Help Center goes deeper on every topic here.
The basics
What is GoTo.now?
A free URL shortener and QR code platform. Paste a long link, get a clean goto.now link that never expires, comes with a styled QR code, and privately counts every click for you.
Is it really free?
Yes - Everything: shortening, custom back-halves, QR codes with unlimited scans, editing destinations and private analytics. There's no premium tier holding anything back right now, and no watermarks anywhere. The feature list shows everything included.
Do I need an account?
Not to shorten a link. An account (free, or one click with Google) adds a permanent link history, custom back-halves, editable destinations and your private analytics dashboard.
Do links expire?
Never. A link you print on packaging today still redirects years from now. See do links expire? for the fine print.
Links
Can I customize what comes after goto.now/?
Yes - Sign in and set a custom back-half like goto.now/spring-menu on any new link, free. Letters, numbers, hyphens and underscores, 3–60 characters.
Can I change where a link points after sharing it?
Yes, any time, from your dashboard - The short link stays the same while the destination changes, so old posts and printed codes all follow. This is the feature everything else is built on.
How many links can I create?
Guests: 5 per minute (abuse protection). Account holders get comfortable everyday limits, and the API covers bulk needs.
Someone sent me a goto.now link - Is it safe to click?
Check first: the link checker reveals the destination without visiting it, or add /p/ before the code (goto.now/p/abc12) for a full preview page. If a destination looks malicious, report it.
QR codes
Are the QR codes free too?
Yes - Custom colors, an optional center logo, PNG and print-grade SVG downloads, unlimited scans, no watermark.
Can I change a QR code after printing it?
Yes. Codes encode your short link, so re-pointing the link updates every printed code instantly. Laminate once, update forever.
Why won't my code scan?
Almost always size, contrast or margin. The help center's troubleshooting checklist fixes nearly every case.
Statistics
What can I see about my links?
Per link: total clicks and scans, humans vs bots, a 30-day daily chart, top sources, countries, devices and browsers - Updating within seconds.
Can other people see my numbers?
No. Statistics are private to the link's owner, behind your login. Destinations are publicly verifiable; performance data is yours alone.
What do you record about people who click?
Standard request data only - Time, referrer, browser, coarse IP-based location - Used in aggregate for your stats. No tracking cookies on the redirect, ever. Details in the Privacy Policy.
Account
I forgot my password.
If your email is a Google account, just use Sign in with Google - Same account. Otherwise contact support from the account's email for a fast reset.
How do I change my password?
Dashboard → Settings → Security. Current password required.
How do I delete my account?
Email support from the account address. Note that your short links keep redirecting so your audience never hits dead ends - Ask us explicitly if specific links should be disabled too.
For developers
Is there an API?
Yes - The platform exposes a REST API v3. Create, edit and track links with simple JSON; QR codes are a plain GET. Start at the developer quickstart and request a key.
Can I migrate links from another shortener?
Yes - Bulk import via the API preserves destinations, and findIfExists keeps re-runs safe. For large migrations, talk to us and we'll help plan slugs.
Pricing and the free plan
Will GoTo.now start charging me later?
The core promise is that nothing you rely on today gets paywalled. If premium tiers arrive, they'll cover high-volume API and team features - Your existing links, codes and stats stay free and untouched.
Are there watermarks or branding on QR codes?
No. Downloads are clean PNG or SVG with only your chosen design - Nothing stamped on them.
Is there a limit on clicks or scans?
No. A link can take ten clicks or ten million; scans and clicks are never throttled or billed.
Comparisons
How is this different from Bitly?
The full comparison lives on our Bitly alternative page. Same core job with different trade-offs: on GoTo.now custom back-halves, editable destinations, styled QR codes and full analytics are free rather than plan-gated, links never expire, and click statistics are private by default. Bitly's paid tiers add things we don't offer today, like custom domains on their infrastructure.
How is this different from TinyURL?
See the side-by-side on the TinyURL alternative page. TinyURL is great for a quick anonymous link. GoTo.now adds the campaign layer on top for free: a dashboard of your link history, real-time private analytics, editable destinations and QR codes designed for print.
I'm moving from goo.gl or another dead shortener - Can I bulk migrate?
Yes. The API's findIfExists creation makes bulk imports safe to re-run, and custom back-halves let you preserve meaningful slugs. For thousands of links, contact us and we'll help plan the migration.
Troubleshooting
My link says it already exists - Why?
When you shorten the same destination twice without a custom back-half, we return the existing link instead of minting a duplicate. That keeps your stats in one place. Want a separate link for a different channel? Give it a custom back-half or add a UTM parameter to the destination.
My QR code prints blurry.
You've probably scaled a small PNG. Re-download at a larger size, or better, use the SVG which stays sharp at any print size.
The stats seem to show clicks I didn't expect.
Social platforms and messengers pre-fetch links to build previews - Those show up as bots and are counted separately from humans, so read the human number for real engagement.
A destination I linked to went offline. What do I do?
Edit the link's destination in your dashboard - The short link keeps working while you point it somewhere alive. This is exactly the failure mode short links solve.
Trust and safety
How do you stop scammers using goto.now?
Destination scanning, creation-pattern signals and human review of every report to [email protected]. Confirmed malicious links are disabled platform-wide instantly, and the public link checker lets anyone verify a destination before clicking.
Can I see who exactly clicked my link?
No - And that's deliberate. You get aggregate analytics (counts, sources, countries, devices), never personal identities. It keeps your audience's trust and keeps you clear of privacy law headaches.
Where is my data stored and who can access it?
On our production infrastructure with least-privilege access; passwords only as salted hashes. The Privacy Policy details retention windows and your rights, including deletion.