Why You Need a Custom URL Shortener for Your SaaS: Complete Guide

Source: Dev.to

The Problem

Most URL shorteners (e.g., Bitly, TinyURL) lack the analytics, customization, and branding features that developers and SaaS businesses need. You want full control over your brand and detailed insights into link performance.

Features of a Custom URL Shortener

• Full control over your brand
• Detailed analytics (clicks, referrers, geographic data)
• Custom domains
• QR code generation
• Team collaboration features

Why Choose This Solution

• Fast, modern deployment – one‑click deployment on Vercel, perfect for building interactive dashboards and UI components.
• Serverless and scalable – built directly into a Next.js app, eliminating the need for separate backend infrastructure.
• Reliable relational storage – PostgreSQL (or MongoDB) stores analytics data, tracking every click, referrer, and geographic detail.

Stripe Integration

A one‑line integration handles subscription management, allowing users to upgrade to premium tiers easily.

Real‑World Examples

Companies such as Zapier, Discord, and Slack use custom URL shorteners. A custom shortener helps them:

• Maintain brand consistency across all shared links
• Gain valuable analytics on user behavior
• Track marketing campaign performance
• Own their data
• Scale with their business

Recommended Tech Stack

• Database: PostgreSQL for relational analytics data (MongoDB is an alternative for flexible storage).
• Hosting & Deployment: Vercel for serverless functions and automatic GitHub deployments.
• Payments: Stripe for subscription and payment processing.

Resources

• GitHub repository:
• Learn more about Vercel: