https://blog.zipthe.link Field notes from the team building Zippy — in-app browsers, native-app deeplinks, links that never die, and an open-source redirect engine. First-hand, from the people shipping it. en https://blog.zipthe.link/manychat-links-in-app-browser https://blog.zipthe.link/manychat-links-in-app-browser Your comment-to-DM flow converts, then the link opens Instagram's in-app browser and the sale dies. Here's the two-minute fix — flat $19, unlimited clicks. The Zippy Team Fri, 17 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://blog.zipthe.link/links-that-never-expire https://blog.zipthe.link/links-that-never-expire Do short links expire? Not with Zippy. Your links redirect forever — on the free plan, after trials, after cancels. See the 3 rules of our permanence promise. The Zippy Team Sun, 12 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://blog.zipthe.link/zippy-is-open-source https://blog.zipthe.link/zippy-is-open-source The redirect engine that springs the real app instead of the in-app browser is AGPL on GitHub. Why we opened it, what's in the box, and how to self-host it. The Zippy Team Fri, 10 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://blog.zipthe.link/founding-hero-story https://blog.zipthe.link/founding-hero-story The Zippy Founding Hero deal gives the first 100 annual subscribers the full Hero plan at $99/yr, locked forever. What you get, what's guaranteed, and why. The Zippy Team Wed, 08 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://blog.zipthe.link/unlimited-clicks-pricing https://blog.zipthe.link/unlimited-clicks-pricing Most url shortener pricing meters your clicks. Zippy's $19/mo Hero plan gives you unlimited links and unlimited clicks, and your links never stop redirecting. The Zippy Team Thu, 02 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://blog.zipthe.link/zippy-vs-linktree https://blog.zipthe.link/zippy-vs-linktree Looking for a Linktree alternative? Compare bio pages vs app-opening links across 8 platforms and see which recovers the clicks you're losing. The Zippy Team Thu, 25 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://blog.zipthe.link/zippy-vs-bitly https://blog.zipthe.link/zippy-vs-bitly Looking for a Bitly alternative? Compare Zippy vs Bitly across 8 platforms: app-opening links, unlimited clicks, and links that never stop redirecting. The Zippy Team Thu, 25 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://blog.zipthe.link/how-the-redirect-engine-works https://blog.zipthe.link/how-the-redirect-engine-works URL shortener architecture, explained: how Zippy resolves redirects at 300+ Cloudflare edge locations with Workers and KV — and why your links never die. The Zippy Team Thu, 25 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://blog.zipthe.link/best-bitly-alternatives-creators https://blog.zipthe.link/best-bitly-alternatives-creators The 6 best Bitly alternatives for creators in 2026, compared on app-opening, click pricing, permanence, open source, and free tier — pick honestly. The Zippy Team Thu, 25 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://blog.zipthe.link/best-deep-linking-tools https://blog.zipthe.link/best-deep-linking-tools We rank the 5 best deep linking tools of 2026 — Zippy, URLgenius, Bitly, Dub, Linktree — so your links open native apps, not in-app browsers. The Zippy Team Tue, 23 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://blog.zipthe.link/bitly-deep-links-cost https://blog.zipthe.link/bitly-deep-links-cost Bitly deep links live on the ~$199/mo Premium tier. Compare 5 tools on app-opening, click pricing, permanence, and open source before you pay. The Zippy Team Thu, 18 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://blog.zipthe.link/self-host-zippy-cloudflare https://blog.zipthe.link/self-host-zippy-cloudflare Self-host url shortener guide: deploy Zippy's open-source redirect engine to Cloudflare Workers in 15 minutes, from clone to your own custom domain. The Zippy Team Wed, 17 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://blog.zipthe.link/zippy-vs-urlgenius https://blog.zipthe.link/zippy-vs-urlgenius Need a urlgenius alternative? Compare Zippy vs URLgenius across 8 platforms: deep linking, click limits, permanence, open source, and pricing. The Zippy Team Sun, 14 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://blog.zipthe.link/zippy-vs-dub https://blog.zipthe.link/zippy-vs-dub Looking for a dub.co alternative? We compare Zippy and Dub across 8 dimensions — deep links, pricing, permanence, open source — so you pick right. The Zippy Team Sun, 14 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://blog.zipthe.link/deep-linking-tools-compared https://blog.zipthe.link/deep-linking-tools-compared Deep linking tools compared across 7 options: native app-opening, click pricing, permanence, open source, and free tiers — so you pick the right one. The Zippy Team Sat, 13 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://blog.zipthe.link/whatsapp-deep-links-guide https://blog.zipthe.link/whatsapp-deep-links-guide WhatsApp deep links explained: how wa.me works, pre-filled messages, group invites, and 3 reasons your links break inside other apps. The Zippy Team Thu, 11 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://blog.zipthe.link/custom-domain-short-links https://blog.zipthe.link/custom-domain-short-links How to set up custom domain short links in about 10 minutes — DNS, verification, and why your links never stop redirecting, even after you cancel. The Zippy Team Mon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://blog.zipthe.link/22-apps-zippy-opens https://blog.zipthe.link/22-apps-zippy-opens See all 22 apps Zippy opens natively from inside social in-app browsers — the full platform list, how it works, and how it stacks up. The Zippy Team Sun, 07 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://blog.zipthe.link/do-you-need-branch-io https://blog.zipthe.link/do-you-need-branch-io Do I need Branch.io? Compare Branch, AppsFlyer, and 5 alternatives on deep linking, SDK requirements, click pricing, and who each tool is actually for. The Zippy Team Wed, 03 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://blog.zipthe.link/edit-links-after-posting https://blog.zipthe.link/edit-links-after-posting How to edit a link after posting: change the destination in seconds while every copy — bios, old posts, printed QR codes — follows. 3 steps, zero reposts. The Zippy Team Tue, 02 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://blog.zipthe.link/qr-codes-that-open-apps https://blog.zipthe.link/qr-codes-that-open-apps Learn how to make a QR code open an app directly on iOS and Android in 3 steps — no browser tab, no login wall, and links that never stop redirecting. The Zippy Team Thu, 28 May 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://blog.zipthe.link/reddit-deep-links-guide https://blog.zipthe.link/reddit-deep-links-guide Learn how reddit deep links open the native Reddit app instead of the in-app browser — iOS and Android behavior, fallbacks, and 3 ways to build them in 2026. The Zippy Team Tue, 26 May 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://blog.zipthe.link/best-urlgenius-alternatives https://blog.zipthe.link/best-urlgenius-alternatives Compare 6 URLgenius alternatives for native app-opening links: click pricing model, permanence, open source, and free tiers, ranked honestly. The Zippy Team Mon, 25 May 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://blog.zipthe.link/youtube-deep-links-guide https://blog.zipthe.link/youtube-deep-links-guide Learn how YouTube deep links open the native app instead of the in-app browser, so viewers stay signed in. Set one up free in under 2 minutes. The Zippy Team Wed, 20 May 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://blog.zipthe.link/x-twitter-deep-links-guide https://blog.zipthe.link/x-twitter-deep-links-guide Twitter deep links explained: how to open X profiles, posts, and DMs in the native app on iOS and Android, plus 3 ways to build links that survive. The Zippy Team Sun, 17 May 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://blog.zipthe.link/branch-appsflyer-for-creators https://blog.zipthe.link/branch-appsflyer-for-creators Need a branch.io alternative for creator links? Compare Zippy, Branch, and AppsFlyer across 5 factors: app-opening, click pricing, permanence, and OSS. The Zippy Team Sat, 16 May 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://blog.zipthe.link/product-hunt-deep-links-guide https://blog.zipthe.link/product-hunt-deep-links-guide How product hunt deep links open the native app on launch day, plus a 5-step setup so your voters land logged in instead of in the in-app browser. The Zippy Team Fri, 08 May 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://blog.zipthe.link/free-deep-link-tools https://blog.zipthe.link/free-deep-link-tools Compare 7 free deep link tools in 2026 across app-opening, click pricing, permanence, and open source. Find the right free deep link tool for creators. The Zippy Team Thu, 07 May 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://blog.zipthe.link/instagram-deep-links-guide https://blog.zipthe.link/instagram-deep-links-guide Instagram deep links open the native app instead of the in-app browser. Set yours up in 3 steps, with iOS and Android behavior explained for 2026. The Zippy Team Wed, 29 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://blog.zipthe.link/tiktok-deep-links-guide https://blog.zipthe.link/tiktok-deep-links-guide TikTok deep links open the native TikTok app instead of a browser tab. Learn how they work on iOS and Android and set one up in under 5 minutes. The Zippy Team Mon, 27 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://blog.zipthe.link/urlgenius-pricing-pay-per-click https://blog.zipthe.link/urlgenius-pricing-pay-per-click URLgenius pricing runs on a pay-per-click model near $0.02 a click. Compare it to Zippy's 3 flat plans where clicks are never metered. The Zippy Team Sun, 26 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://blog.zipthe.link/tools-open-native-app-instagram https://blog.zipthe.link/tools-open-native-app-instagram Want to open the app from Instagram, not the in-app browser? Compare 7 tools across app-opening, click pricing, permanence, and open source. The Zippy Team Wed, 22 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://blog.zipthe.link/linkedin-deep-links-guide https://blog.zipthe.link/linkedin-deep-links-guide How LinkedIn deep links open the native app on iOS and Android in 2026 — schemes, fallbacks, and 3 steps to stop losing your clicks to the in-app browser. The Zippy Team Sat, 18 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://blog.zipthe.link/escape-instagram-in-app-browser https://blog.zipthe.link/escape-instagram-in-app-browser Learn 4 ways to escape the Instagram in-app browser: the hidden menu, copy-paste, deep links, and QR codes that open the native app instead. The Zippy Team Tue, 14 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://blog.zipthe.link/affiliate-links-that-convert https://blog.zipthe.link/affiliate-links-that-convert Set up affiliate links that open native apps in 5 steps. An affiliate link setup guide for marketers losing clicks to in-app browsers. The Zippy Team Thu, 09 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://blog.zipthe.link/affiliate-links-in-app-browser https://blog.zipthe.link/affiliate-links-in-app-browser Affiliate links opened in the in-app browser lose attribution before checkout. See how sandboxed webviews eat your commissions on 8 platforms — and the fix. The Zippy Team Sat, 04 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://blog.zipthe.link/in-app-browser-logged-out https://blog.zipthe.link/in-app-browser-logged-out Why the in-app browser logs your users out on all 8 major social apps — and how to route their taps to the native app, where they're already signed in. The Zippy Team Thu, 02 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://blog.zipthe.link/what-is-a-deep-link https://blog.zipthe.link/what-is-a-deep-link What is a deep link? The 3 mechanisms — URL schemes, universal links, Android intents — explained so your social links open the real app. The Zippy Team Mon, 30 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://blog.zipthe.link/broken-pixels-attribution https://blog.zipthe.link/broken-pixels-attribution Your tracking pixel fails in the in-app browser on 8 major social apps. Learn why webview sandboxes eat your attribution and how you get those clicks back. The Zippy Team Thu, 26 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://blog.zipthe.link/in-app-browser-problem https://blog.zipthe.link/in-app-browser-problem The in-app browser strips logins, cookies, and tracking pixels on 8 major platforms. See what it costs creators who sell, and how to escape it. The Zippy Team Mon, 23 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://blog.zipthe.link/link-in-bio-conversion https://blog.zipthe.link/link-in-bio-conversion Link in bio conversion typically lands between 1% and 3% of taps. See the full funnel math, where the clicks die, and how you recover them. The Zippy Team Fri, 20 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://blog.zipthe.link/smart-links-101 https://blog.zipthe.link/smart-links-101 Smart links route every click to the right destination — native app, not webview. How deep links, QR codes, and routing work across 8 major platforms. The Zippy Team Wed, 18 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://blog.zipthe.link/why-links-die-in-the-in-app-browser https://blog.zipthe.link/why-links-die-in-the-in-app-browser Every social app opens your links in a crippled internal webview — no logins, no cookies, broken pixels. Here's what's actually happening to your clicks, and how native-app deeplinks get them out. The Zippy Team Sat, 14 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT