How do I create a branded short link?
Updated September 14, 2026 · 3 min read
Open Links in the dashboard and click Create link. Paste the long URL into Destination URL, choose a domain, and click Create your link. New links use qstak.co unless you pick a branded domain you have verified. Leave Back-half empty and we generate a random 7-character one for you.
Steps: create a short link
- Open Links. It is in the sidebar, under QR Codes. Click Create link.
- Paste the destination. Destination URL takes the full
https://address you want people to land on. - Pick the domain. Short link domain defaults to
qstak.co. Branded domains appear in the same dropdown once they show Active. - Choose a back-half (optional) — the part after the slash, such as
qstak.co/spring. - Label it (optional). Title, Tags, Campaign and Folder only affect your own dashboard, never the visitor.
- Tick Also generate a QR code if the link is going on something printed. It encodes the short URL, so editing the destination later keeps the printed code working. It counts against your dynamic QR code allowance.
- Click Create your link. The next screen shows the finished URL with Copy link, Download QR and Create another.
The destination, title and tags can all be changed later — open the link, click the pencil icon, and the change applies instantly to every copy already shared. The domain is fixed once the link exists. The back-half can be edited, but doing so breaks the old URL, so treat it as final the moment you share or print it.
What can I put in the back-half?
- 2 to 64 characters: letters, numbers, hyphens and underscores, starting with a letter or a number.
- Uniqueness is per domain and ignores capitals, so
qstak.co/Springandqstak.co/springare the same back-half — but the same word is still free on your own branded domain. - A short list of system words (
api,login,pricing,supportand similar) is refused with "That slug is reserved. Please choose another." - If someone already has it you get "That custom back-half is already in use. Try another."
- Leave it empty and you get a random 7-character back-half instead.
Can I create short links in bulk?
Yes, from a CSV. On the Links page click Import and choose a file with up to 100 rows. The only required column is destination_url (url also works). Optional columns are slug, title and tags, where tags are separated by a vertical bar: summer|instagram. Rows that fail are reported in the toast and the rest still import.
Export downloads every link you have as a CSV, which is the quickest way to hand a list to a print shop or an agency.
Link creation is capped at 100 links per hour per account, so a very large import is best split across files.
How many short links does each plan include?
| Plan | Short links | Branded domains |
|---|---|---|
| Free trial | 25 | 0 |
| Starter | 100 | 0 |
| Pro | 1,000 | 1 |
| Business | 5,000 | 5 |
The Links page shows your usage as used / limit next to the heading. Deleting a link frees a slot. An active subscription is required to create links at all — if the trial has ended you see "An active subscription is required to create short links." See what each plan includes for the full comparison.
What the click number in the list means
The number beside each link is engaged clicks — people, not requests. When the raw request count is higher you also see "of 240" underneath in smaller type: the difference is link previews in chat apps, security scanners and repeat fires from the same browser. Requests we identify as bots are discarded and never stored at all.
Click the number to open the link in Analytics. For a fuller explanation of the two counts, read what counts as a scan or click.
Common problems
Create your link stays greyed out
The button needs a destination URL. If the destination is filled in and it is still disabled, the counter at the top of the form reads "0 links remaining on your plan" — delete a link you no longer use or move up a plan.
"An active subscription is required to create short links"
The trial has ended or a payment has lapsed. Existing links also stop redirecting while an account is not paid, so this message usually means your live links are down too.
The short link shows "Link Not Found"
The back-half does not exist on that domain. Check for a typo, confirm you are on the right domain (a back-half on qstak.co does not exist on your branded domain and the other way round), and check the link has not been deleted.
Frequently asked questions
Can I change where a short link points after I have shared it?
Yes. Edit the link and save — the change applies instantly to every copy of that URL, including one already printed on a QR code.
Do short links expire?
Only if you set an expiry date or a click limit yourself. Otherwise a link keeps working for as long as your subscription is active.
Will my short links show up in Google?
No. Short links send a noindex header by default. There is a per-link switch, Allow search engines to index this link, if you want the opposite.
Can I get a QR code for a short link?
Yes. Tick Also generate a QR code when you create it, or click Generate QR on the row afterwards. The code encodes the short URL, so it survives destination changes.
Can two links share a back-half?
Not on the same domain. The same word can be used once on qstak.co and again on each branded domain you own.
Related articles
How do I use my own domain for short links?
Go to Custom Domains, add a subdomain like go.yourbrand.com, then add the CNAME and TXT records it shows. Pro includes 1 domain, Business 5.
How do I add a password, expiry date or click limit to a short link?
Open Advanced settings on the link form. Set Expires at, Max clicks or a password, then save. Expiry, scheduling and passwords need Pro or Business.
How do routing rules, A/B tests and link previews work?
Routing rules send visitors to different URLs by device, OS, country, region, city or language. A/B splits traffic by weight. Previews control the share card.
How do I group QR codes and links into a campaign?
Open Campaigns, click New campaign, name it and set UTM defaults, then use Attach to add links, QR codes and pages. Campaigns are on every plan.
What are the plan limits, and what counts against them?
Starter allows 10 dynamic codes, Pro 50, Business 600, the free trial 5. Only active codes count — archiving one frees a slot immediately.
Still stuck?
Email support@qrcodestack.com with the email on your account and, if it is about one code, its name or short link. A person replies within one business day, usually sooner.