There is a large gap between things that are public and things that need a login. Pricing for one client, a draft nobody else should see yet, a document for a single meeting, an offer meant for one list and not the whole internet. Making people create an account for that is overkill, and emailing it around unprotected means it travels further than you intended the moment somebody forwards it. A password-protected link sits exactly in that gap. The address can be shared freely, but the destination only opens for the people you gave the password to, so a forwarded link on its own reveals nothing. Two more controls sit beside it: an expiry date, after which the link politely stops working, and a click limit for when something should only be opened a set number of times. Worth knowing about the implementation: when you protect a link, its destination moves into private storage outside the public web root, so the address it leads to cannot be read out of the link’s public configuration. The password is a real gate, not a curtain.
A working short link takes about thirty seconds, and you never have to touch it again.
Drop in the long web address you want to shorten. Anything with a link works: a landing page, a booking form, a PDF, a video, another BrandBits tool.
Type the ending you want, like /spring or /menu. The link lives on your own BrandBits web address, so it carries your brand instead of a stranger’s.
Copy the link into an email, a post, a flyer or a QR code. Clicks start counting immediately, and you can repoint the link whenever you like.
A short link looks like a small thing. What it really does is make the things you print, post and send permanently editable.
Nobody has to register, install anything or be invited. They just need the password you gave them.
The link alone is useless, so the usual risk of a private link escaping into the world quietly disappears.
Expiry dates and click limits mean you do not have to remember to revoke anything later.
A protected link publishes no destination publicly, so it cannot be read out of the link’s settings.
Anything meant for some people rather than all people is a good use for a protected link.
Choose the ending yourself so the link reads like your brand, not random characters.
Change the destination whenever you want. The short address never changes.
See how many people clicked, and when, in your BrandBits analytics.
Put a password on a link so only the people you tell can reach the destination.
Set a date after which the link politely stops working.
Cap a link at a number of clicks, ideal for limited offers and private files.
Redirects are cached across 100+ datacentres, so they resolve almost instantly anywhere.
Point a dynamic QR code at a smart link and you can change the destination twice over.
Every capability below is part of the same tool and included in every plan.
A short, memorable web address people can actually read out loud and type in.
Vanity URLOne fixed address, a destination you can change whenever the campaign changes.
Dynamic LinksCount every click without adding a single tracking script to your website.
Link TrackingShort links that carry your name instead of a shortening service nobody trusts.
Branded Short LinksEvery link your business shares, in one place, still under your control.
Link Management SoftwareCreate a smart link as usual, then set a password on it. From that point anyone opening the link is asked for the password before they are sent to the destination.
No. When a link is protected, its destination is stored privately outside the public web root, so it cannot be read from the link’s public configuration.
Yes. Set a date after which the link stops working, or a maximum number of clicks, or both.
No. They only need the link and the password, which makes this practical for clients, guests and one-off recipients.
Yes. Protection can be added or removed at any time without changing the link address.
Your subscription includes a full toolkit. Here are a few:
Turn PDFs into interactive, shareable flipbooks.
Create clean, engaging slide presentations online.
Collect ratings and feedback with simple, embeddable widgets.
See traffic and conversions in one simple view.
Let visitors book appointments straight into your calendar.
Branded short links you can repoint anytime, with click stats.
Capture emails with popups, floating bars and slide-ins.
Show your Instagram, TikTok and Facebook posts on your site.
Answer visitor questions 24/7 and hand over real leads.
Run promotions where visitors act to win and spread the word.
Send newsletters and simple automations to your leads.
Publish articles with built‑in testing and engagement tracking.