Long, messy URLs are hard to read and hard to remember. Visitors are less likely to click them. Affiliate links are often even worse – filled with random characters and tracking parameters.
Pretty Links solves this. It lets you create short, clean links on your own domain. You get full control, click tracking, and flexibility.
What is Pretty Links?
Pretty Links is a freemium WordPress plugin that turns long URLs into short, easy-to-share links.
Instead of using a complicated affiliate URL, you can create something like:
yoursite.com/wpforms
This looks cleaner, builds trust, and is much easier to manage.
Why Use Pretty Links?
Pretty Links is more than just a link shortener. It helps you stay organized and improve how your links perform.
- Clean, branded links that look more trustworthy
- You manage all your links from one place inside WordPress
- You track how many times each link gets clicked
- You update a link once – and it updates everywhere on your site
- It works well for most affiliate links (check program terms before using cloaking), resources, and downloads
What Can You Use Pretty Links For?
Pretty Links is flexible and works in many situations:
- Affiliate links – Turn long URLs into short branded links (always check program rules before cloaking)
- Resource links – Create short links to tools and services you recommend
- Download links – Share files with simple URLs
- Social media links – Use short, memorable links
- Email links – Use clean links in newsletters and email campaigns
How Does Pretty Links Work?
Getting started is simple:
- Install Pretty Links from the WordPress plugin directory
- Go to Pretty Links → Add New
- Paste or enter the destination URL – the long URL you want to shorten
- Choose your custom short URL – for example yoursite.com/wpforms
- Save the link and start using it anywhere on your site
Your new link is immediately active.
Link Tracking
Pretty Links automatically tracks clicks for each link. You can see:
- How many times each link got clicked
- When the clicks happened
- Referrer and visitor data when available (some data may be limited due to privacy restrictions).
This is very useful for affiliate marketers. You know exactly which links perform well and which ones don’t. You use that data to improve your content and earn more commissions.
Auto Linking (Pro Feature)
The Pro version includes auto-linking, which can automatically turn keywords into links across your site.
For example, every time you mention a tool like WPForms, it can automatically link to your affiliate URL. You don’t have to add the link manually every time.
You can control how often links appear and where they are placed, so it doesn’t feel spammy.
Pretty Links for Affiliate Marketing
Pretty Links is especially useful for affiliate marketers:
- Makes affiliate URLs look clean and professional
- Clean links often improve trust and can increase click-through rates.
- If an affiliate program changes your link, you update it once in Pretty Links. Every link on your site updates automatically. You don’t have to search through every post and page.
- You track which links drive the most clicks and commissions
Just remember: some affiliate programs (like Amazon Associates) have rules about link cloaking, so always check their terms.
Pretty Links Free vs Pro version
The free version covers all the basics. The Pro version adds more advanced tools.
Free version:
- Link shortening and redirects
- Basic click tracking
Pro version:
- Automatically links selected keywords across your content (with controls to limit frequency and placement).
- Advanced link tracking and reports
- Link categories and tags
- Redirect types (301 permanent, 302/307 temporary)
- Link expiration — set links to expire after a certain date or number of clicks
- Import and export links
- Priority support
For beginners, the free version is usually enough. For larger or more advanced sites, Pro can save time and improve results.
Does Pretty Links Work with GeneratePress?
Yes. Pretty Links works with any WordPress theme, including GeneratePress.
It does not affect your site design and has minimal impact on performance when used properly. You manage everything from the WordPress dashboard.
Drawbacks
No tool is perfect. Here are a few things to keep in mind:
- The free version has limits – most advanced features need Pro
- Auto linking can sometimes link words you do not want linked – you need to manage it carefully
- Too many redirects can slow your site down. Keep your link list clean. Remove links you no longer use.
- Some affiliate programs do not allow shortened links. Always check the terms of your affiliate program first, before you start using Pretty Links.
Conclusion
Pretty Links is one of the most useful plugins for managing links in WordPress.
It helps you keep links clean, organized, and easy to update – while giving you insight into how they perform.
Start with the free version and upgrade when you need more advanced features.
Ollie recommends it for every affiliate site.