Frequently asked questions
Plain answers about using toui — shortening inside your AI tools and chat apps, your own domain, the free plan, and more.
Getting started
What is toui.io?
toui.io is a URL shortener that tries to be the more convenient choice: it meets you where you already work — inside ChatGPT and Claude, in Telegram, or on your own domain — and shortens links without the usual friction. It's free to start, your links are permanent, and every plan includes click analytics, QR codes, and an API. ("toui" is Taiwanese for "where to?")
Do toui.io short links expire?
No. Any link you create while logged in is permanent — it never expires, on any plan, even after you cancel a paid subscription. (Links made anonymously, without an account, are the one exception: those expire after 30 days. Sign up and they're yours for good.)
Is there a limit on how many links I can create, or how many clicks they get?
No. toui doesn't cap the number of links you create or how many times they're clicked — your links always keep redirecting. The only usage limit is on API requests, and if you ever reach it, only the API pauses; your existing links keep working normally.
Can I pick my own custom short code?
Yes, on the paid plans. Free links get a short random code; Pro and Business let you set your own (like toui.io/spring-sale). Pair it with your own domain and the whole link is yours.
Do I get a QR code?
Yes — every link, on every plan including Free. Each short link comes with a QR code you can download as a PNG or SVG, ready for a poster, a slide, or a product label.
Using toui with AI & chat
Do I have to paste my API key into ChatGPT or Claude to shorten links with AI?
No — and honestly, you shouldn't do that with any tool. Pasting an API key into a chat leaks it: anyone who can see that conversation now has your key. toui works a safer way. It connects to ChatGPT and Claude through a secure MCP server — you log in once to authorize it and hand over no key at all. Then you can shorten links right in the conversation while you work on a deck, some copy, or data.
Can I shorten a link without leaving ChatGPT or Claude?
Yes. Once toui's MCP connector is added, you just ask in the chat and the link comes back shortened — no switching tabs, no copy-pasting back and forth. It's the same toui short link you'd get anywhere else, created without leaving your AI tool.
Can I shorten links while I'm chatting in Telegram?
Yes. toui has a Telegram bot — send it a link in a direct message and it shortens it on the spot. You can check the click count there too, so you create the link and see how it's doing in the same place, without leaving the app to go shorten something elsewhere.
Your own domain & SMS
Can I use my own domain for my short links?
Yes, on Pro and Business. Tell toui your domain (say go.yourbrand.com), apply it in the dashboard, and your short links use your domain instead of toui.io — your dashboard becomes the place you manage your own branded links. It's a paid feature, but it's inexpensive, works out of the box, and your own domain simply looks more trustworthy.
For SMS marketing, do I have to register a pile of domains for anti-fraud rules?
Not if you use short links. Instead of registering many domains, you send toui short links. And if you want your brand on them, bring your own domain — one domain, applied once, and every link in your campaign carries it. People trust a link more when it's on a name they recognize.
Plans & billing
Is the free plan actually enough?
For a lot of people, yes. Free includes permanent links, click analytics, QR codes, and full API access — no credit card needed. You'd move up to a paid plan when you want your own domain, deeper analytics, bulk upload, or more teammates. See the pricing page for exactly what's in each plan.
How much does toui.io cost?
Free is $0, and it stays free. The paid plans are a few dollars a month and add things like your own domain, advanced analytics, and more team seats. The pricing page has the current prices and the full breakdown.
Can I cancel anytime, and what happens to my links?
Yes, cancel anytime. Your plan stays active until the end of the billing period, then drops to Free — and your links keep working forever. You only lose the paid-only extras (like your custom domain and advanced analytics); nothing you made disappears.
What analytics do I get?
Every link counts its clicks. Paid plans add a breakdown by country, referrer, and device, and keep a longer history. Free shows the most recent window; Pro and Business keep more. The pricing page lists the exact history length per plan.
About toui
Can I use toui from my own code or scripts?
Yes — every plan, including Free, comes with a REST API (and a small toui-js SDK). It's the same shortening, just callable from your code. Full details, endpoints, and examples are on the API docs page.
Are toui.io short links safe to click?
toui checks every new link against Google Safe Browsing for malware and phishing before it's created, blocks redirect loops, and won't let short codes impersonate well-known brands. The goal is that a toui link is a safe link.
How do you say "toui"?
It's the Taiwanese word "tó-uī" (佗位) — the "where" in "where are you going?" That's the whole idea: every short link is the answer to where does this go?