Unshorten URL

Unshorten URL

Unshorten.net is a tool designed to expand or reveal the original, full-length URL behind a shortened URL

Top 10 Free Tools to Safely Unshorten Any Shortened Link

Shortened links are everywhere: social feeds, SMS, chat apps, email campaigns, and QR codes. They’re convenient — but they also hide the destination. That makes them a common vehicle for phishing, malware, and tracking. Unshortening a link (also called “expanding” or “resolving” a short URL) before clicking is a small habit that removes that risk and restores transparency.

Below are the Top 10 free tools to safely unshorten links. For each tool I explain what it does, how it protects you, step-by-step use, privacy notes, strengths and limitations, best use cases, and quick tips.

Quick comparison (at a glance)

  • Best for one-off safety checks & reputation signals: Unshorten.net.
  • Best for seeing screenshots: CheckShortURL.
  • Best simple expander with privacy focus: URLExpander.me.
  • Best for redirect-chain tracing / developer insight: WhereGoes / Redirect Detective.
  • Browser extensions / local workflows: ExpandURL or Link Redirect Trace extension.

1) Unshorten.net — simple, clear, one-off unshortening

What it is: A web-based URL expander that reveals the original long URL behind a shortened link. It's designed for simple, fast unshortening without extra clutter.

How it works (quick): Paste the shortened link into the input box, submit, and the service follows redirects (server-side) to show the final destination URL. It often shows the redirect chain and may give some metadata.

How to use (step-by-step):

  1. Open unshorten.net.
  2. Paste the shortened link (e.g., ln.run/abc123) into the field.
  3. Click “Unshorten” (or equivalent).
  4. Inspect the revealed final URL — check domain, path, and query parameters for suspicious tokens or affiliate strings.

Privacy & safety notes:

  • The service resolves the link server-side so your browser doesn't visit the destination directly — safer than clicking the link yourself. Check their privacy/ToS if you care about logging.

Pros:

  • Fast, minimal UI.
  • Good for single checks.
  • Less exposure: the tool can resolve link server-side so your machine doesn’t directly visit the potentially risky host.

Cons:

  • Limited additional safety signals (may not show screenshots or reputation scores).
  • If you need deep redirect tracing or headers, use a redirect-tracer.

Best for: Journalists, casual users, and anyone who wants a quick “where does this go?” answer.

2) CheckShortURL — preview + reputation signals + screenshot

What it is: A popular unshortener that expands a shortened URL and also offers a screenshot preview and third-party reputation checks (e.g., Web of Trust, SiteAdvisor, Sucuri). That extra context helps decide whether the destination is safe before visiting.

How it works (quick):

  • Resolves the short URL, shows the final URL, provides a screenshot of the destination (so you can visually verify), and lists security/reputation checks from multiple sources.

How to use:

  1. Visit checkshorturl.com.
  2. Paste the shortened link and submit.
  3. Review the final URL, the screenshot, and reputation indicators. If a reputation provider flags it, treat the link as suspicious.

Privacy & safety notes:

  • Because it provides screenshots, the tool likely fetches the destination in a sandboxed way for preview generation — safer than a direct click, but check their policy if you’re extremely privacy conscious.

Pros:

  • Visual screenshot preview.
  • Aggregates reputation checks from multiple engines.
  • Great for non-technical users who want a visual and reputational quick-check.

Cons:

  • Not a full technical redirect trace (it’s focused on safety and preview).
  • Screenshots might be cached; dynamic or login-gated pages may show limited views.

Best for: Social media users, admins & non-technical people who want a “safe peek” before they click.

3) URLExpander.me — privacy-forward simple expander

What it is: A free URL unshortener that emphasizes a straightforward experience and says it doesn’t store the URLs you expand. Good blend of privacy and speed.

How it works (quick):

  • Paste the short link and the site returns the final destination. Their site explicitly states they don’t store expanded URLs (see privacy/ToS).

How to use:

  1. Go to urlexpander.me.
  2. Paste the short URL and press the expand button.
  3. Read the revealed destination and decide whether to proceed.

Privacy & safety notes:

  • They state “we do not store any URL you expanded” — good for privacy-minded workflows; still, read the Terms for nuance.

Pros:

  • Privacy-forward marketing (explicit no-store claims).
  • Clean UI, minimal friction.

Cons:

  • Fewer aggregated reputation signals than CheckShortURL.
  • Not a redirect-trace diagnostic tool.

Best for: Privacy-conscious users who want a fast expansion without additional telemetry.

4) Unshorten.it — expands + checks safety (screenshot + ratings)

What it is: A community-facing unshortener that shows the destination, a screenshot and safety ratings (e.g., Web of Trust). It’s particularly helpful when you need both the URL and a quick safety rating.

How it works (quick):

  • The service follows redirects and returns the final URL, screenshot, and aggregated trust score.

How to use:

  • Paste the short link into the site and submit; review results and safety rating.

Pros:

  • Tries to include reputation signals.
  • Useful for quick validation.

Cons:

  • Like other web resolvers, it performs server-side fetches that may be logged — check privacy if important.

Best for: People who want a combined screenshot + reputation check in a single view.

5) ExpandURL.net / ExpandURL (multiple “expand” services) — feature-rich expanders

What it is: Several similarly-named services (expandurl.net, expand-url extensions, expandurl.net variants) that allow you to paste a short link and reveal the final destination, sometimes with extra features like redirect-checking and previews.

How it works (quick):

  • Server-side follow of redirects; some variants show header info, redirect chain, or preview.

How to use:

  • Pick the specific expand service you like (e.g., expandurl.net), paste the link and submit. Read the final URL and optional metadata.

Pros:

  • Some versions offer extra technical detail (HTTP response codes, chain length).
  • Browser-extension versions exist for inline expansion.

Cons:

  • Naming is confusing — multiple similarly-named sites exist; choose one with clear ToS.

Best for: Users who want a middle ground between simple expand and full technical header-level tracing.

6) Unshorten.me — long-running unshortener with wide short-service coverage

What it is: An older service that claims to resolve many URL shorteners and boasts a large corpus of previously resolved links. It's been around for years and still functions as a free resolver.

Why use it: It’s battle-tested and supports many providers (ln.run, bit.ly, tinyurl, t.co, etc.). Good fallback if another service fails.

Pros:

  • Supports many shorteners.
  • Established service.

Cons:

  • UI/maintenance varies due to its age; reliability may fluctuate.

Best for: When you need a straightforward fallback expander that handles many providers.

7) WhereGoes / UnshortLink / Link Redirect Trace — full redirect-chain tracing (best for technical users)

What it is: Tools that trace the entire redirect path (every 301/302, JavaScript/meta redirects, intermediate affiliate hops) and show intermediate URLs, status codes and timing. Examples: WhereGoes (wheregoes.com / unshortlink.com), Redirect Detective, UnshortLink, and the browser extension Link Redirect Trace.

How it works (quick):

  • Accepts a URL and iteratively follows redirects, recording status codes, intermediate hosts, and the final destination. Some detect meta-refresh and JavaScript redirects.

How to use:

  1. Visit WhereGoes, Redirect Detective, or install Link Redirect Trace for instant inline results.
  2. Paste the short URL and run the trace.
  3. Inspect each hop for affiliate tags, tracking parameters, or suspicious domains.

Safety & privacy notes:

  • These tools are invaluable because they show the chain — affiliate middlemen or hidden trackers become visible. They typically operate server-side; read their privacy docs if needed.

Pros:

  • Full transparency: see every hop, header and status code.
  • Great for troubleshooting affiliate/SEO issues and for security audits.

Cons:

  • Technical output can be overwhelming for non-technical users.
  • Some tools have rate limits or API restrictions.

Best for: Developers, security analysts, SEO/affiliate marketers, or anyone needing to see the full redirect path.

8) Redirect Detective & Similar redirect-checkers — trace & debug redirect chains

What it is: Free redirect-tracing tools focused on showing where redirects go and why. Redirect Detective is a clear example — it shows the complete path a redirect takes and flags problems like loops.

How it works & use case: Similar to WhereGoes — paste URL, trace, inspect headers and chain.

Pros: Excellent for diagnosing complex redirect chains and detecting redirect loops or unexpected 3xx behavior.

Cons: Not focused on screenshot previews or reputational scoring.

Best for: Webmasters and diagnostics.

9) Command-line & developer options: curl, httpie, node/Go libraries, and urlexpand libs

What it is: If you prefer not to use third-party web services (for privacy or automation), you can resolve short links locally using CLI/network tools or libraries. Examples:

  • curl -I -L <short-url> (shows header chain and final location)
  • http --follow <short-url> (httpie)
  • Libraries: urlexpand packages, custom scripts that follow redirects programmatically. See GitHub marirs/urlexpand and other open-source packages.

How to use (example):

# Show final URL and headers with curl:
curl -I -L -s -o /dev/null -w "%{url_effective}\n" "https://ln.run/XXXX"

This returns the final effective URL after following redirects.

Pros:

  • Full control, no external server sees your URL.
  • Can be automated or integrated into CI/security tooling.

Cons:

  • Requires technical comfort.
  • If the shortener blocks bots or requires JS, you might need headless browsers.

Best for: Engineers, privacy-focused power users, automation.

10) Browser extensions & inline expanders — Expand URLs where you already browse

What it is: Extensions like Expand URL (Chrome extension), Link Redirect Trace extension, or privacy-focused add-ons that expand short links inline or on right-click. These save clicks and integrate expansion into the browser experience.

How to use:

  • Install a reputable extension from the browser store, configure permissions, and use the context menu (“expand link”) or hover tools to preview the destination.

Privacy & safety notes:

  • Extensions may access pages and links; install only from trusted sources and check permissions. Review extension reviews and update history.

Pros:

  • Fast, integrated workflow (no copy/paste).
  • Many show additional metadata (headers, chain length).

Cons:

  • Browser extension security risks if a malicious extension is installed.
  • Some extensions send data to remote servers — check privacy.

Best for: Heavy browser users who want inline previews and convenience.

How I ranked these tools (quick methodology)

  • Safety-first: preference to tools that resolve server-side or show visual/reputation indicators so you avoid direct clicks.
  • Transparency: tools that reveal entire redirect chains and HTTP status codes scored highly.
  • Usability: clean UI and frictionless operation matter for adoption.
  • Privacy posture: I favored tools that state they don’t store expanded URLs (or provide APIs for private/local usage). Where sources existed I referenced them.

Deep dive — what “unshortening” actually does (technical explanation)

When you click a shortened link (e.g., ln.run/xyz), the shortener usually responds with an HTTP 3xx redirect to the final destination. There are several ways redirection happens:

  1. Server-side 301/302/307 redirects — the shortener returns an HTTP status code and a Location: header pointing to the next URL. Tools that follow HTTP headers can easily reveal the final URL. (curl, redirect tracers, WhereGoes)
  2. Meta-refresh redirects — the destination includes a meta tag like <meta http-equiv="refresh" content="0; url='...'"> which requires a browser to execute the refresh. Good unshorteners will attempt to detect and follow meta-refresh.
  3. JavaScript redirects — some pages rely on JavaScript to compute the final destination (e.g., link wrapping, mobile detection, affiliate redirects). These are harder to expand without a headless browser.
  4. Intermediate affiliate wrappers — many short links insert affiliate or tracking parameters at intermediate hops. A redirect-tracing tool reveals all intermediate hosts so you can identify trackers or affiliate partners. (WhereGoes, Redirect Detective)

Why server-side expanders are safer: they fetch and follow redirects on your behalf in a sandboxed server environment, reducing your exposure to malicious content. But they may log requests — always check privacy docs.

Safety checklist: what to inspect in the expanded URL

When the tool reveals the final URL, always inspect:

  • Domain: Is it a well-known domain? Watch out for homograph/internationalized domain look-alikes (xn-- style Punycode).
  • Path: Long random query strings can hide session tokens or auto-login parameters.
  • Query parameters: Look for utm_source, affiliate params (aff, ref, partner), or tracking systems.
  • File types: If the URL ends with .exe, .msi, .zip, treat as unsafe.
  • Encoded content: Base64-encoded payloads or download tokens in the query are suspicious.
  • HTTP vs HTTPS: While not a guarantee, HTTPS is better than HTTP for authenticity.
  • Reputation & screenshot: If available, view the screenshot and reputation results (CheckShortURL is helpful here).

Practical workflows / examples

Example A — quick check in-browser

  1. Copy the short link.
  2. Open unshorten.net or urlexpander.me and paste.
  3. Inspect the final URL and any safety notes. If it looks suspicious, do not click.

Example B — power-user CLI (safe automation)

# Return final URL, headers, and status codes
curl -I -L "https://ln.run/XXXX"   # returns headers for each hop
# Or print the final effective URL
curl -s -L -o /dev/null -w "%{url_effective}\n" "https://ln.run/XXXX"

Use this in scripts to expand and scan many URLs locally without sending them to third-party servers.

Example C — investigating affiliate chains

  • Paste the short link into a redirect tracer (WhereGoes/Redirect Detective) to see each affiliate or middleman in the path. That tells you whether multiple trackers or revenue-takers are in the chain.

Privacy & legal notes

  • Don’t assume “server-side” means anonymous. Many unshorteners log expanded URLs and IP metadata. If you expand sensitive or private short links (e.g., password reset tokens), prefer local CLI expansion (curl, httpie) or a trusted internal tool.
  • Be cautious about tools that publish expanded links — some services maintain public databases of resolved short URLs (useful for research but a privacy risk for one-off private links).
  • Enterprise use: If you work in security or handle sensitive links, prefer self-hosted expanders or build an internal redirect-resolver service.

Extras: browser tips & automation

Browser extension safety tips

  • Only install from official extension stores and check reviews & permission lists.
  • Disable extensions that request “read and change all your data” unless necessary.
  • For a safer approach, use context-menu only extensions that expand links on demand rather than always scanning your pages.

Automating checks for teams

  • Use WhereGoes API or self-hosted scripts to expand and scan batches of short links for phishing campaigns or affiliate auditing. WhereGoes mentions API access and developer docs for automation.

When expanders can fail & how to handle edge cases

  • JS-only redirects: some services require a browser to run JavaScript; a headless browser (Puppeteer/Playwright) or extension-based tool might be necessary.
  • Rate-limited shorteners: popular shorteners sometimes rate limit or block bots — in those cases, a human-run browser expansion or a trusted service will be required.
  • Temporary tokens: password reset or ephemeral links may expire — expanding them later will fail or show an error.
  • Obfuscated redirects: some link-wrappers split the redirect across multiple script calls — tracing with a headless browser reveals the final destination.

Final recommendations — which tool to pick (by user need)

  • Casual user / social browsing: Use CheckShortURL for screenshots + reputation.
  • Privacy-minded single checks: Use URLExpander.me for a no-store claim and minimal UI.
  • Fast one-off expand: Unshorten.net is quick and uncluttered.
  • Technical audits / affiliate debugging: Use WhereGoes or Redirect Detective to see full redirect chains and status codes.
  • Automated integrations or enterprise workflows: Build a local resolver (curl/httpie + scripts) or use WhereGoes API for programmatic tracing.

Quick checklist before clicking any shortened link

  1. Expand the link with a trusted tool (Unshorten.net, CheckShortURL, URLExpander).
  2. Inspect domain, path and query parameters.
  3. Check reputation/visual preview if available.
  4. If technical doubts persist, trace the redirect chain. (WhereGoes / Redirect Detective).
  5. If the destination attempts to download or asks for credentials, do not proceed.

Closing — safer clicking is one small habit

Shortened links are useful, but they remove the visibility that keeps you safe. A two-second unshorten check prevents many phishing and malware incidents. Use the right tool for your comfort level — from Unshorten.net for fast checks to WhereGoes for deep investigations — and adopt a safe routine: expand, inspect, and only then click.