Link Unshortener 4+

Reveal the real URL

Jeff Johnson

    • 4.9 • 24 Ratings
    • $7.99

Screenshots

Description

Link Unshortener expands shortened web links, following redirects until it reveals the destination URL. Never again click a link before you know where it's going!

Made by indie developer Jeff Johnson, creator of the beloved web browser extension StopTheMadness. The support link has documentation and my email address.

Features:
• Handles link shorteners such as t.co (Twitter), bit.ly, tinyurl, and more!
• Automatically removes URL tracking parameters.
• Automatically removes URL text fragments.
• Automatically upgrades URLs from http to https.
• No web cookies, storage, or caches. No JavaScript, tracking pixels, or HTTP Referer. Generic User-Agent. Your anonymity and privacy is protected.
• Includes a share extension.
• Includes a Mac system service.
• Dock icon accepts drag and drop of links.
• Link Unshortener can be set as your default web browser!
• Open the destination URL in the selected web browser, or copy to the clipboard. There are preferences to do these automatically.
• Custom URL redirects! Redirect new Reddit to old Reddit, Twitter to Nitter, YouTube to Invidious, etc.
• Custom web browser opening rules! Associate specific URLs with specific web browsers. Open https://docs.google.com links in Google Chrome, and other links in Safari.

What’s New

Version 15.1

• Added an Import tab to the Settings window that allows you to import settings from an exported file, from StopTheMadness, or from StopTheMadness Pro
• Open URL in the background: Worked around a macOS issue where the background window could still appear in front after closing one Link Unshortener window and opening a URL from another
• Extract the destination URL from https://link.arstechnica.com/click/ links
• Set the HTTP "Accept" header to match the web browser default, to get better redirect results in a few cases
• Trackers: Clarified in the instructions that the URL domain must match the website domain exactly
• Web Rules: Clarified in the instructions not to use the * character at the end of the URL

Ratings and Reviews

4.9 out of 5
24 Ratings

24 Ratings

DaphneD ,

Simple utility that does exactly what it promises

I use with StopTheMadness by the same developer and this utility works well together. Biggest issue with using with stopthemadness is the small amount of configuration required to connect the two.

Edit: The trimming only known trackers is a nice improvement. Most of the time older versions did a great job, but occassionally it would lose item or article ids along with the trackers. Easy enough to toggle, or go back a step or two but still a small extra step. So nice to see an improvement here.

Bifferooni ,

Apps the way they ought to be

Link Unshortener is another app in the Jeff Johnson tradition:

It is simple.
It is focused.
It says what it does.
It does what it says.

If you are interested in seeing where a cryptic, shortened link will take you before being taken, definitely take a look at this app.

Pathology27 ,

Hasn't worked yet for me

Error pops up everytime

Developer Response ,

Please contact support: link-unshortener@underpassapp.com

App Privacy

The developer, Jeff Johnson, indicated that the app’s privacy practices may include handling of data as described below. For more information, see the developer’s privacy policy.

Data Not Collected

The developer does not collect any data from this app.

Privacy practices may vary, for example, based on the features you use or your age. Learn More

Supports

  • Family Sharing

    Up to six family members can use this app with Family Sharing enabled.

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