# URL shortener services that allow editing links for free? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 6, 2022, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/url-shortener-services-that-allow-editing-links-for-free/971061 "2022-09-06T14:49:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![longtry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/839c29/32.png) [@longtry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/longtry)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2022, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/url-shortener-services-that-allow-editing-links-for-free/971061/1 "2022-09-06T14:49:17Z")
I’m trying to create a portfolio that has a link to a video, which I haven’t been able to film and edit yet. I plan to make a placeholder shortened URL to embed in an image within the portfolio and finish that document first before the deadline, then make the video and edit the URL in the shortening website some time later. The problem is I don’t know which services allow changing the target URL for free. I’m trying [tinyurl.com](http://tinyurl.com), it has that feature but requires a purchase of subscription. Do you know other services? My priority is changing for free, the shortness of final URL, while nice, isn’t very important. Taking a step back and looking at the problem, could you suggest better methods? Since I can’t edit the portfolio after completion, for now I can find only the URL shortening service as a possible solution. ---
**Author:** ![pjd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pjd/32/3009_2.png) [@pjd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pjd)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2022, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/url-shortener-services-that-allow-editing-links-for-free/971061/2 "2022-09-06T14:54:28Z")
Where are you going to host the video ? On a sharing site (eg YouTube) ? (ie do you not know what the URL of the video will be until you upload it ?) ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2022, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/url-shortener-services-that-allow-editing-links-for-free/971061/3 "2022-09-06T16:49:56Z")
> [@longtry](#): > > Taking a step back and looking at the problem, could you suggest better methods? Embed the shortened url you plan on using but don’t actually create it on tinyurl until you’ve uploaded the video. Just make it unique enough that it won’t be used by somebody else in the meanwhile. ---
**Author:** ![longtry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/839c29/32.png) [@longtry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/longtry)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2022, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/url-shortener-services-that-allow-editing-links-for-free/971061/4 "2022-09-07T04:14:22Z")
> [@pjd](#): > > Where are you going to host the video ? On a sharing site (eg YouTube) ? > (ie do you not know what the URL of the video will be until you upload it ?) Yep, I’m planning to upload it on YT. Come to think of it, using a private, self- vid hosting will give better control, but still not over the URL… right? > [@Johnny\_Bravo](#): > > Embed the shortened url you plan on using but don’t actually create it on tinyurl until you’ve uploaded the video. Just make it unique enough that it won’t be used by somebody else in the meanwhile. Oh…! This is great, an out-of-the-box view I haven’t thought of! The only downside is that if it fails then it fails big time; but then as you said, I can sacrifice shortness to create something unique enough. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![pjd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pjd/32/3009_2.png) [@pjd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pjd)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2022, 10:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/url-shortener-services-that-allow-editing-links-for-free/971061/5 "2022-09-07T10:06:33Z")
Ah - i didn’t know you could choose your own tiny url ! ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2022, 11:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/url-shortener-services-that-allow-editing-links-for-free/971061/6 "2022-09-07T11:36:36Z")
Happy to help. 🙂