URL Shortener REST API
Full REST API for creating, managing, and tracking short links programmatically. Build custom workflows, integrate with your existing stack, and automate link creation at scale.
Automate link creation at scale
If you're creating more than a handful of short links per day, manual creation through a dashboard becomes a bottleneck. The Keynou Drive REST API lets you automate the entire link lifecycle: create, update, delete, resolve, and analyze - all from your own code.
Common use cases for the API include:
- Auto-shortening product URLs in an e-commerce platform
- Generating branded links for each affiliate partner via batch script
- Integrating link creation into a CI/CD pipeline for marketing assets
- Building a custom link management interface for internal teams
- Syncing link analytics data into a data warehouse for reporting
The API uses standard HTTP methods and returns JSON responses, making it compatible with any programming language or framework. Authentication is handled via API keys, which you can generate and rotate from your dashboard.
Key capabilities
REST API with JSON
Standard HTTP methods with JSON request and response bodies.
API key authentication
Secure authentication via API keys. Generate and rotate from the dashboard.
Full CRUD operations
Create, read, update, and delete short links programmatically.
Analytics endpoints
Fetch click data, geographic breakdowns, and referrer stats via API.
How it works
Generate an API key
Navigate to Settings > API in your dashboard and generate a new API key.
Make your first request
Send a POST request to the /api/links/ endpoint with your API key in the Authorization header and the destination URL in the body.
Handle the JSON response
The API returns the created short link object with the short URL, analytics URL, and metadata.
Integrate into your stack
Use the API in your scripts, applications, or automation workflows to manage links at scale.
Explore all features
Every feature, working together
Keynou Drive ships with everything you need to brand, track, and scale your short links. Jump to any feature to see how it fits.
Custom Domains
Serve branded short links under your own domain with automatic SSL.
Learn moreBranded Splash Pages
Show your logo and brand colors on every redirect before the destination loads.
Learn moreReal-Time Analytics
Track clicks by country, device, and referrer - no third-party tag manager required.
Learn moreChrome Extension
Create branded short links from any browser tab in one click.
Learn moreRedis-Backed Speed
Sub-second redirects globally with Redis caching and a 60-minute resolve TTL.
Learn morePrivacy-First
No cookies, no third-party tracking, no data resale. GDPR compliant by design.
Learn moreMobile-Responsive
Full dashboard and analytics access on any device - desktop, tablet, or phone.
Learn moreFrequently Asked Questions
How do I authenticate API requests?
All API requests require an API key passed in the Authorization header as a Bearer token. You can generate and manage API keys from your Keynou Drive dashboard under Settings > API. Each API key is associated with your account and inherits your plan's rate limits and feature access. You can create multiple API keys for different applications or environments (e.g., production, staging, development) and revoke any key at any time. API keys are shown only once at creation time for security, so store them securely. The API uses HTTPS for all requests, ensuring that your API key is encrypted in transit. For team accounts, API keys can be scoped to specific domains or link groups, providing granular access control for different team members or integrations.
What endpoints are available?
The Keynou Drive REST API supports the full range of link management operations. Available endpoints include: creating short links (POST /api/links/), retrieving link details (GET /api/links/:id/), updating link settings (PATCH /api/links/:id/), deleting links (DELETE /api/links/:id/), resolving short URLs (GET /api/resolve/:short_code/), and fetching analytics data (GET /api/links/:id/analytics/). All endpoints return JSON responses with standard HTTP status codes. The API also supports listing all links with pagination, filtering by domain, and sorting by creation date or click count. Webhook callbacks are available for real-time click notifications. Full API documentation with request and response examples is available at drive.keynou.com/features/developer-api. The API is RESTful and works with any HTTP client in any programming language.
Is there a rate limit?
Yes. API requests are rate-limited to ensure fair usage and platform stability. The exact limits depend on your plan tier: the free tier includes 60 requests per minute, Starter includes 200 per minute, Growth includes 500 per minute, and Scale includes 2,000 per minute. Rate limit headers are included in every API response, showing your current usage and remaining quota. If you exceed the limit, the API returns a 429 Too Many Requests status code with a Retry-After header. For enterprise use cases that require higher limits, contact us at support@keynou.com and we can arrange custom rate limits based on your volume. The rate limits are designed to be generous enough for most applications, including bulk link creation, real-time analytics polling, and CI/CD pipeline integrations.
Can I create links with custom domains via the API?
Yes. The API supports all the same features as the dashboard, including custom domains, branded splash pages, custom slugs (back-halves), and retargeting pixel configuration. When creating a link via POST /api/links/, you can specify the domain parameter to choose which of your connected custom domains to use, and the slug parameter to set a custom back-half. For example, you can create go.yourbrand.com/summer-sale programmatically. The API also lets you configure splash page branding per link, including logo URL, background color, and display text. Retargeting pixels can be added per link via the pixels parameter. This makes the API suitable for automated link creation in CI/CD pipelines, marketing automation platforms, and bulk import scripts.
Is API access included in all plans?
API access is available on all paid plans (Starter at $10/mo, Growth at $25/mo, and Scale at $99/mo) with no additional API fees. The free tier includes limited API access (60 requests per minute) for testing and development, allowing you to build and test integrations before upgrading. This is a significant advantage over competitors: Bitly charges $150/month for API access, Rebrandly charges $89/month, and Short.io charges $50/month. Keynou Drive's Starter plan at $10/month is the most affordable branded URL shortener API in the market. All API features are available on all paid plans - there is no feature gating between tiers. The only difference between paid tiers is the rate limit and the number of short links included per month.