/ Plugin Category

/ E-commerce & Shopping

/ Simple URLs – Link Cloaking, Product Displays, and Affiliate Link Management

Simple URLs – Link Cloaking, Product Displays, and Affiliate Link Management

By Andrew Fiebert

E-commerce & Shopping /

Reviewed by Omar Dabbas

Trusted WordPress expert with 20+ years of experience evaluating plugins for the WP ecosystem.

Simple URLs – Link Cloaking, Product Displays, and Affiliate Link Management Review - In-Depth Analysis

Simple URLs helps manage links, create product displays, and enhance affiliate marketing efforts.

Performance Overview

WPS Score

6.79/10

User Rating

3/5 (based on 46+ reviews)

Active Installations

4,000+

Update Frequency

Average It is calculated using the weighted average of same category plugins.

Security Score

6.2 / 10 (Medium Risk) It is calculated using the weighted average of all versions.

What It Does

Simple URLs helps you manage and organize links directly inside WordPress. It is useful for affiliate marketers, bloggers, and anyone who wants more control over outbound links.

With Simple URLs, you can create short, clean URLs with custom slugs and cloak affiliate links with optional attributes such as new window, nofollow, and sponsored. You can organize and edit links from a central dashboard and insert links from the editor while writing posts. Additionally, you can track basic click counts on your links.

This plugin works with both the Block Editor and Classic Editor, making it versatile for different user preferences. It eliminates the need for spreadsheets to keep track of affiliate links, allowing you to update a link once in your dashboard and have it automatically updated everywhere it is used on your site.

When writing new content, you can quickly search for a link in the editor and insert it without leaving the page. This helps keep your workflow smooth and lets you stay focused on creating content.

To get started, simply install and activate Simple URLs, go to Simple URLs → Add New, enter the destination URL, slug, and any attributes, and save your link to insert it into posts or pages. Manage as many links as you need, all in one place.

If you are looking for advanced features like comparison tables, product grids, or performance reports, you can see the separate plugin documentation.

Comparing to Alternatives

Simple URLs offers link cloaking and affiliate link management but faces competition from several well-established plugins in this category.

Top alternatives

Strengths

Simple to use with easy link import functionality
Good customer support with responsive tech assistance
Allows creation of attractive and manageable affiliate links
Free version provides a solid starting point for new users

Weaknesses

Known security vulnerabilities with medium to high risk scores
Annoying persistent banner reported by users
Limited customization options in the free version
Some users report the plugin being cumbersome to use intentionally to push subscriptions

User Sentiment Analysis

User reviews are mixed with a significant portion of low ratings, reflecting both satisfaction with functionality and frustration with usability and persistent banners.

Positive highlights

'Great starting point for a new site' - bowadviceluke
'Very good plugin' with easy management - GeoffreyCRM
'Great Product, design, and experience' - vegasbrianc
'So far so good with good customer service' - samanthabushika
'Very good tech support when I needed it' - jocelynmy

Common complaints

Plugin interface is made cumbersome to force subscription
Persistent banner that users cannot permanently dismiss

Weaknesses

Security vulnerabilities with cross-site scripting and SQL injection issues
User interface annoyances affecting usability
Limited customization in free version

Who Should Use This?

Best for

Users looking for a straightforward, free affiliate link management plugin with decent support and are comfortable with basic features.

Not ideal for

Users who prioritize strong security, extensive customization, or dislike persistent UI elements and banners.

Pricing & Value

Free version includes

The free version offers essential link cloaking and affiliate link management features suitable for beginners.

Final Verdict

Simple URLs provides a functional and user-friendly solution for affiliate link management with helpful customer support, making it a reasonable choice for beginners or those seeking a free tool. However, its known security vulnerabilities and user interface annoyances, such as persistent banners, detract from the overall experience.

Given the availability of several strong alternatives with better security records and customization options, users should carefully consider their priorities before choosing Simple URLs. It remains a viable option for those valuing ease of use and free access but may not suit users needing robust security or advanced features.

Other Notable Features

Here are a few other notable features of this free Simple URLs – Link Cloaking, Product Displays, and Affiliate Link Management plugin.

Affiliate marketing

Affiliate link manager

Link cloaking

Screenshots

FAQ

Simple URLs is a WordPress plugin that helps you create, organize, and manage redirect links. It’s commonly used for affiliate links, campaign URLs, or any external links you want to keep consistent across your site.

Contributors and developers

“Simple URLs – Link Cloaking, Product Displays, and Affiliate Link Management” is open source software. The following people have contributed to this plugin.