I've used bitly for a while, casually creating links and QR codes for various needs. Recently, they changed their model, to offer paid subscription tiers. Ok, fine - people gotta make $, I get it.Without being a paid member, visitors to your links / QR codes will see a crappy-looking, confusing website before being redirected to your actual site. It's totally a turn-off to visitors and makes you seem questionable, and your links seem spammy. This was not the agreement I made with them initially and they gave customers very little advance notice of these changes. I believe they should only be putting these terrible "ad" pages on any NEW links / QR codes - but, they are adding them to ALL shortened links / QR codes made with the service, at any time. Feels very "bait & switchy" to me.In addition, their least expensive plan (advertised as $10/month) is ONLY available if you pay for the WHOLE YEAR at once. There is no monthly plan for less than $29/month (plus applicable sales tax and will renew automatically). $10/month is ridiculous for this "service", especially when they also have the ability to collect you and your visitors' data on the back end and use that however they wish (which I'm guessing they've been doing all along).Many non-profits, community organizations, and small web designers have been using bitly occasionally over the years and it's terrible that bitly seems to now want to extort $120+ UPFRONT, per YEAR from these users, based on PREVIOUS use of their service.If you are considering bitly for the first time, I'd recommend avoiding this company with questionable business practices and terrible treatment of their customers. If you have been using bitly and are now deciding next steps, take my review into consideration. I may have to begrudgingly pay (which I'm guessing they're banking on), but I will also gladly join any class-action lawsuit that addresses these issues.
