---
updatedAt: 2026-06-19T07:24:06.000Z
agentTools:
  projectIndex: https://developers.rebrandly.com/llms.txt
---

# Get started

Make your first API call and create a branded short link in minutes

Make your first Rebrandly API call and create a working branded short link in three steps.

## Before you begin

You need:

* A Rebrandly account. [Sign up for free](https://www.rebrandly.com) if you haven't yet.
* An API key. Generate one in Rebrandly under **Settings >** [API keys](https://app.rebrandly.com/settings/api-keys).

## Step 1: Make your first request

Verify your API key works by fetching your account details.

```curl
curl -X GET \
  https://api.rebrandly.com/v1/account \
  -H 'apikey: YOUR_API_KEY'
```

A successful response returns your account object:

```json
{
  "id": "a1b2c3d4e5f6",
  "fullName": "Maria Rossi",
  "email": "maria@example.com",
  "createdAt": "2026-01-01T00:00:00.000Z"
}
```

> 📘 **Check your limits here**
>
> The account response includes your plan's resource limits and enabled features. It's a useful first call in any integration to confirm what your API key can do.

## Step 2: Create a branded short link

Send a `POST` request to `/v1/links` with a destination URL.

```curl
curl -X POST \
  https://api.rebrandly.com/v1/links \
  -H 'apikey: YOUR_API_KEY' \
  -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \
  -d '{
    "destination": "https://www.brandyour.link",
    "title": "My first branded link"
  }'
```

Because the request doesn't include a `slashtag`, Rebrandly generates one automatically. A successful response returns the created link object:

```json
{
  "id": "m5jk4cc5bjop45d6",
  "title": "My first branded link",
  "slashtag": "abc123",
  "destination": "https://www.brandyour.link",
  "shortUrl": "rebrand.ly/abc123",
  "domain": {
    "id": "8f104cc5b6ee4a4ba7897b06ac2ddcfb",
    "fullName": "rebrand.ly"
  },
  "createdAt": "2026-01-01T00:00:00.000Z",
  "updatedAt": "2026-01-01T00:00:00.000Z"
}
```

The `shortUrl` field is your new branded link. It's live immediately.

> 📘 **Using your own domain**
>
> The example above uses `rebrand.ly`, the default domain available on every account. To create links under your own branded domain, include a `domain.id` in your request body. Retrieve your domain IDs from [GET /v1/domains](https://developers.rebrandly.com/docs/listing-your-domains-collection).

## Step 3: Test your link

Open `https://` followed by your `shortUrl` value in a browser (for example, `https://rebrand.ly/abc123`). You'll be redirected to your destination URL.

## Next steps

* [API key authentication](https://developers.rebrandly.com/docs/api-key-authentication) — understand scopes and how to rotate keys
* [Creating a new link](https://developers.rebrandly.com/docs/create-a-new-link) — full parameter reference for `POST /v1/links`
* [Workspaces](https://developers.rebrandly.com/docs/workspaces) — how to scope API calls to a specific workspace
* [API limits](https://developers.rebrandly.com/docs/api-limits) — rate limits and plan-level constraints