Alex McCain

Flare - Shorten links and redirect to the right app

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You share a YouTube link on Instagram, but it opens in the in-app browser instead of YouTube. Frustrating, right? Flare fixes this. Our Direct Links open in the right app automatically. Shorten, share, and let Flare handle the rest for a seamless experience.

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Alex McCain
Hello, Product Hunt Community! 👋 I’m Alex, founder of Flare. Ever shared a link on Instagram, only to have it open in the in-app browser instead of where it should? A YouTube link that doesn’t open in the YouTube app, or a regular web link stuck inside a social media browser? Annoying, right? 😤 That’s exactly why we built Flare—a smart link generator that ensures your links open in the right app, every time. 🚀 What is Flare? Flare isn’t just a URL shortener. It automatically detects the right destination and ensures a seamless experience for your users. ✅ Shorten any link instantly ✅ YouTube links open in YouTube—not a social media app’s in-app browser ✅ Web links open in the browser—not trapped in an in-app browser ✅ Frictionless experience—users get where they need to go instantly ✅ Built-in analytics—track user devices and location for every link 🔥 Why Flare? Most short links just redirect—Flare redirects intelligently and gives you insights. 💡 No more annoying in-app browsers 📊 Analytics for every link—see device types and user locations 🔗 Better engagement and user experience ⚡ 100% free for the Product Hunt community! 🎯 Use Cases Flare is perfect for: ✅ Content creators ensuring links open in the right app for seamless viewing ✅ Businesses & marketers improving click-through rates by directing users correctly ✅ E-commerce stores preventing checkout issues caused by in-app browsers ✅ Anyone tired of links opening in the wrong place while gaining insights into their audience What's Next: We’re launching Persona AI next! 🎯 It’s an AI-powered campaign evaluation tool that helps users refine their social media strategies. 📢 Soon, You’ll Be Able To: ✅ Upload your campaign plan via Excel or enter details manually ✅ AI personas—marketing expert, casual audience member, or industry critic—analyze your content ✅ Get feedback on tone, engagement potential, and effectiveness ✅ Optimize posts before publishing with AI-driven insights ✅ Track performance with built-in analytics and historical comparisons 🚀 Be the first to try it! Stay tuned. Huge thanks to the Product Hunt community—you motivate us! 🚀 😍 Try Flare now: https://flareb2b.com We’d love your feedback — share your thoughts at flareb2b@gmail.com
Masum Parvej

@alexmccain 
How does Flare determine the correct app for opening each link, and does it support deep linking for custom apps?

Alex McCain

@masump Hi Masum, Flare ensures that each link opens in the most relevant app by using app associations.


We support custom apps and integrate them upon request.

Abdul Rehman

@alexmccain Does it work across all major social media platforms, or are there any limitations on certain apps?

Alex McCain

@abod_rehman Hi Abdul, Great question! Flare is designed to work across all major social media platforms, but so far, We’ve tested it most extensively on Instagram and native browsers. While it should work smoothly on other platforms as well, there may be edge cases we haven’t encountered yet. If you run into any issues, I’d love to hear your feedback so we can keep improving! 🚀😊

Nika

What is the exceptional difference compared to bitly?

Alex McCain

@busmark_w_nika Hey Nika! Thanks for the question. So, Bitly is simply a URL shortener. It shortens links and provides a compact version. Flare goes beyond that by not only shortening URLs but also intelligently redirecting users. For standard links, we seamlessly redirect them from the in-app browser to their native browser (Chrome on Android, Safari on iOS). For YouTube links, we ensure they open directly in the YouTube app, and for Product Hunt links, we take users to the Product Hunt app if installed; otherwise, we open the link in their native browser for a seamless experience.

Alex McCain

@busmark_w_nika I'm posting this small video to showcase how it works on YouTube Links: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1LtKIMf712at2tWGzr9VeO18_NKv_EdYY/view?usp=sharing

Nika

@alexmccain Thank you, Alex :) I am gonna to watch it and observe. :)

Alex McCain

@busmark_w_nika Thanks, Nika! 😊 Appreciate you taking the time to check it out. Let me know if you have any thoughts or questions. I’d love to hear your feedback!

Nika

@alexmccain also, could a user choose where to open the link? Whether in the app or in browser?

Stefano Monteduro
How annoying is it when a link opens in an in-app browser, especially for services where you’re logged in? I assume you have a database with the most popular deep links. It would be cool if there were a form where users could submit missing deep links (under your approval, obviously). PS: I tried to create an Instagram link, but clicking on it took me to the Flare page in the browser and did nothing else. Here is the link: https://flareb2b.com/8mw0z
Alex McCain

@stemonte Great points! We know how frustrating in-app browsers can be, especially when they don’t retain logins.


That’s exactly why Flare seamlessly redirects users to the right app or their native browser for a smoother experience.


We currently handle a wide range of popular services, and your idea of a submission form for missing deep links is fantastic—we’ll definitely integrate it!


As for the Instagram link issue, that shouldn’t be happening. Let me check and get back to you ASAP. Thanks for bringing it to our attention! 🚀

Alex McCain

@stemonte Hey Stefano, I'm sorry for the inconvenience caused. This was due to a small error on our end but we have updated the platform and now it is redirecting. The error was due to browser's pop up and redirection blocking. But it is now resolved and it is working.


Whenever you share flare links and share Instagram links we have made sure it goes to the Instagram page. Additionally, we have added the functionality to redirect to the Instagram app rather than continuing in the native browser. So any time a user clicks on this link via browser then, they immediately are sent to the Instagram app.

Nivy
What is the difference compared to Bitly/TinyURL? Or it is like deep link?
Alex McCain

@niveditha_patluri Hi Niveditha! Thanks for the question. Bitly and TinyURL are simple URL shorteners. They only shorten long links and provide a compact version. Flare goes beyond that by not only shortening URLs but also intelligently redirecting users using contextual routing that includes deep links but isn’t solely dependent on them, ensuring reliability even as they change.


For standard links, we seamlessly redirect users from the in-app browser to their native browser (Chrome on Android, Safari on iOS). For YouTube links, we ensure they open directly in the YouTube app, and for Product Hunt links, we take users to the Product Hunt app if installed; otherwise, we open the link in their native browser for a smooth experience. 🚀


This is a small POC we recorded to showcase how we redirect users to the YouTube app for YouTube Links: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1LtKIMf712at2tWGzr9VeO18_NKv_EdYY/view?usp=sharing

Nivy

@alexmccain Thank you, Alex! I am gonna watch it.

Alex McCain

@niveditha_patluri Sure. Thank you so much! Appreciate you taking the time to check it out. Let me know if you have any thoughts or questions

Shushant Lakhyani

Creators would love to use this

Alex McCain

@shushantlakhyani Absolutely, Shushant! Flare makes it effortless for both creators and businesses to guide their audience to the right app, ensuring a seamless and engaging experience. 🚀


For businesses with apps on the Play Store and App Store, we offer custom app integrations, ensuring their audience is redirected to their app instead of consuming content within In-app browsers.

Shivam Singh

Hi Alex,


Thanks for sharing Flare with the Product Hunt community! It's always refreshing to see solutions that tackle the everyday annoyances we face with in-app browsers. The seamless user experience you're offering is a game-changer for both content creators and e-commerce platforms.


Your upcoming launch of Persona AI sounds equally intriguing as AI-driven content optimization holds so much potential. Out of curiosity, what inspired the creation of Flare and how did you identify this particular pain point?


Congrats on the launch! Best wishes and sending lots of wins :) @alexmccain

Alex McCain

@whatshivamdo Hey Shivam, Thank you so much for your kind words and support! 😊


I built Flare after a conversation with a small-time YouTuber who shared a frustrating issue. Whenever he posted a video link on Instagram, his followers couldn’t like the video because it opened in the in-app browser instead of the YouTube app. That’s when it clicked, if I could redirect links properly, I could solve this problem.


From there, I conducted user interviews, validated the idea, and started building. Right now, Flare is still in its early MVP phase, and we’re improving rapidly based on user feedback (like the bug @stemonte mentioned earlier—fixed now! ✅).


Really appreciate your interest! And I hope Flare will add value to your marketing campaigns as well. Excited to keep refining Flare and bringing a smoother experience to everyone. 🚀

Ankit Sharma

Great and congrats. So it is like deep link?

Alex McCain

@saaswarrior Thank you Ankit! Flare opens links in the right app using contextual routing that includes deep links but isn’t solely dependent on them, ensuring reliability even as they change.

Abhishek Rao
Congratulations on the launch 🚀🙌 right now it offer redirection api and click analytics.. campaign management I think will be available in later.
Alex McCain

@raoabhishek Hi Abhishek, Thank you so much! 🚀🙌 Yes, right now Flare focuses on redirection APIs and click analytics, ensuring seamless link handling. Campaign management is definitely on our roadmap and will be available in the future. Excited for what’s ahead! 😊

Amanda hapsari
Hi! Have you tried this app? What do you think? It’s really great for me
Alex McCain

@amanda_hapsari Hi Amanda! Thank you so much for your comment. So glad to hear you’re enjoying Flare! 🚀 I’d love to know what specifically stands out for you. Let me know if you have any feedback or suggestions. We’re always looking to improve! 😊