Flare - Shorten links and redirect to the right app

@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.

@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! 🚀😊

@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.

@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

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

@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!

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

@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! 🚀

@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.

@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. 🚀

@kay_arkain Hey Kay! Thank you so much! 😊 Really appreciate your support. Hope you find Flare useful. Let me know if you have any feedback or questions. Also, best of luck with your launch. Wishing you tons of success! 🚀🎉

@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.

@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! 😊

@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

@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

@anirudh_goutham Hey Anirudh, thanks for the question! Yes! Our link shortener does not remove or interfere with UTM parameters—any UTM tags in your original URL will remain intact when users click the shortened link and get redirected. This means Google Analytics will still track all your campaign data as expected.

We're also actively working on deeper GA integration, so you'll soon be able to connect your own Google Analytics and view all your insights directly from your dashboard. Stay tuned! 🚀

@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.

@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! 😊

@aman_gupta72 Hey, I really appreciate you bringing this up! Yeah, I’m aware that platforms like Instagram have made changes in the past that affected redirections, and that’s always a risk with products that rely on external platforms.

That’s why we’re focusing on contextual routing rather than just deep linking alone. Flare is built to adapt, and we’re constantly exploring ways to make the experience more resilient to policy changes.

Of course, no product is completely future-proof, but we’re staying agile and keeping an eye on platform policies to ensure we can pivot if needed.

Thanks again for the heads-up! It’s always good to be aware of potential challenges. 🚀