Vanity Links: Custom Short Link Domains for Singular Tracking Links

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Vanity links let you create Singular tracking links with a short, readable path on your own dedicated domain — for example, https://go.yourbrand.com/summer-sale. The URL stays clean: it doesn't show campaign parameters. Singular stores the link's parameters and applies them when the link is clicked, just like a standard short link. Attribution, deep linking, and redirects work the same as any other Singular Link.

For setting up a branded tracking domain without vanity paths, see Branded Domains: Brand Singular Links with Your Own Domain.

When to Use Vanity Links

Use vanity links wherever people see or type the URL:

  • Offline and out-of-home: TV, podcasts, print, billboards, packaging
  • QR codes on posters, receipts, and in-store displays
  • Social bios, influencer posts, and SMS — a short branded URL builds trust and increases clicks
  • Email and CRM campaigns that need a memorable, on-brand link

Your existing Singular Links are unaffected. They keep their domains, URLs, and deep-link behavior.

Before You Begin

  • Feature access: Vanity links are a paid feature and are not available on the free plan. If you are on a paid plan, contact your Customer Success Manager to enable vanity links for your account.
  • A dedicated vanity domain: Vanity links run on their own domain, separate from the domains you use for regular Singular Links. You can use a Singular domain (e.g., yourbrand.sng.link) or your own branded domain (e.g., go.yourbrand.com).
  • Custom source links only: Vanity links are available for custom source links. They are not supported for partner links.
  • App configuration for deep linking (optional): A vanity link works as a web tracking link out of the box. To open your installed app directly, add the vanity domain to your iOS and Android app configuration (see Step 3 below).
Regular Singular Link Vanity Link
URL example yourbrand.sng.link/Abc12/x7k9?_dl=... go.yourbrand.com/summer-sale
Path Generated by Singular You choose it (one segment)
Parameters in URL Visible Hidden; stored with the link and applied on click
Domain Regular link domain Dedicated vanity domain
Per-link iOS web-only behavior Supported Not supported (see Limitations)

Step 1: Create a Vanity Domain

  1. In Singular, go to Attribution Setup > Manage Links and click Manage Link Domains.
  2. Click Create Links Domain.
  3. Choose the Domain type (Singular or Branded) and enter the domain or subdomain.
  4. Select the Vanity domain checkbox.
  5. Click Create. For a branded domain, complete the CNAME setup shown in the DNS Setup Instructions and click Validate.
  6. Wait until the domain status shows Active before creating links on it.

Important: The domain type cannot be changed after creation. You cannot convert an existing regular domain into a vanity domain, or vice versa. Create a new domain for vanity links.

Creating a vanity domain with the Vanity domain checkbox selected

Step 2: Create a Vanity Link

  1. Go to Manage Links, select your app, and click Create Link.
  2. Set Link Type to Custom Source, then choose a Source Name and enter a Tracking Link Name.
  3. Open Link Settings and Redirects. In Link Sub-Domain, select your vanity domain. Vanity domains are marked Vanity in the list.

Vanity domains labeled in the Link Sub-Domain list

  1. In the Vanity link field, enter the path you want — for example, summer-sale.
  2. Configure the platforms, redirects, attribution settings, and link parameters as you normally would.
  3. Click Generate. Your vanity URL appears in the Click-through tracking link field, where you can copy it or download a QR code.

Vanity link path field and generated click-through tracking link

Vanity Path Rules

Enter a single path segment, not a full URL. If the input isn't valid, you'll see: Enter only the path, without domain, query, or hash.

You enter Result
summer-sale https://go.yourbrand.com/summer-sale ✓
/summer-sale https://go.yourbrand.com/summer-sale ✓
Summer-Sale https://go.yourbrand.com/summer-sale ✓ (paths are saved in lowercase)
summer-sale/more Rejected: only one path segment is allowed
https://go.yourbrand.com/summer-sale Rejected: enter the path only
summer-sale?utm=x or summer-sale#top Rejected: no query strings or fragments

Percent-encoded characters are not accepted, and some paths are reserved. If a path cannot be used, the UI or API shows an error.

Step 3: Set Up Deep Linking for Your Vanity Domain

Skip this step if the link only needs to send users to a store or web page. To open your installed app directly from a vanity link, add the vanity domain to your app. Keep your existing setup for regular Singular Link domains — the vanity domain is an additional association, not a replacement.

  1. In Singular, make sure your app's iOS bundle ID and Apple Team ID are configured.
  2. In Xcode, add the vanity domain to your app's Associated Domains entitlement: 
    applinks:go.yourbrand.com
  3. Build and release an app version that includes the entitlement.
  4. Make sure your app and the Singular SDK handle incoming Universal Links.

Singular hosts the apple-app-site-association (AASA) file for your vanity domain. Your app must also list the domain in its entitlement — the AASA file alone won't open the app. See Apple's Supporting associated domains.

  1. In Singular, make sure your app's package name and signing certificate SHA-256 fingerprint are configured.
  2. Add an App Links intent filter for the vanity host to your app manifest: 
    <intent-filter android:autoVerify="true">
    <action android:name="android.intent.action.VIEW" />
    <category android:name="android.intent.category.DEFAULT" />
    <category android:name="android.intent.category.BROWSABLE" />
    <data android:scheme="http" />
    <data android:scheme="https" />
    <data android:host="go.yourbrand.com" />
</intent-filter>
  3. Build and release the updated app.
  4. Make sure your app and the Singular SDK handle incoming App Links.

Singular hosts the assetlinks.json file for your vanity domain. Whether the app opens also depends on Android verification and the user's device settings. See Android's Add intent filters for App Links.

Test Before Launch

  • Open the vanity link with the app installed and not installed, on each platform you support.
  • Confirm the click and install are attributed to the right source and campaign.
  • Confirm your regular Singular Links still deep link as before.

Limitations and Important Behavior

Are vanity paths permanent?

Yes. Once a link is created, its vanity path cannot be changed or removed — it is read-only when you edit the link. To use a different path, create a new link. You can still edit the link's destination, attribution settings, and parameters.

Can the same vanity path exist on the same domain twice?

No. Each path is unique per domain — go.yourbrand.com/summer-sale can exist only once. The same path can be reused on a different vanity domain, such as offers.yourbrand.com/summer-sale.

Why doesn't the per-link web-only option work on iOS?

A vanity domain's AASA file covers every path on the domain. If your app has claimed the domain, iOS may open the app for any vanity link on it — even a link with no iOS deep link or one meant for Android only. In that case, the web or App Store destination is not guaranteed to load. Use a regular Singular Link domain when a link must always open on the web.

Can multiple apps share the same vanity domain?

This is not recommended. If several of your iOS apps claim the same vanity domain, the URL alone doesn't tell iOS which app to open. Add each vanity domain to the entitlement of only the intended app. The same applies on Android to apps whose manifests claim the domain.

Why don't I see parameters in the vanity URL?

This is by design. Link parameters are stored with the link and applied when it's clicked. The vanity URL stays clean and human-readable.

Why was my requested vanity path not applied to a new link?

If you create a link with the same app, link name, source, and app sites as an existing link, Singular returns the existing link and your requested vanity path is not applied. The UI shows a warning when this happens. To get a new vanity path, use a different link name.

Are partner links supported?

No. Vanity links are available for custom source links only. Partner links are not supported.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I turn an existing domain into a vanity domain?

No. Domain type is set at creation. Create a new domain and select Vanity domain.

Can I use the same vanity domain for regular Singular Links?

No. Vanity domains are dedicated to vanity links. Keep using your existing domains for regular Singular Links.

I made a typo in my vanity path. Can I fix it?

No. Paths cannot be edited or deleted. Create a new link with the correct path.

Do vanity links support QR codes?

Yes. After you generate the link, copy it or download the QR code from the link panel.

Does attribution work the same way?

Yes. Vanity links use the same attribution, redirect, and deep-link logic as other Singular Links. Only the URL format is different.

My vanity link opens the store instead of my app. Why?

Check that the vanity domain is in your app's iOS Associated Domains or Android intent filter, that the app version containing this change is installed, and that your Team ID or signing fingerprint is configured in Singular.

Need Help?

Contact your Customer Success Manager or reach out to Singular Support.