{"id":364,"date":"2026-03-30T19:04:29","date_gmt":"2026-03-30T19:04:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/qrchameleon.com\/blog\/?p=364"},"modified":"2026-04-20T17:40:14","modified_gmt":"2026-04-21T00:40:14","slug":"free-url-shortener-with-qr-codes-analytics","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/qrchameleon.com\/blog\/free-url-shortener-with-qr-codes-analytics\/","title":{"rendered":"Free URL Shortener with QR Codes &amp; Analytics"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You need a free URL shortener. You have a link to share, But the URL is 200 characters of tracking parameters, affiliate codes, and random strings. It looks like spam. It breaks when you text it. It&#8217;s ugly in your Instagram bio.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So you look for a URL shortener. And you find out that Bitly wants $35\/month for the features you actually need.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There&#8217;s a better option.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What Is a URL Shortener?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A URL shortener takes a long link like this:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<pre class=\"wp-block-code\"><code>https:&#047;&#047;www.amazon.com\/dp\/B09V3KXJPB?ref=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_ct_FM9M699VKHTT47YD50Q6&amp;th=1<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And turns it into something like this:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<pre class=\"wp-block-code\"><code>qrch.am\/U4im626B<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Same destination. Cleaner link. Easier to share, easier to remember, and \u2014 depending on the tool \u2014 even trackable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Most URL shorteners do this basic job. The difference is what else they give you, and how much they charge for it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Problem with Most &#8220;Free&#8221; URL Shorteners<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Free tiers on tools like Bitly, Rebrandly, and TinyURL are designed to frustrate you into upgrading. Here&#8217;s how:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Limited links.<\/strong> Bitly&#8217;s free plan caps you at 5 links per month. Create your 6th and you&#8217;re locked out or paying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>No analytics.<\/strong> You can shorten the link, but you can&#8217;t see who clicked it, where they came from, or what device they used. That data is paywalled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>No QR codes.<\/strong> Or they exist, but they&#8217;re basic, not dynamic (can&#8217;t be changed once created), unbranded, or cost extra.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Link rot.<\/strong> Some free shorteners expire links after a period of inactivity. Your old links just stop working.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Ads and interstitials.<\/strong> Free users get redirected through ad pages before reaching the destination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The &#8220;free&#8221; version exists to convince you the product is broken until you pay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">QR Chameleon: A Free URL Shortener That Actually Works<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">QR Chameleon is a link shortener and QR code generator built for people who don&#8217;t want to pay enterprise prices for basic tools.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Here&#8217;s what you get on the free plan:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th>Feature<\/th><th>QR Chameleon Free<\/th><th>Bitly Free<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>Short links\/month<\/td><td>5<\/td><td>5<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>QR codes\/month<\/td><td>2<\/td><td>2<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Click analytics<\/td><td>\u2705 7 day history<\/td><td>\u274c Landing pages only<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Device &amp; location data<\/td><td>\u2705<\/td><td>\u274c<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>QR code customization<\/td><td>Presets<\/td><td>Basic<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Link expiration<\/td><td>Optional<\/td><td>\u274c<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>API access<\/td><td>\u274c<\/td><td>1,000 requests<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>The key difference:<\/strong> QR Chameleon includes click analytics on the free tier \u2014 clicks, devices, locations, referrers. Bitly&#8217;s free plan only shows landing page views, not link click data. For full link analytics on Bitly, you need a paid plan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to Shorten a URL (Step by Step)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">1. Use the &#8220;Try it Free&#8221; Widget<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Look for the <strong>&#8220;Try it Free&#8221;<\/strong> widget in the bottom-right corner of this page (or any page on qrchameleon.com). Select <strong>Short Link<\/strong>, paste your long URL, and click <strong>Shorten URL<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2. Create Your Free Account<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You&#8217;ll be prompted to create a free account \u2014 takes 10 seconds with Google or email. No credit card required. No password to remember (QR Chameleon is passwordless). You&#8217;ll land directly on your new short link.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">3. Customize (Optional)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Want a custom ending? Instead of <code>qrch.am\/U4im626B<\/code>, you can create <code>qrch.am\/my-link<\/code>. Free users get 3 custom back-halves per month.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">4. Get Your Short Link<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Click create link. Your short link is ready to copy, share.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">5. Track Performance<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Check back anytime to see clicks, devices, locations, and referrers and more. All Free accounts get a sliding 7 day window of data history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-qrc-cta-mint qrc-cta-mint-block\"><h3>Create Free Shortened URLs \u2014 with Free 7 Day Analytics<\/h3><p>Start for free \u2014 no credit card required.<\/p><a href=\"https:\/\/qrchameleon.com\/pricing\" class=\"qrc-cta-mint-block__btn\">Create Your Free Short Link Now<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Every Short Link Gets a QR Code<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Here&#8217;s something most shorteners don&#8217;t do: <strong>every link you create automatically generates a matching QR code.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You don&#8217;t have to create them separately. You don&#8217;t have to pay extra. The QR code and short link share the same destination and analytics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This is useful when you need both \u2014 print materials that need a QR code <em>and<\/em> digital channels that need a clean link.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Download the QR code as PNG, JPEG, or SVG. Customize colors on paid plans, or use preset styles on free.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What Can You Track?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Even on the free plan, QR Chameleon shows you:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Clicks over time<\/strong> \u2014 daily activity chart<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Devices<\/strong> \u2014 mobile vs. desktop vs. tablet<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Browsers<\/strong> \u2014 Chrome, Safari, Firefox, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Operating systems<\/strong> \u2014 iOS, Android, Windows, macOS<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Countries and cities<\/strong> \u2014 geographic breakdown<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Referrers <\/strong>\u2014 where the clicks came from (social, direct, search, etc.). For granular campaign tracking, add <a href=\"\/blog\/utm-parameters-guide\/\">UTM parameters<\/a> to your links.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This is the data that helps you understand if your link is working. And it&#8217;s included free \u2014 not locked behind paywalls like other platforms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Use Cases: Who Needs a Free URL Shortener?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Short links aren\u2019t just for marketers. Here are the most common use cases:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Social media creators<\/strong> \u2014 Clean up long affiliate or product links for your <a href=\"\/blog\/link-in-bio-onlyfans-fansl\/\">link-in-bio page<\/a>. Track which platform drives the most clicks.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Small businesses<\/strong> \u2014 Share short links on <a href=\"\/blog\/qr-code-for-business-card\/\">business cards<\/a>, flyers, and receipts. Every short link automatically gets a QR code.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Teachers and nonprofits<\/strong> \u2014 Share <a href=\"\/blog\/qr-code-for-amazon-wishlist\/\">Amazon wishlist<\/a> links or donation pages with clean, memorable URLs.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Event organizers<\/strong> \u2014 Create trackable links for registration pages, then use <a href=\"\/blog\/utm-parameters-guide\/\">UTM parameters<\/a> to measure which promotional channels drive signups.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Real estate agents<\/strong> \u2014 Short links on yard signs and print ads are cleaner than raw MLS URLs. See our guide on <a href=\"\/blog\/qr-codes-for-real-estate-agents\/\">QR codes for real estate<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In every case, the combination of a shortened URL plus automatic QR code generation means you\u2019re covered for both digital and print sharing \u2014 from a single tool.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">When You Need More<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/qrchameleon.com\/blog\/free-plan\/\">The free plan<\/a> covers most casual use cases. But if you&#8217;re running a business or want greater insights, here&#8217;s what the paid plans unlock:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Blend:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>100 short links\/month<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>30 days of analytics history<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>UTM parameter builder<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Full QR code customization (colors, logos, patterns)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>API access (1,000 requests\/month)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Adapt:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>500 short links\/month<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>6 months of analytics history<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Custom branded domains (use your own domain instead of qrch.am)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Bulk link creation via CSV<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Campaign analytics<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Transform:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>3,000 short links\/month<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>1 year of analytics history<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>AI-powered predictive analytics<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Password-protected links<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Mobile deep linking<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Webhooks and advanced API<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Most individuals and small businesses never need more than Blend. The free plan is enough if you&#8217;re just shortening a few links per month.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">QR Chameleon vs. Bitly vs. TinyURL<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th>Feature<\/th><th>QR Chameleon<\/th><th>Bitly<\/th><th>TinyURL<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>Free links\/month<\/td><td>5<\/td><td>5<\/td><td>Unlimited<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Free QR codes\/month<\/td><td>2<\/td><td>2<\/td><td>Limited<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Free link click analytics<\/td><td>\u2705 (7 day history)<\/td><td>\u274c<\/td><td>\u274c<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Custom back-halves (free)<\/td><td>3\/month<\/td><td>3\/month<\/td><td>\u274c<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Branded domains<\/td><td>$24\/mo (Adapt)<\/td><td>$199\/mo (Premium)<\/td><td>$12.99\/mo<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Dynamic QR codes<\/td><td>\u2705 Always<\/td><td>\u2705<\/td><td>\u274c<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>TinyURL<\/strong> gives you unlimited free links but no analytics and very limited QR support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Bitly<\/strong> has brand recognition and a solid free tier, but link click analytics require a paid plan. Branded domains start at $199\/month.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>QR Chameleon<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/qrchameleon.com\/blog\/free-plan\/\">includes link click analytics on the free plan<\/a> and offers branded domains at a fraction of Bitly&#8217;s price.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The QR Chameleon Bonus<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Here&#8217;s something no other link shortener offers: <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/qrchameleon.com\/gallery\">AI-generated chameleon characters<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Every QR Chameleon user can create a personalized chameleon character through a fun interactive wizard. Pick a personality, color scheme, style, accessories \u2014 and the AI generates a unique avatar just for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Your chameleon gets its own shareable page at <code>qrchameleon.com\/c\/your-chameleon<\/code>. And here&#8217;s the interesting part: that page has your affiliate link built in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When someone sees your chameleon, signs up for QR Chameleon, and later subscribes (within 30 days) to a paid <a href=\"https:\/\/qrchameleon.com\/pricing\">QR Chameleon plan<\/a> \u2014 you earn 10% commission on every payment they make. Forever.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It&#8217;s a viral passive referral engine disguised as fun digital art.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-qrc-blog-faq-accordion faq-section\"><h2 class=\"faq-section-title\" style=\"font-family:Work Sans, system-ui, sans-serif;font-size:40px;font-weight:700;color:#111827;margin-bottom:1.5rem\">Frequently Asked Questions<\/h2><div class=\"faq-item\"><h3 class=\"faq-question-heading\">What is the best free URL shortener?<\/h3><button class=\"faq-question\"><span>What is the best free URL shortener?<\/span><svg class=\"faq-icon\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"#123351\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\"><polyline points=\"6 9 12 15 18 9\"><\/polyline><\/svg><\/button><div class=\"faq-answer overflow-hidden\"><p>For most people, QR Chameleon offers the best balance of features on a free plan \u2014 short links, QR codes, and analytics all included. Bitly has more brand recognition but charges for analytics. TinyURL offers unlimited links but no tracking.<\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"faq-item\"><h3 class=\"faq-question-heading\">Is there a free alternative to Bitly?<\/h3><button class=\"faq-question\"><span>Is there a free alternative to Bitly?<\/span><svg class=\"faq-icon\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"#123351\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\"><polyline points=\"6 9 12 15 18 9\"><\/polyline><\/svg><\/button><div class=\"faq-answer overflow-hidden\"><p>Yes. QR Chameleon and Bitly both offer 5 links and 2 QR codes per month on their free plans. The key difference is analytics: QR Chameleon includes link click data (devices, locations, referrers) for free, while Bitly&#8217;s free plan only shows landing page views \u2014 not link clicks.<\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"faq-item\"><h3 class=\"faq-question-heading\">How do I shorten a URL for free?<\/h3><button class=\"faq-question\"><span>How do I shorten a URL for free?<\/span><svg class=\"faq-icon\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"#123351\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\"><polyline points=\"6 9 12 15 18 9\"><\/polyline><\/svg><\/button><div class=\"faq-answer overflow-hidden\"><p>Go to qrchameleon.com Sign up for a free account Paste your long URL and Click u0026quot;Create Linku0026quot; Copy your new short link (e.g., qrch.am\/U4im626B)  No credit card required.<\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"faq-item\"><h3 class=\"faq-question-heading\">Do free URL shorteners track clicks?<\/h3><button class=\"faq-question\"><span>Do free URL shorteners track clicks?<\/span><svg class=\"faq-icon\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"#123351\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\"><polyline points=\"6 9 12 15 18 9\"><\/polyline><\/svg><\/button><div class=\"faq-answer overflow-hidden\"><p>Most don&#8217;t \u2014 or they limit tracking to paid plans. QR Chameleon includes a rolling 7 day window of click analytics on the free tier, including device type, location, and referrer data and more.<\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"faq-item\"><h3 class=\"faq-question-heading\">Can I create a QR code from a short link?<\/h3><button class=\"faq-question\"><span>Can I create a QR code from a short link?<\/span><svg class=\"faq-icon\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"#123351\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\"><polyline points=\"6 9 12 15 18 9\"><\/polyline><\/svg><\/button><div class=\"faq-answer overflow-hidden\"><p>With QR Chameleon, yes \u2014 automatically. Every short link you create generates a matching QR code that points to the same destination. No extra steps, no extra cost.<\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"faq-item\"><h3 class=\"faq-question-heading\">Do short links expire?<\/h3><button class=\"faq-question\"><span>Do short links expire?<\/span><svg class=\"faq-icon\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"#123351\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\"><polyline points=\"6 9 12 15 18 9\"><\/polyline><\/svg><\/button><div class=\"faq-answer overflow-hidden\"><p>On QR Chameleon, links don&#8217;t expire unless you set them to. You can optionally configure expiration by date or by click count. Unlike some free shorteners, your links won&#8217;t disappear due to inactivity or free promotional periods.<\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"faq-item\"><h3 class=\"faq-question-heading\">Can I use my own domain?<\/h3><button class=\"faq-question\"><span>Can I use my own domain?<\/span><svg class=\"faq-icon\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"#123351\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\"><polyline points=\"6 9 12 15 18 9\"><\/polyline><\/svg><\/button><div class=\"faq-answer overflow-hidden\"><p>Yes \u2014 on QR Chameleon&#8217;s Adapt plan and above. You can connect a custom domain like go.yourcompany.com and use it for all your short links instead of qrch.am\/.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Start Shortening Links<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You don&#8217;t need to pay anything to shorten URLs and see who clicks them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/qrchameleon.com\/pricing\">Create Your Free Account<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">5 short links, 2 QR codes, full analytics. No credit card required.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Most URL shorteners charge for basic features like analytics and QR codes. QR Chameleon gives you short links, automatic QR codes, click tracking, and device data \u2014 free. Here&#8217;s how it works and why it beats Bitly for most use cases.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":366,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6,10,5],"tags":[32,47,45,46,44],"class_list":["post-364","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-link-tracking","category-tutorials","category-url-shortening","tag-analytics","tag-bitly-alternative","tag-link-management","tag-qr-codes","tag-shortener"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Free URL Shortener with QR Codes &amp; Analytics<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Shorten links, generate QR codes, and track clicks \u2014 all free. No Bitly needed. See why QR Chameleon is the best free URL shortener for 2026.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/qrchameleon.com\/blog\/free-url-shortener-with-qr-codes-analytics\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Free URL Shortener with QR Codes &amp; Analytics\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Shorten links, generate QR codes, and track clicks \u2014 all free. No Bitly needed. 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