Plain.ovh Logo

Plain.ovh

See through the link.

See through the link - shows where it really goes, removes tracking junk, affiliate-friendly by default and lets you share it safely.

The Simple User Experience

Paste: User pastes http://bit.ly/3xYz

Unmask: Shows destination: https://pumashoes-outlet-deals.com

The “Wise” Context

  • 🚩 New Domain: Registered only 4 days ago.
  • 🚩 Suspicious Name: Uses “Puma” but isn’t puma.com.
  • 🛠 Tech: Built on a generic template.

Verdict: “Proceed with high caution. This does not appear to be the official Puma store.”

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Plain.ovh?

Plain.ovh is a free, privacy-focused web tool that helps you understand where shortened or suspicious links really go. It analyzes URLs by following redirects, removing tracking parameters, and providing context about the destination domain.

How does it work?

When you paste a URL and click "Analyze":

  • The server follows all redirects (up to 10 hops) to find the final destination.
  • It cleans the URL by removing common tracking parameters (like utm_*).
  • It preserves affiliate tags (like tag=) by default.
  • It checks domain age, SSL status, and tech hints.
  • It compares the domain against known brands for similarity warnings.

Is it safe to use?

Yes, Plain.ovh is designed with privacy in mind:

  • No logging: Analyzed URLs are not stored or logged.
  • Server-side only: Redirects are followed on the server, not in your browser.
  • No cookies: The site doesn't use cookies or tracking.

What are shortlinks?

Plain.ovh can create transparent short links (like plain.ovh/s/abc123) that redirect to your cleaned URL. These are useful for sharing without exposing the full URL. Shortlinks include basic click stats (aggregated, no IP storage).

What do the warnings mean?

Warnings highlight potential risks:

  • HTTPS issues: Non-HTTPS destinations may not be secure.
  • New domains: Recently registered domains might be suspicious.
  • Lookalike domains: Domains that mimic known brands.
  • Long redirect chains: Too many hops could indicate tracking or obfuscation.
  • IP addresses: Destinations using IPs instead of domains.

What parameters are removed?

By default, these tracking parameters are stripped:

  • utm_source, utm_medium, utm_campaign, etc.
  • gclid, fbclid, msclkid, etc.
  • vero_conv, vero_id, etc.

Affiliate parameters like tag, aff_id, ref are kept.

Can I share analysis results?

Yes! Every analysis generates a shareable URL (e.g., plain.ovh/?url=encoded-link) that pre-fills and auto-runs the analysis when opened.

What about my privacy?

Plain.ovh prioritizes privacy:

  • No user accounts or personal data collection.
  • Analysis happens server-side with no history kept.
  • Shortlink stats are aggregated (click counts only, with optional top countries derived from headers).
  • No third-party analytics or ads.

Is there an API?

Yes, for developers:

  • GET /api/analyze?url=encoded-url - Analyze a URL.
  • POST /api/shorten - Create a shortlink.
  • GET /api/stats?slug=slug - Get shortlink stats.

See the documentation for details.