Google URL Shortener with Google Scripts

You can use Google Apps Script with the Google URL Shortener API to convert any long URL into a short one served through the goo.gl domain. Make sure you replace key with your own key from the Google Console dashboard. You can also bit.ly to shorten URLs.

function shortenURL(longUrl) {
  var key = 'YOUR_KEY';
  var serviceUrl = 'https://www.googleapis.com/urlshortener/v1/url?key=' + key;

  var options = {
    muteHttpExceptions: true,
    method: 'post',
    contentType: 'application/json',
    payload: JSON.stringify({ longUrl: longUrl }),
  };

  var response = UrlFetchApp.fetch(serviceUrl, options);

  if (response.getResponseCode() == 200) {
    var content = JSON.parse(response.getContentText());
    if (content != null && content['id'] != null) return content['id'];
  }

  return longUrl;
}

The other easier alternative for creating short URLs with the Google URL shortener API doesn’t require you to create a key as it passes the OAuth 2.0 access token for the current user in the header.

function shortenUrl(longURL) {
  var url = 'https://www.googleapis.com/urlshortener/v1/url';

  var payload = { longUrl: longURL };

  var parameters = {
    method: 'post',
    headers: { Authorization: 'Bearer ' + ScriptApp.getOAuthToken() },
    payload: JSON.stringify(payload),
    contentType: 'application/json',
    muteHttpExceptions: true,
  };

  var response = UrlFetchApp.fetch(url, parameters);

  Logger.log(response);
}

Amit Agarwal is a web geek, solo entrepreneur and loves making things on the Internet. Google recently awarded him the Google Developer Expert and Google Cloud Champion title for his work on Google Workspace and Google Apps Script.

Awards & Recognition

Google Developer Expert

Google Developer Expert

Google awarded us the Developer Expert title recogizing our work in Workspace

ProductHunt Golden Kitty

ProductHunt Golden Kitty

Our Gmail tool won the Lifehack of the Year award at ProductHunt Golden Kitty Awards

Microsoft MVP Alumni

Microsoft MVP Alumni

Microsoft awarded us the Most Valuable Professional title for 5 years in a row

Google Cloud Champion

Google Cloud Champion

Google awarded us the Champion Innovator award for technical expertise

Want to stay up to date?
Sign up for our email newsletter.

We will never send any spam emails. Promise 🫶🏻