URL cloaking
URL cloaking turns a long affiliate URL into a short branded link that stays in the address bar the whole time, not just at the click. Use your own domain, change the destination anytime, and keep a standard redirect for sites that can't be framed.
What is URL cloaking?
URL cloaking turns a long, messy destination URL like partner.net/aff?id=99823&campaign=summer&url=… into a short, branded link visitors see and trust: go.yourbrand.com/best-mic. With U2L, that branded link stays in the address bar while the destination loads inside a full-page frame, so people never see the messy affiliate URL.
You'll also see it called URL masking or link masking. Whatever the name, the result is the same: your link up front, the destination's content underneath.
How to cloak a URL
Three steps from a raw affiliate URL to a cloaked branded link.
- 1
Create a short link
Paste the destination URL in the dashboard and choose your domain and back-half, like go.yourbrand.com/best-mic.
- 2
Turn on URL cloaking
Open Advanced Options and switch on URL Cloaking/Masking. Your link now stays in the address bar while the destination loads.
- 3
Test it, then share
Open the link in a browser. When the destination loads inside your link, it's ready to share. A blank page means the site blocks framing - switch cloaking off for that link to use a standard redirect.
URL cloaking vs. masking vs. forwarding
These terms get mixed up constantly. Cloaking and masking are the same frame technique under two names, domain masking applies it to a whole domain at your registrar, and URL forwarding is a plain redirect. Many "cloaking" plugins only forward, so the destination's real URL reappears the moment the page loads.
| URL cloaking | URL masking | Domain masking | URL forwarding | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| What it covers | One short link on your domain | One URL or page | A whole domain | A whole domain or one link |
| Address bar after the click | Your branded link | The original URL | Your domain | The destination's real URL |
| How it works | Your link loads the destination in a full-page frame | Full-page frame | Full-page frame, set up at your domain registrar | 301 or 302 redirect |
| Works on any destination | Only where framing is allowed | Only where framing is allowed | Only where framing is allowed | Yes |
| Best for | Affiliate and campaign links | Branded links and landing pages | Pointing a spare domain at an existing site | Most links, and any site that blocks framing |
On U2L, every link is a standard redirect by default, and cloaking is a per-link switch - cloak the links that benefit, forward the rest.
Why affiliate marketers cloak links
Cleaner, clickable links
Strip the intimidating ?ref= and &tag= parameter soup that screams 'sales pitch' - a clean link reads as trustworthy.
Brand trust
Visitors click links on your own domain far more readily than a raw affiliate-network URL.
Commission protection
Hiding the referral ID makes it harder to strip or hijack the commission on the way through.
Manage in one place
Change a cloaked link's destination once and every placement updates - swap expired offers without editing posts.
When URL cloaking won't work - and what to do instead
Cloaking is the stronger promise but the more fragile mechanism, so here's the honest picture:
- Many sites block framing. Sites that send X-Frame-Options or a CSP frame-ancestors policy - YouTube, Vimeo, Google, Facebook, X, PayPal, most banks and checkout pages - can't be cloaked. Use a standard redirect for those.
- HTTPS only. A secure short link can't frame an insecure HTTP page.
- It's not the same as SEO cloaking. Showing crawlers different content is a policy violation; link masking simply shows a cleaner branded URL, and is fine when you disclose affiliate links with rel="sponsored".
- Some programs forbid it. Amazon Associates prohibits cloaking outright - use amzn.to for Amazon and cloak links only where the program allows it.
- It doesn't fully hide the destination. A technical user can inspect the page and find the real URL. Cloaking cleans up the visible link; it isn't security.
URL cloaking FAQ
What is URL cloaking?+
It turns a long destination URL, full of affiliate IDs and tracking parameters, into a short branded link that visitors see instead. With U2L, your branded link stays in the address bar while the destination loads inside it.
Is URL cloaking free?+
Cloaking is a paid feature, included on the Advanced, Team, and Enterprise plans. Short links with custom back-halves are free, and after you upgrade you can switch cloaking on for any of your links. See the pricing page for current plans.
How do I cloak a URL with my own domain?+
Add your domain under Custom domains in the dashboard, then add the DNS record we show you: a CNAME for a subdomain like go.yourbrand.com, or an A record for a root domain. Once it's verified, create a link on that domain and switch on URL Cloaking/Masking under Advanced Options. Custom domains and cloaking are both included on Advanced and above.
URL cloaking vs. URL forwarding: what's the difference?+
URL forwarding is a redirect: the browser goes to the destination, and the destination's real URL shows in the address bar. URL cloaking loads the destination inside your link, so your branded URL stays in the address bar. Forwarding works with every site; cloaking works where the destination allows framing. On U2L, every link forwards by default, and cloaking is a per-link switch.
Why does my cloaked link show a blank page?+
The destination blocks framing. Sites like YouTube, Google, Facebook, and PayPal, plus most banks and checkout pages, send an X-Frame-Options or CSP frame-ancestors header that tells browsers not to display them inside another page, so the frame stays blank or shows a "refused to connect" message. HTTP (non-HTTPS) destinations are blocked the same way. Switch cloaking off for that link and it works as a standard redirect, with the same short link and the same click stats.
Will cloaking work on any website?+
No. Sites that block framing with X-Frame-Options or a CSP frame-ancestors policy - including YouTube, Vimeo, Google, Facebook, X, PayPal, and most banks and checkout pages - can't be cloaked. HTTP (non-HTTPS) destinations can't be cloaked either. For those, use a standard redirect.
Is URL cloaking the same as SEO cloaking?+
No. SEO cloaking shows search engines different content than users to manipulate rankings - a policy violation that gets sites penalized or deindexed. Cloaking a link shows a real destination behind a cleaner branded URL, and it's legitimate when you disclose affiliate links. Different practice, different intent.
Does cloaking fully hide the destination?+
No. It changes the link people see and click, but the destination still loads its own content, and a technical user can inspect the page to find the real URL. Cloaking is for cleaner, more trustworthy links - not security.
Is cloaking allowed by affiliate programs?+
Some allow it, some don't. Amazon Associates explicitly prohibits it - cloaking Amazon links can get your account terminated and earnings forfeited. Always check your program's terms before cloaking, and use Amazon's own amzn.to links for Amazon.
Should I cloak Amazon affiliate links?+
No - Amazon's terms forbid it. Use Amazon's own amzn.to short links for Amazon, and cloak links for programs that permit it.
Is URL cloaking bad for SEO?+
Not when done right. Google permits affiliate links that are disclosed and marked rel="sponsored" (or nofollow). Problems only arise with deceptive SEO cloaking - showing different content to crawlers - and cloaking a link doesn't do that.
Why do affiliate marketers cloak their links?+
Cleaner links get more clicks, branded same-site links feel more trustworthy, the referral ID is harder to strip or hijack, and you can change a destination in one place instead of editing every post.
Do I need WordPress to cloak links?+
No. Unlike plugins that only work inside WordPress, U2L cloaks any link and works anywhere you share it - social bios, YouTube descriptions, email, and PDFs.
Cloak your links, keep your brand up front
Turn messy affiliate URLs into clean branded links that stay in the address bar, and manage every destination from one place.