share the link.
keep the key
A password-protected c3.lt link lets you publish one memorable URL anywhere — and decide separately who gets through. PBKDF2-hashed, timing-safe, with a cookie unlock so legitimate visitors aren't nagged twice.
gates worth keeping.
private betas
Share one memorable link publicly; only people you have given the password reach the build. Rotate the password to cut off access without changing the URL.
paid content + downloads
Deliver files or gated pages to customers. The link can be everywhere; the password is the ticket.
client previews
Send work-in-progress to a client without making it public. One password per project keeps it simple.
internal docs + events
Team resources, webinar rooms, community perks — reachable through one short link, gated from drive-by visitors.
inside the gate.
Flip the switch on a c3.lt link and choose a password. Everything else about the link — analytics, expiry, click caps — keeps working.
Instead of redirecting, the link shows a minimal password page. No account needed, nothing to install.
Passwords are PBKDF2-hashed and checked with a timing-safe comparison — the same discipline as account passwords, applied to links.
A cookie remembers the unlock, so returning visitors are not re-prompted every click.
questions.
How do password-protected short links work?
You set a password on a c3.lt short link. Visitors see a password gate instead of an instant redirect; entering the correct password forwards them to the destination, and a cookie remembers the unlock so they are not re-prompted.
How securely is the password handled?
Passwords are hashed with PBKDF2 (never stored in plain text) and verified with a timing-safe comparison. Note that anyone you give the password to can share it — rotate the password to revoke access without changing the URL.
Can I combine a password with expiry or click limits?
Yes. A link can carry a password, an expiration date, and a click cap at once — for example a beta link that needs a password, dies on March 31, and admits at most 100 unlocks.
Do password-protected links still get analytics?
Yes — clicks, countries, devices, and referrers are recorded like any other link, so you can see how many people reached the gate and got through.
What plan do I need?
Password protection is a Pro feature. Regular short links, custom slugs, QR codes, and analytics start free.
gate your next link.
Start free; add the password gate on Pro.