FreeDirector vs RedirHub (2026): HTTPS, Pricing & Best Fit
FreeDirector is the cheaper choice for simple HTTP forwarding, but it cannot redirect HTTPS source domains. RedirHub starts at $49/month with automatic HTTPS and 2,500 managed links.
We build RedirHub. We point out where FreeDirector is the better buy, and how to check against your own setup.
The short answer
Choose RedirHub if
- Your redirect domains receive HTTPS traffic
- Your migration has old URLs that need individual new destinations
- You want redirect operations, managed links, bulk management and API access in one workspace
Choose FreeDirector if
- You need straightforward 301/302 forwarding for a small set of HTTP-only domains or subdomains
- You want the lowest possible monthly cost
Which product fits your job#
Forward a few HTTP-only domains
Standard is free for 5 FQDNs and includes 301/302 redirects plus path forwarding.
Forward 25 root domains plus www over HTTP only
50 FQDNs fit its $4.99 Professional plan. RedirHub Core is $49/month for 25 domains with www coverage.
Redirect domains that receive HTTPS traffic
FreeDirector explicitly says it cannot redirect HTTPS source domains. RedirHub includes automatic HTTPS.
Migrate hundreds of old URLs to different new paths
Core includes 2,500 managed links. FreeDirector documents path preservation, not a separately configurable old-path-to-new-path mapping workflow.
The decision is unusually clear. FreeDirector is a strong low-cost option for simple HTTP forwarding. RedirHub becomes the better fit when HTTPS on the source matters or when the job is a structured URL migration rather than whole-domain forwarding.
Simple domain forwarding#
FreeDirector[1] is deliberately narrow. Its public pricing lists:
- Standard $0/month for 5 domains or subdomains, 301/302 redirects, path forwarding and 7 days of analytics.
- Professional $4.99/month for 50 domains or subdomains, 301/302 redirects, path forwarding, 90 days of analytics and email support.
FreeDirector counts fully qualified domain names. Its FAQ says a root domain and each subdomain are separate FQDNs, and wildcard domains are not supported, so each hostname must be configured explicitly.
That makes it very inexpensive for a small portfolio where HTTP-only forwarding is acceptable.
Our call
For simple HTTP forwarding, FreeDirector is the better buy.
Its pricing is hard to beat if the HTTPS limitation does not matter for your traffic.
The HTTPS difference#
This is the most important difference between the products.
FreeDirector's FAQ says: "No, you can only redirect HTTP domains." It can send visitors to either an HTTP or HTTPS destination, but the source itself cannot be served over HTTPS. The same FAQ warns that secured namespaces that enforce HTTPS, including examples such as .app and .dev, will not work with the service.
RedirHub's current pricing page[2] lists automatic HTTPS across its plans. Once a source hostname is connected, RedirHub provisions and renews TLS certificates for it.
That matters because a redirect only works after the browser successfully reaches the source. If visitors, search engines or old links request https://old-domain.example, an HTTP-only redirect service cannot complete that request.
Our call
If the old domain receives HTTPS traffic, use RedirHub or another service that terminates HTTPS.
FreeDirector is only the better-value option when HTTP-only source traffic is an acceptable constraint.
A 25-domain portfolio#
Suppose you own 25 retired root domains and want both the apex and www version of each to forward to your main site.
FreeDirector treats those as 50 FQDNs. That fits Professional at $4.99/month, assuming HTTP-only forwarding is acceptable.
RedirHub Core is $49/month for 25 domains, and RedirHub's current whole-domain behavior covers the root domain's www variant. Core also includes automatic HTTPS, 2,500 managed links, three team members, an API and redirect analytics.
| 25 root domains + www | FreeDirector | RedirHub |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly price | $4.99 | $49 |
| Source HTTPS | Not supported | Automatic HTTPS |
| Counting model | 50 FQDNs | 25 domains with www coverage |
The $44.01/month difference is real, but so is the protocol difference. Do not pay RedirHub's higher price just to do a job FreeDirector already handles well. Pay for it when HTTPS, migration mappings or the broader redirect-management workflow are part of the requirement.
Website migrations#
FreeDirector documents path and query-string forwarding as enabled by default. If you move a site from one domain to another and every path stays the same, that is exactly the kind of simple forwarding it handles well:
old.example/page → new.example/page
The harder migration is when old URLs need individual destinations:
old.example/about-us → new.example/company
old.example/pricing-2025 → new.example/pricing
FreeDirector's reviewed public plan and FAQ document path preservation, but they do not document a separately configured mapping system for hundreds of old paths.
RedirHub Core includes 2,500 managed links at $49/month. A migration that needs 500 individual old-to-new mappings fits inside the base Core allowance, while whole-domain forwarding is counted separately from managed links.
Migrating 500+ URLs? See what your current setup would cost on RedirHub.
Calculate your setupOur call
If paths stay the same and HTTP-only forwarding works, FreeDirector can be the simpler and cheaper option.
If hundreds of paths changed and need individual mappings, RedirHub is the documented fit.
Redirect types, analytics and operations#
Both products document 301 and 302 redirects, path forwarding and redirect analytics.
FreeDirector's public surface is intentionally simple: Standard keeps 7 days of analytics, Professional keeps 90 days, and the FAQ describes a redirect count plus a traffic-profile graph.
RedirHub supports 301, 302, 307 and 308 redirects, path forwarding, query-parameter forwarding, bulk CSV import/export, REST API access and automatic HTTPS. Core includes three team members and 90 days of click and scan data; Pro expands the operating model with longer analytics history, monitoring, advanced routing and unlimited team members.
For a solo operator redirecting a handful of domains, most of that extra surface may be unnecessary. For SEO, IT or marketing teams operating a redirect estate, it changes how much work can be centralized.
The real buying boundary#
The useful comparison is not "which platform has more features?" It is what job are you actually buying for?
FreeDirector should not be dismissed as an incomplete RedirHub. For its documented job, lightweight HTTP domain forwarding, it is dramatically cheaper.
At the same time, its HTTPS limitation is material. A modern redirect portfolio often has old inbound links already using HTTPS, and some TLDs force HTTPS at the browser level. In those cases, the lower subscription price does not solve the required job.
That makes the buying boundary much cleaner than a long feature checklist:
- HTTP-only, simple forwarding FreeDirector is usually the rational choice.
- HTTPS redirect domains RedirHub fits the requirement.
- Changed-path migrations RedirHub's managed-link model is built for the job.
- Large teams or richer operations compare the broader RedirHub workflow against whether FreeDirector's narrow scope is enough.
How to check your own setup#
- List every source hostname you need to redirect, including
wwwand other subdomains. - Check whether old links already use
https://or whether the TLD enforces HTTPS. - Separate whole-domain forwarding from old URLs whose paths changed.
- If everything is HTTP-only and paths are preserved, price the FQDN count on FreeDirector first.
- If HTTPS or individual path mappings are required, price the domain and managed-link counts on RedirHub.
Need HTTPS on your redirect domains?
Manage redirect operations, managed links, bulk management and API access in one workspace.
Start free trialFrequently asked questions
Yes. Its current public homepage lists Professional at $4.99/month for up to 50 domains or subdomains. Standard is free for up to 5.
No. FreeDirector's own FAQ says source domains can only be redirected over HTTP, although the destination may use HTTP or HTTPS.
Yes. Its FAQ says path and query-string forwarding are supported and enabled by default on Standard and Professional.
Its FAQ says wildcard domain redirection is not supported and that each domain or subdomain must be created separately.
When the requirement includes HTTPS on source domains, separately managed migration mappings, bulk operations, API-driven management, QR destinations or a broader multi-user redirect workflow. If you only need simple HTTP forwarding, FreeDirector is usually the better-value option.
TC is the Operations Manager at RedirHub, leading the company’s operational strategy and execution to ensure reliable, scalable redirect infrastructure. He oversees internal processes, cross-team coordination, and platform readiness while supporting customers through complex redirect implementations. With a strong understanding of large-scale domain operations and real-world edge cases, TC plays a key role in aligning product and customer success to deliver stable, high-performance redirection solutions.