Feature evaluation
Password-protected links for controlled sharing
Create Hoko links that require a password before redirecting, while preserving analytics and campaign context.
Password protection helps teams share links with an extra gate when the destination should not be open to everyone.
The problem this solves
Teams looking for password protected links usually need a controlled link for private previews, partner material, limited offers, internal campaigns, or sensitive landing pages.
A Hoko password gate runs before destination selection and click tracking. After unlock, the same link can still respect expiry, device targeting, geo targeting, cloaking, and analytics behavior.
What Hoko provides
- Password field on link records
- Password gate before destination resolution
- Secured click flags in tracking
- Compatibility with routing and expiry rules
These capabilities stay connected to the same link record, so the team can move from creation to sharing and measurement without rebuilding campaign context in a separate spreadsheet.
How to use it
- Decide whether the link truly needs a gate.
- Set a password and share it through a trusted channel.
- Test the unlock and redirect path.
- Review secured-link activity after sharing.
Before publishing, open the destination directly, test the short link in a private browser, scan the QR code if one is used, and confirm that every campaign value follows the team's naming convention.
Practical campaign pattern
Use password protected links when it removes a specific reporting or operating gap. Document the destination, owner, campaign, and success measure before publishing. Then test the public link on mobile and desktop, including any QR, password, expiry, or routing behavior that applies.
Hoko features work best as part of a governed link workflow. Keep naming consistent, give each measurable placement its own link, and review the result against the campaign goal rather than treating every click as equal.
What to measure
- Secured link attempts
- Unlocked clicks
- Conversions after password entry
- Unexpected access patterns
Read these metrics together. Click volume shows reach; source, device, and location data explain distribution; leads and sales show whether the traffic produced the result the campaign was designed to create.
Limits and fit
Password protection is not a replacement for application authentication or legal access control.
Availability can depend on plan, workspace permissions, event limits, and setup. Security controls on a link help govern sharing, but they do not replace application authentication or authorization.
Advanced password, expiry, iOS/Android, country routing, and compatible cloaking controls are Business+ capabilities. Confirm production rollout before relying on them in a live campaign.
Related Hoko capabilities
- Smart link routing for the right destination at the right time
- Expiring links for campaigns with an end date
- Smart link platform for campaigns that need proof
- Link analytics that explain what happened after sharing
Frequently asked questions
Can Hoko protect a link with a password?
Yes. Hoko supports password-gated links.
Does tracking still work?
Yes. Hoko can track secured link activity after the password flow.
Should I use this for confidential files?
Use proper app-level access control for sensitive files; link passwords are a campaign-sharing control.
Start with one measurable link
Create one Hoko link for a real campaign, keep its tracking values consistent, and use the resulting report to decide what to scale next. Create a free Hoko account or review the Hoko help center before setup.