Free, open-source alternatives to Bitly
Short links with click statistics. 4 apps you can run yourself instead of Bitly, sorted by how well they replace it. Each one is open source, so your data stays with you.
YOURLSBest match
YOURLS is a set of PHP scripts that will allow you to run Your Own URL Shortener. Features include password protection, URL customization, bookmarklets, statistics, API, plugins, jsonp.
Kutt
Modern URL shortener with support for custom domains and custom URLs.
Shlink
URL shortener with REST API and command line interface. Includes official progressive web application and docker images.
Chhoto URL
Simple, lightning-fast URL shortener with no bloat (fork of simply-shorten).
Side by side
| App | Stars | License | Activity | Runs on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| YOURLS | 12,262 | MIT | PHP | |
| Kutt | 11,155 | MIT | Node.js, Docker | |
| Shlink | 5,335 | MIT | PHP, Docker | |
| Chhoto URL | 987 | MIT | Rust, Docker |
Why replace Bitly?
Bitly works, but your data lives in someone else's account, the price can change at any time, and features can disappear. An open-source app you run yourself is yours: you choose where it runs, who can see the data, and when to update.
Questions
What is the best free alternative to Bitly?
YOURLS is the closest open-source replacement for Bitly in our list. Kutt and Shlink are worth a look too, depending on what you need.
Can I self-host an alternative to Bitly?
Yes. All 4 apps on this page are open source and can run on your own server, usually with Docker, or on a managed host that installs them for you.