Chhoto URL

Simple, lightning-fast URL shortener with no bloat (fork of simply-shorten).

GitHub stars
987
License
MIT
Latest release
7.8.3
6 October 2026
Last commit
11 October 2026
Runs on
Rust, Docker

Commits per month, last 12 months

323 commits

Replaces

Paid products Chhoto URL can stand in for.

How to self-host Chhoto URL

Chhoto URL runs on Rust and Docker. The project's own install guide is the place to start; most people put it on a small server with Docker and a reverse proxy for HTTPS.

  1. Get a server: a home server, a VPS, or a managed app host.
  2. Install it the way the project's docs describe, usually with Docker Compose.
  3. Put it behind HTTPS and set up backups before you add real data.
  4. Update it regularly. Watch the project's releases.

New to self-hosting? Start with the beginner's guide.

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Questions

Is Chhoto URL free?

Yes. Chhoto URL is open source under the MIT license, so you can use it without paying for a license. You pay only for the server it runs on.

Can I self-host Chhoto URL?

Yes. Chhoto URL runs on Rust and Docker. Follow the install guide in the project's documentation, or use a host that installs it for you.

What does Chhoto URL replace?

People use Chhoto URL instead of Bitly.

Is Chhoto URL still maintained?

The last change to Chhoto URL's code was on 11 October 2026, with 323 commits in the last 12 months.

Topics

URL Shorteners

App data from awesome-selfhosted (CC BY-SA 3.0), stars and activity from GitHub.