Shlink
URL shortener with REST API and command line interface. Includes official progressive web application and docker images.
- GitHub stars
- 5,335
- License
- MIT
- Latest release
- v5.1.7
21 September 2026 - Last commit
- 12 October 2026
- Runs on
- PHP, Docker
Commits per month, last 12 months
258 commits
Replaces
Paid products Shlink can stand in for.
How to self-host Shlink
Shlink runs on PHP 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.
- Get a server: a home server, a VPS, or a managed app host.
- Install it the way the project's docs describe, usually with Docker Compose.
- Put it behind HTTPS and set up backups before you add real data.
- Update it regularly. Watch the project's releases.
Similar apps
- YOURLS
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
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Simple, lightning-fast URL shortener with no bloat (fork of simply-shorten).
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- bit
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- snowshare
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Questions
Is Shlink free?
Yes. Shlink 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 Shlink?
Yes. Shlink runs on PHP and Docker. Follow the install guide in the project's documentation, or use a host that installs it for you.
What does Shlink replace?
People use Shlink instead of Bitly.
Is Shlink still maintained?
The last change to Shlink's code was on 12 October 2026, with 258 commits in the last 12 months.
Topics
App data from awesome-selfhosted (CC BY-SA 3.0), stars and activity from GitHub.