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5 self-hosted options

Open-source alternatives to Bitly

The best open-source alternatives to Bitly are Shlink, Kutt and YOURLS.

About Bitly: A link shortener with click analytics and branded links.

Every option below is free to self-host and ranked by GitHub stars, so you can move off Bitly without giving up the features you rely on.

Top picks

  1. Rank 1:

    Shlink

    shlinkio/shlink

    URL shortener with REST API and command line interface. Includes official progressive web application and docker images.

    URL ShortenersPHPDocker
  2. Rank 2:

    Kutt

    thedevs-network/kutt

    Modern URL shortener with support for custom domains and custom URLs.

    URL ShortenersJavaScriptDocker
  3. Rank 3:

    YOURLS

    YOURLS/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.

    URL ShortenersPHP

Why switch

Why teams move off Bitly

Self-hosting is not only about saving money. These are the reasons people make the switch.

  • Own your data

    Your data lives on a server you control, not on Bitly's infrastructure. No surprise policy changes and no lock-in.

  • No per-seat pricing

    Open-source alternatives to Bitly are free to run for as many users as your server can handle. A small VPS often costs less than a single subscription.

  • Customize and extend

    Read the code, add plugins, connect it to your own tools and automate it through open APIs. When you need a feature, you can build it or fund it.

Full ranking

All 5 Bitly alternatives

Ranked by GitHub stars. Open any app for live stats, license details and a deploy option.

  1. 1

    Shlink

    URL shortener with REST API and command line interface. Includes official progressive web application and docker images.

  2. 2

    Kutt

    Modern URL shortener with support for custom domains and custom URLs.

  3. 3

    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.

  4. 4

    Chhoto URL

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

  5. 5

    Simple-URL-Shortener

    KISS URL shortener, public or private (with account). Minimalist and lightweight. No dependencies.

FAQ

Bitly alternatives: FAQ

Still curious? Email info@appsgit.com.

What is the best open-source alternative to Bitly?

Shlink is the most popular open-source alternative to Bitly, with 5,316 GitHub stars. Kutt and YOURLS are also strong choices. Compare features, license and recent activity to find the best fit for your team.

Is there a free alternative to Bitly?

Yes. All 5 apps on this page are open source and free to self-host, so you can run a Bitly replacement without per-user fees. You only pay for the server, and a small VPS is usually enough for personal use or a small team.

Can I self-host an alternative to Bitly?

Yes. Shlink, Kutt and Chhoto URL ship a Docker image, so you can run them on a home server or VPS with Docker Compose in a few minutes. Your data then stays on hardware you control.

How do I migrate from Bitly?

Start by exporting your data from Bitly, then check the import options of the app you pick, since many projects ship importers for popular formats. Run both side by side for a week before you switch so nothing is lost.