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Best / Link shorteners

Best open-source Link shorteners

The best self-hosted short-link split in the c17.io catalog is Shlink for an MIT API shortener (the published Bitly / TinyURL stack), YOURLS when you want that MIT PHP classic, Kutt when you want that MIT Node app, and PrivateBin when the job is a paste rather than a short URL. Dub is named on /stacks/shlink-urls but ships AGPL plus ee/ — skip ee if you want OSS-only; it is not ranked here. This is not Bitly's every QR SKU. A link-in-bio page stays on /replace/linktree.

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Ranked picks

  1. 1

    Shlink

    MIT URL shortener with a REST API and QR codes — the c17 Bitly/TinyURL path. /compare/shlink-vs-yourls.

    When to pick it: A short URL and an API you host.

    5,365 stars in the catalog

  2. 2

    YOURLS

    MIT PHP shortener — /compare/shlink-vs-yourls.

    When to pick it: A classic PHP shortener if Shlink is not the shape.

    12,272 stars in the catalog

  3. 3

    Kutt

    MIT Node shortener — /compare/kutt-vs-shlink.

    When to pick it: A modern web UI if that is the job.

    11,166 stars in the catalog

  4. 4

    PrivateBin

    Zlib/libpng zero-knowledge paste — already on /best/pastebins. Not a short link.

    When to pick it: A snippet, not a branded short URL.

    8,705 stars in the catalog

How they compare

ToolLicenseSelf-hostBest for
ShlinkMIT LicenseEasyA short URL and an API you host.
YOURLSMIT LicenseEasyA classic PHP shortener if Shlink is not the shape.
KuttMIT LicenseEasyA modern web UI if that is the job.
PrivateBinOtherEasyA snippet, not a branded short URL.

Related pages

FAQ

Shlink or YOURLS?
Shlink if you want the published Bitly path (API + QR). YOURLS if you want that PHP classic — /compare/shlink-vs-yourls.
Where is Dub?
Named on /stacks/shlink-urls. The repo is AGPL plus ee/ — skip ee. It is not ranked here.
Why is PrivateBin last?
PrivateBin is a paste. Put it here so a gist is not sold as a short link.
Are these free?
Shlink, YOURLS, and Kutt are MIT. PrivateBin is Zlib/libpng. You pay hosting. Template users never pay c17.
How do I deploy it?
Open /stacks/shlink-urls. Persist the database. Create one short link.

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