YOURLS

What you can use it for

Create branded short links on your own domain with custom slugs and an API.

• Own your short-link domain and data.
• Custom keywords and a documented shortening API.

Before you switch

Requires PHP 8.1+, MySQL and server administration; cURL extension for API use. Hosting, database, domain registration, bandwidth and backups are extra. No paid API is needed for ordinary shortening. Capacity depends on your infrastructure. Not Bitly enterprise support, SSO, mobile deep linking or full campaign-platform parity. Firsthand admission supports installation and short-link use; current analytics were not hands-on tested by us. For JotURL: run branded short links with custom slugs, an API and historical click/referrer reports on your own domain. Free MIT software; server, database, domain and maintenance may cost extra. No equivalent retargeting pixels, conversion attribution, mobile deep linking, dynamic QR suite or landing-page builder is established. For Rebrandly: Create branded links and custom slugs with an API and click/referrer reports beyond Rebrandly Free’s monthly creation allowance. Free MIT self-hosted software; domain, PHP/MySQL hosting and maintenance are separate. Not the full campaign, retargeting, mobile deep-link or enterprise suite.

Alternatives to these paid apps

Each comparison covers the workflow described above, rather than every paid feature.

Bitly→Website ↗

JotURL→Website ↗

Rebrandly→Website ↗