Bitly
URL shortening and link management service for creating concise, trackable links with analytics
YOURLS
Self‑hosted, customizable URL shortener built with PHP
YOURLS lets you run your own URL shortener on any PHP‑compatible server, offering full data control, detailed analytics, plugin extensibility, and a vibrant community—all under an MIT license.
Overview
Highlights
Full control over shortened URLs and data storage
Built‑in analytics and detailed click statistics
Plugin architecture for custom functionality
Simple PHP deployment on any web host
Pros
- No third‑party data sharing; privacy remains with you
- Free MIT license encourages modification and redistribution
- Active community provides plugins, guides, and support
- Lightweight codebase runs on modest server resources
Considerations
- Requires a PHP‑compatible server and basic admin skills
- No official hosted SaaS option; you must maintain the instance
- Scaling to very high traffic may need additional optimization
- Advanced features depend on community plugins
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Fit guide
Great for
- Developers who need a self‑hosted link shortener
- Small businesses wanting branded short URLs without recurring fees
- Privacy‑focused organizations that must keep click data in‑house
- Marketing teams that require custom analytics integrations
Not ideal when
- Non‑technical users seeking a plug‑and‑play service
- Enterprises requiring out‑of‑the‑box high‑scale infrastructure
- Teams that need built‑in enterprise support contracts
- Projects that cannot run PHP on their servers
How teams use it
Personal link management
Create short, memorable URLs for personal bookmarks and share them across social platforms while retaining full control over click data.
Marketing campaign tracking
Generate branded short links for ads and newsletters, then analyze click‑through rates directly within YOURLS dashboards.
Internal documentation linking
Shorten long internal URLs for wiki pages or intranet resources, simplifying navigation for employees.
Plugin‑driven extensions
Add custom plugins to integrate YOURLS with CRM or analytics tools, extending functionality to match specific workflow needs.
Tech snapshot
PHP94%
JavaScript4%
CSS2%
HTML1%
Frequently asked questions
What server requirements does YOURLS have?
YOURLS runs on any web server with PHP support (PHP 5.6+ recommended) and a MySQL/MariaDB database.
Is there a hosted version of YOURLS?
No official hosted service is provided; you install and manage the application on your own server.
How can I extend YOURLS functionality?
YOURLS includes a plugin system; community‑contributed plugins are listed on the Awesome YOURLS page and can be added to the installation.
Where can I find documentation and support?
Comprehensive docs are at docs.yourls.org, and community help is available via the official blog, GitHub discussions, and the Awesome YOURLS repository.
What license governs YOURLS?
YOURLS is released under the MIT license, allowing free use, modification, and distribution.
Project at a glance
Active- Stars
- 11,813
- Watchers
- 11,813
- Forks
- 2,075
LicenseMIT
Repo age13 years old
Last commit2 days ago
Primary languagePHP
Last synced yesterday