Bitly alternatives: 6 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave Bitly: free plan is very limited and shows ads, and monthly volume caps on paid plans. We ranked 6 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Bitly, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. Rebrandly currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#	App	Pricing	Open source	Platforms	Verified facts	Score
1	Dub	Free plan + paid	Yes	Web, Self-hosted	5 of 5	59.6
2	YOURLS	Open source	Yes	Self-hosted, Web	5 of 5	53.6

1. DubTop pick
Best for: Startups and growth teams that want short links tied to conversions, with an open codebase
Free plan + paidOpen sourceSelf-hostableWeb, Self-hosted
59.6
score / 100
Why switch from Bitly
Modern, open-source link platform with conversion tracking and a generous free plan.
Pros
Open source with a self-hosting guide
Conversion tracking and attribution
Modern API, SDKs and webhooks
Free plan to start
Cons
Self-hosting depends on several third-party services
Conversion features only on higher plans
More platform than casual users need
Visit Dub Details and reviews
How this score is calculated
Editorial fit ×0.377
Reviews ×0.363
Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
Freshness ×0.1585
Votes ×0.150
0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula
Is Dub a good Bitly alternative?
Verified facts
5 of 5 verified
Free plan
$0 forever
Checked Oct 25, 2026dub.co(opens source in a new tab)
Pro plan
$30/month
Checked Oct 25, 2026dub.co(opens source in a new tab)
Free trial
14 days
Checked Oct 25, 2026dub.co(opens source in a new tab)
License
AGPL-3.0 (core)
Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
Self-hosting
Documented
Checked Oct 25, 2026dub.co(opens source in a new tab)
2. YOURLS
Best for: People with PHP hosting who want a free, extensible shortener on their own domain
Open sourceSelf-hostableSelf-hosted, Web
53.6
score / 100
Why switch from Bitly
Free and self-hosted on your own domain if you want full control.
Pros
Free and MIT-licensed
Large plugin ecosystem
Runs on standard PHP hosting
API and bookmarklets
Cons
Dated default interface
Many features rely on third-party plugins
You handle updates and security
Visit YOURLS Details and reviews
How this score is calculated
Editorial fit ×0.357
Reviews ×0.363
Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
Freshness ×0.1585
Votes ×0.150
0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula
Is YOURLS a good Bitly alternative?
Verified facts
5 of 5 verified
License
MIT
Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
Price
Free and open source
Checked Oct 25, 2026yourls.org(opens source in a new tab)
Features
Bookmarklets, API, stats
Checked Oct 25, 2026yourls.org(opens source in a new tab)
Plugins
Dozens of plugins
Checked Oct 25, 2026yourls.org(opens source in a new tab)
Since
2009
Checked Oct 25, 2026yourls.org(opens source in a new tab)

The best Bitly alternative for…

The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.

Best Bitly alternative for most people

Rebrandly

Stronger focus on branded domains, with a more generous entry plan.

Best Bitly alternative for a free option

YOURLS

Free and self-hosted on your own domain if you want full control.

Best Bitly alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

Short.io

Cheaper branded links with a free tier that includes custom domains.

Best Bitly alternative for open source

Dub

Modern, open-source link platform with conversion tracking and a generous free plan.

Best Bitly alternative for self-hosting

Dub

Modern, open-source link platform with conversion tracking and a generous free plan.

Best Bitly alternative for iPhone and Android

Short.io

Cheaper branded links with a free tier that includes custom domains.

Best Bitly alternative for working in the browser

TinyURL

Quick, no-fuss short links for people who don't need marketing analytics.

Bitly alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to Bitly?

Rebrandly ranks first right now. Stronger focus on branded domains, with a more generous entry plan. Short.io and Dub follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to Bitly?

Yes. Rebrandly (free plan + paid), Short.io (free plan + paid), Dub (free plan + paid) and YOURLS (open source) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to Bitly?

Yes: Dub and YOURLS. Dub and YOURLS can also be self-hosted.

Why do people switch from Bitly?

The complaints we hear most: free plan is very limited and shows ads; monthly volume caps on paid plans; costs climb steeply for higher tiers.

How is this list ranked?

Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces Bitly, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.