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Shlink alternatives: 5 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave Shlink: you run and maintain the server, and no managed hosted version. We ranked 5 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Shlink, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. YOURLS currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1YOURLS logoYOURLSOpen sourceYesSelf-hosted, Web5 of 566.5
2Kutt logoKuttOpen sourceYesWeb, Self-hosted, Browser extension4 of 462.6
3Dub logoDubFree plan + paidYesWeb, Self-hosted5 of 559.6
4Sink logoSinkOpen sourceYesSelf-hosted, Web3 of 357.2
5Short.io logoShort.ioFree plan + paidNoWeb, iOS, Android +15 of 555.3
  1. YOURLS logo

    1. YOURLSTop pick

    Best for: People with PHP hosting who want a free, extensible shortener on their own domain

    Open sourceSelf-hostableSelf-hosted, Web

    66.5

    score / 100

    Why switch from Shlink

    The other popular self-hosted shortener, with a large plugin ecosystem.

    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 ×0.3100
    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 Shlink 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)
  2. Kutt logo

    2. Kutt

    Best for: Developers who want a modern, self-hostable shortener with custom domains and an API

    Open sourceSelf-hostableWeb, Self-hosted, Browser extension

    62.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from Shlink

    Open source with a friendlier web UI and an optional hosted service.

    Pros

    • Free and MIT-licensed
    • Clean modern interface
    • Free custom domains and an API
    • Hosted instance or self-host with Docker

    Cons

    • Volunteer-run with no support guarantees
    • Limited team and marketing features
    • Old kutt.it domain is unofficial, which confuses users
    Visit Kutt Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.387
    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 Kutt a good Shlink alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    License
    MIT
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Custom domains
    Free
    Checked Oct 25, 2026kutt.to(opens source in a new tab)
    API
    Yes
    Checked Oct 25, 2026kutt.to(opens source in a new tab)
    Self-hosting
    Yes
    Checked Oct 25, 2026kutt.to(opens source in a new tab)
  3. Dub logo

    3. Dub

    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 Shlink

    Open source with a hosted service, conversion tracking and team features.

    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 Shlink 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)
  4. Sink logo

    4. Sink

    Best for: Developers on Cloudflare who want a free, serverless shortener on their own domain

    Open sourceSelf-hostableSelf-hosted, Web

    57.2

    score / 100

    Why switch from Shlink

    Serverless on Cloudflare instead of your own server.

    Pros

    • No server to maintain
    • Runs on Cloudflare's edge network for fast redirects
    • Built-in analytics and dashboard

    Cons

    • Tied to Cloudflare's platform
    • No hosted version or support
    • Requires some developer setup
    Visit Sink Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.369
    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 Sink a good Shlink alternative?

    Verified facts

    3 of 3 verified
    License
    AGPL-3.0
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Platform
    Runs entirely on Cloudflare
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Development
    Active
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
  5. Short.io logo

    5. Short.io

    Best for: Small businesses that want branded short links on their own domains without paying much

    Free plan + paidWeb, iOS, Android, Browser extension

    55.3

    score / 100

    Why switch from Shlink

    A hosted option with custom domains if you'd rather not run a server.

    Pros

    • Custom domains on the free plan
    • Low-cost entry paid plan
    • Deep links, targeting and A/B redirects

    Cons

    • Interface is functional rather than polished
    • Advanced security features only on higher tiers
    • Tracked-click caps on lower plans
    Visit Short.io Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.363
    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 Short.io a good Shlink alternative?

    Verified facts

    5 of 5 verified
    Free plan
    5 custom domains, 1,000 branded links
    Checked Oct 25, 2026short.io(opens source in a new tab)
    Hobby plan
    $5/month
    Checked Oct 25, 2026short.io(opens source in a new tab)
    Pro plan
    $18/month
    Checked Oct 25, 2026short.io(opens source in a new tab)
    Team plan
    $48/month
    Checked Oct 25, 2026short.io(opens source in a new tab)
    Users
    1.2 million+
    Checked Oct 25, 2026short.io(opens source in a new tab)

The best Shlink alternative for…

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

YOURLS logo

Best Shlink alternative for most people

YOURLS

The other popular self-hosted shortener, with a large plugin ecosystem.

Kutt logo

Best Shlink alternative for a free option

Kutt

Open source with a friendlier web UI and an optional hosted service.

Dub logo

Best Shlink alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

Dub

Open source with a hosted service, conversion tracking and team features.

Sink logo

Best Shlink alternative for open source

Sink

Serverless on Cloudflare instead of your own server.

YOURLS logo

Best Shlink alternative for self-hosting

YOURLS

The other popular self-hosted shortener, with a large plugin ecosystem.

Short.io logo

Best Shlink alternative for iPhone and Android

Short.io

A hosted option with custom domains if you'd rather not run a server.

YOURLS logo

Best Shlink alternative for working in the browser

YOURLS

The other popular self-hosted shortener, with a large plugin ecosystem.

Shlink alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to Shlink?

YOURLS ranks first right now. The other popular self-hosted shortener, with a large plugin ecosystem. Kutt and Dub follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to Shlink?

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

Is there an open-source alternative to Shlink?

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

Why do people switch from Shlink?

The complaints we hear most: you run and maintain the server; no managed hosted version; analytics simpler than commercial tools.

How is this list ranked?

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