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T.LY alternatives: 5 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave T.LY: simpler analytics than bigger platforms, and few enterprise and compliance features. We ranked 5 alternatives by how directly each one replaces T.LY, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. Bitly currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1Kutt logoKuttOpen sourceYesWeb, Self-hosted, Browser extension4 of 457.2
  1. Kutt logo

    1. KuttTop pick

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

    Open sourceSelf-hostableWeb, Self-hosted, Browser extension

    57.2

    score / 100

    Why switch from T.LY

    Open source and free, with an API and custom domains.

    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 ×0.369
    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 Kutt a good T.LY 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)

The best T.LY alternative for…

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

Bitly logo

Best T.LY alternative for most people

Bitly

More recognised links and deeper marketing features.

Kutt logo

Best T.LY alternative for a free option

Kutt

Open source and free, with an API and custom domains.

Short.io logo

Best T.LY alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

Short.io

Also inexpensive, with custom domains even on the free plan.

Kutt logo

Best T.LY alternative for open source

Kutt

Open source and free, with an API and custom domains.

Kutt logo

Best T.LY alternative for self-hosting

Kutt

Open source and free, with an API and custom domains.

Bitly logo

Best T.LY alternative for iPhone and Android

Bitly

More recognised links and deeper marketing features.

Cuttly logo

Best T.LY alternative for working in the browser

Cuttly

Adds surveys and link-in-bio to cheap short links.

T.LY alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to T.LY?

Bitly ranks first right now. More recognised links and deeper marketing features. Short.io and Kutt follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to T.LY?

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

Is there an open-source alternative to T.LY?

Yes: Kutt. Kutt can also be self-hosted.

Why do people switch from T.LY?

The complaints we hear most: simpler analytics than bigger platforms; few enterprise and compliance features; trial is only five days.

How is this list ranked?

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