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YOURLS alternatives: 4 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave YOURLS: dated default interface, and many features rely on third-party plugins. We ranked 4 alternatives by how directly each one replaces YOURLS, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. Shlink currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1Bitly logoBitlyFree plan + paidNoWeb, iOS, Android +15 of 557.2
  1. Bitly logo

    1. BitlyTop pick

    Best for: Marketing teams that want a trusted, widely recognised short-link and QR code platform

    Free plan + paidWeb, iOS, Android, Browser extension

    57.2

    score / 100

    Why switch from YOURLS

    Hosted and managed if you'd rather not run software yourself.

    Pros

    • Recognisable, trusted short links
    • Dynamic QR codes and link-in-bio in the same account
    • Mature API and integrations

    Cons

    • Free plan is very limited and shows ads
    • Monthly volume caps on paid plans
    • Costs climb steeply for higher tiers
    Visit Bitly 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 Bitly a good YOURLS alternative?

    Verified facts

    5 of 5 verified
    Free plan
    5 links/month, with ads
    Checked Oct 25, 2026bitly.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Core plan
    $10/month billed annually
    Checked Oct 25, 2026bitly.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Growth plan
    $29/month billed annually
    Checked Oct 25, 2026bitly.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Premium plan
    $199/month billed annually
    Checked Oct 25, 2026bitly.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Integrations
    Shopify, Canva, HubSpot and more
    Checked Oct 25, 2026bitly.com(opens source in a new tab)

The best YOURLS alternative for…

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

Shlink logo

Best YOURLS alternative for most people

Shlink

A more modern self-hosted shortener with Docker, REST API and a web client.

Kutt logo

Best YOURLS alternative for a free option

Kutt

Open source with a modern UI and an optional hosted instance.

Bitly logo

Best YOURLS alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

Bitly

Hosted and managed if you'd rather not run software yourself.

spoo.me logo

Best YOURLS alternative for open source

spoo.me

Open source with built-in analytics and many clients.

Shlink logo

Best YOURLS alternative for self-hosting

Shlink

A more modern self-hosted shortener with Docker, REST API and a web client.

Bitly logo

Best YOURLS alternative for iPhone and Android

Bitly

Hosted and managed if you'd rather not run software yourself.

Shlink logo

Best YOURLS alternative for working in the browser

Shlink

A more modern self-hosted shortener with Docker, REST API and a web client.

YOURLS alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to YOURLS?

Shlink ranks first right now. A more modern self-hosted shortener with Docker, REST API and a web client. Kutt and spoo.me follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to YOURLS?

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

Is there an open-source alternative to YOURLS?

Yes: Shlink, Kutt and spoo.me. Shlink, Kutt and spoo.me can also be self-hosted.

Why do people switch from YOURLS?

The complaints we hear most: dated default interface; many features rely on third-party plugins; you handle updates and security.

How is this list ranked?

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