bit vs YOURLS
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted url shorteners options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Not the right match-up?
bit
Fast, lightweight, resource-efficient, compiled URL shortener
VS
YOURLS
Your own URL shortener with stats and plugins
| Feature | bit | YOURLS |
|---|---|---|
| Category | URL Shorteners | URL Shorteners |
| License | MIT | MIT |
| Language | Crystal | PHP |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 128 MB |
| Deployment | docker | docker, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 105 | ★ 12,146 |
| First released | 2025 | 2009 |
| Replaces | — | Bitly |
Why pick each one
Choose bit if…
- Released under the MIT license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Written in Crystal
- Lightweight — runs in 512 MB RAM
Frequently asked questions
Is bit or YOURLS better?
YOURLS is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider bit if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are bit and YOURLS free and open-source?
Yes. bit is licensed under MIT and YOURLS under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run bit and YOURLS with Docker?
bit: yes. YOURLS: yes.