Shlink 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?
Shlink
The definitive self-hosted URL shortener
VS
YOURLS
Your own URL shortener with stats and plugins
| Feature | Shlink | YOURLS |
|---|---|---|
| Category | URL Shorteners | URL Shorteners |
| License | MIT | MIT |
| Language | PHP | PHP |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 256 MB | 128 MB |
| Deployment | docker, kubernetes, bare-metal | docker, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 5,192 | ★ 12,146 |
| First released | 2016 | 2009 |
| Replaces | Bitly, Rebrandly | Bitly |
Why pick each one
Frequently asked questions
Is Shlink or YOURLS better?
YOURLS is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider Shlink if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are Shlink and YOURLS free and open-source?
Yes. Shlink is licensed under MIT and YOURLS under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Shlink and YOURLS with Docker?
Shlink: yes. YOURLS: yes.