Sink
URL ShortenersServerless URL shortener with built-in analytics
Replaces Bitly
Easiest URL Shorteners to self-host
8 url shorteners apps that are easy to get running, ranked by verified deploy effort, project health, and popularity. 1 have a verified ≈5-minute Docker setup.
YOURLS
URL ShortenersYour own URL shortener with stats and plugins
Replaces Bitly
Chhoto URL
URL ShortenersFast, lightweight and FOSS URL shortener in Rust
Replaces TinyURL, Bitly
Shlink Web Client
URL ShortenersWeb dashboard for managing Shlink instances
Replaces Bitly
spoo.me
URL ShortenersOpen-source URL shortener with click stats
Replaces Bitly, Cuttly
Slash
URL ShortenersOpen-source, self-hosted bookmarks and link shortener
Replaces Bitly, go links
Lstu
URL ShortenersLet's shorten that URL, simple and ephemeral
Replaces TinyURL, Bitly
Simply Shorten
URL ShortenersSlimline self-hosted URL shortener with no bloat
Replaces TinyURL
No apps match these filters.
The shortlist at a glance
| App | Deploy effort | Difficulty | Min. RAM | License | ★ Stars |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sink | ≈5-minute setup | Medium | 128 MB | MIT | 7,209 |
| YOURLS | Under-an-hour setup | Easy | 128 MB | MIT | 12,260 |
| Chhoto URL | Under-an-hour setup | Easy | 64 MB | MIT | 987 |
| Shlink Web Client | Under-an-hour setup | Easy | 128 MB | MIT | 398 |
| spoo.me | Under-an-hour setup | Easy | 256 MB | MIT | 257 |
| Slash | Under-an-hour setup | Easy | 256 MB | MIT | 3,183 |
| Lstu | Under-an-hour setup | Easy | 128 MB | WTFPL | 200 |
| Simply Shorten | Under-an-hour setup | Easy | 256 MB | MPL-2.0 | 100 |
Last reviewed Oct 11, 2026 · 631 words
The easiest URL shortener to run on your own server is Chhoto URL: one container, SQLite, and 64 MB of RAM by the directory's estimate, which makes it the smallest thing in a category of small things. YOURLS is the close second and the longer bet. Sink tops this ranking only because it ships one-click platform packages; it is a serverless app you deploy to an edge platform rather than a box you run, and the directory rates it Medium.
Chhoto URL or YOURLS for a first install?
Pick by what you are willing to back up. Chhoto URL keeps every link in a single SQLite file, so one container and one file is the whole system. YOURLS needs MySQL, so your "easy" install is two containers and a database dump job. In return YOURLS gives you click statistics, a plugin architecture, and a track record going back to 2009, which matters for links that will be printed on things. Both carry the "under an hour" badge because the image is published but you write the compose file yourself. The Chhoto URL vs YOURLS comparison lays the trade side by side.
| Pick | Deploy shape | RAM estimate | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chhoto URL | One container, SQLite file | 64 MB | Solo use, smallest footprint |
| YOURLS | App plus MySQL | 128 MB | Stats and plugins, long life |
| Slash | Docker | 256 MB | Team bookmarks that double as short links |
| spoo.me | Docker or bare metal | 256 MB | Password-protected links, emoji codes |
| Shlink Web Client | Dashboard only | 128 MB | Only useful with a Shlink server |
The last row is the trap in this list. Shlink Web Client is rated Easy because it is just a dashboard; it has no backend, and it does nothing until you deploy Shlink itself, which is Medium.
What "easy" still leaves you to do
Lock down link creation first. A shortener that lets anyone mint links on your domain will be found and used for spam redirects, and your domain is what gets blocklisted. Chhoto URL's public mode is optional for this reason; leave it off unless you mean it. Then HTTPS: put the service behind a reverse proxy with a certificate, so the admin login never crosses the network in plain text. Then backups, which in this category carry more weight than the software choice, as the buyer's guide argues. For Chhoto URL, copy the SQLite file on a schedule; for YOURLS, dump MySQL. Finally, accounts: decide who gets an admin login and keep that list short.
How much RAM does a URL shortener need?
Almost none. Every self-hosted entry here sits between 64 and 256 MB by the directory's estimates, and a MySQL instance for YOURLS is the largest single cost. Any spare corner of an existing server or the cheapest VPS tier will do. Sink is the exception to budget differently: it costs you platform quota on someone else's edge, not RAM on yours.
When to step up
Move to Shlink (Medium, 256 MB) when links start coming from scripts, since its REST API is the strongest here, and add the web client then. Move to Kutt (Medium, 512 MB) when other people will create links and judge the tool by its interface. Both bring a heavier database stack, so step up for a feature you need, not for polish.
What I'd do
Chhoto URL if it is just you and you want the smallest possible thing to maintain. YOURLS if the links will outlive the hardware they run on. Either way: creation locked to your account, HTTPS from day one, and the database copied off the server before you share the first link.