Best Self-Hosted URL Shortener in 2026

Tools for shortening, managing, and tracking URLs — from simple link shortening to branded links with analytics.

The top-rated pick is Kutt with 10,740 GitHub stars.

4 self-hosted url shortener — ranked by GitHub stars. Browse all

Kutt

A modern, free, and open-source URL shortener with custom domains, analytics, and a clean API.

Alternative to:

Bitly

Shlink

The definitive self-hosted URL shortener with analytics, QR codes, custom domains, and a powerful API.

Alternative to:

Bitly

Simple URL Shortener

A lightweight PHP-based URL shortener with MySQL or SQLite support and user history tracking.

Alternative to:

Bitly

Flink

A zero-config, FOSS URL shortener with QR code generation and OpenTelemetry support, built in ASP.NET Core.

Alternative to:

Bitly

Why self-host?

Self-hosting puts you in control. You own your data, avoid vendor lock-in, and eliminate recurring subscription costs. For teams handling sensitive data or operating under strict compliance requirements, running your own infrastructure is often the only viable option.

Want to compare all open source options including cloud-hosted ones? See the best open source url shortener →