Yourls
Self-hosted URL shortener — shorten links on your own domain with full control and analytics.
| What is it | Self-hosted URL shortener — shorten links on your own domain with full control and analytics. |
|---|---|
| Pricing | Unknown |
| Platform | Web Application |
| API | Yes |
| Works with | Make, n8n |
| Best for | shortening links for social media posts, tracking click-through rates on marketing campaigns |
| Domain registered | 2009 |
Data updated Aug. 1, 2026
What does Yourls do?
Yourls is a free, open-source URL shortener you install on your own server. Instead of relying on a third-party service like bit.ly, Yourls gives you full control over your shortened links — they live on your domain, and all click data stays with you. It's the de facto standard for self-hosted link management, used by developers, businesses, and anyone who wants to own their short URLs.
Setting up Yourls is straightforward: you need a PHP-enabled web server and a MySQL database. Once installed, you get a clean admin interface where you can create, edit, and delete short URLs. The real power is in the details — Yourls tracks every click with historical reports, shows you the referrer URL, and even maps visitor locations. You can extend it with plugins to add features like custom slug generation, integration with other tools, or even a public API to let other people create links from outside the dashboard. The API itself is a key feature: you can shorten URLs from scripts, bookmarklets, or third-party apps without ever logging into the admin panel.
Yourls is best for developers who need a reliable, self-hosted link shortening system. It's also great for small businesses that want branded short links (think yourbrand.com/sale) and detailed analytics without paying for a premium service. Marketing teams can use it to track campaign performance privately, and webmasters can integrate it into their CMS or workflow. Because it's open source, you can audit the code, contribute fixes, and customize it exactly how you like. If you value privacy, ownership, and flexibility over convenience, Yourls is a solid choice.
Key features
What makes it stand outWho is Yourls for?
Who benefits most from this toolTrust & presence
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Works with Make
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