Website & Development · Developer & Technical

YOURLS

Free, open-source PHP URL shortener you install on your own server and domain, with click stats, an API and plugins.

Our take: If you already run a PHP host or Docker, YOURLS gets you branded short links and click stats for the price of a domain.

Best forSelf-hosted branded links

ReviewedOct 2026Free

6.45 criteria · see breakdown

Try YOURLSFree (hosting costs extra)

YOURLS (Your Own URL Shortener) is free, open-source PHP software for running short links on your own domain, aimed at developers and IT admins who want to own their click data. The software costs nothing under the MIT license; you pay only for hosting and a domain. It needs PHP 8.1 or later and a MySQL or MariaDB database.

The bottom line

Free and dependable for teams that can host it; not for anyone wanting zero maintenance.

Our score

Reviewed by the Conversion Gems editorial team. Hover a facet to focus it; click to pin.Tap a facet to focus it.

What it is, and why we rate it

One line each. Open a row for detail.

What it really isFree PHP software for running your own branded short-link service and keeping the click data.

Our takeIf you already run a PHP host or Docker, YOURLS gets you branded short links and click stats for the price of a domain.

Keep it private unless you are ready to fight spam, and plan to apply updates, since the 2026 releases included security fixes. If nobody on the team wants that job, a hosted shortener is cheaper in time.

Why we rate itFree, actively released, and keeps link data on your own server, with stats, an API and plugins.

The catchYou install, update and secure it yourself, and public installs attract spam.

Best / not good for

Best for

Branded short links on your own domain
Organizations that must keep link data in-house
Developers adding shortening to their apps via API

Not good for

Non-technical marketers
Teams wanting QR codes and team roles built in
Anyone needing vendor support

Trade-offs

Friction report

Trade-offs to know before signing up.

Time to value
Under an hour with Docker or a one-click installer; longer by hand.
Scale breakpoint
High traffic needs a stronger database server or cache plugins; each redirect makes 4 queries.
Walled garden
None: open source and your own MySQL database.

Still a fit?

If none of these block you, start on the free plan.

Try YOURLS

What you need to run YOURLS

Component	Requirement
Web server	Apache 2.4+ with mod_rewrite (or the official Docker image)
PHP	8.1 or later; cURL extension for the API
Database	MySQL 5.5+ or MariaDB 10.0+
Security	HTTPS recommended; anti-spam plugins if the shortener is public
License cost	Free (MIT)

From the YOURLS documentation, checked 4 October 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is YOURLS?

YOURLS stands for Your Own URL Shortener. It is a free, open-source set of PHP scripts that lets you run a link shortener on your own server and domain, with click stats, an API and plugins.

Is YOURLS free?

Yes. The software is free under the MIT license (checked 4 October 2026). Your costs are hosting, a short domain and the time to maintain it.

How do I create my own URL shortener with YOURLS?

Download the latest release, copy user/config-sample.php to user/config.php and fill in your database and admin details, upload the files, create a MySQL or MariaDB database, then open your-domain/admin/ to finish setup. An official Docker image is also available.

What are the YOURLS server requirements?

Apache 2.4 or later with mod_rewrite, PHP 8.1 or later with cURL for the API, and MySQL 5.5+ or MariaDB 10.0+. HTTPS is recommended.

Where is the YOURLS login?

Conversion Gems is a review site, and YOURLS has no central account. Each installation has its own admin area at https://your-domain/admin/, using the usernames and passwords set in that install's config.php.

Can I run a public URL shortener with YOURLS?

Yes, but the docs warn that a public interface will attract spam and can get your hosting account shut down if you are not prepared. Use anti-spam plugins, a CAPTCHA and protocol limits before opening it up.

YOURLS alternatives

Hosted link tools from our reviews, if you would rather not run a server:

Showing 1–3 of 3

Sources checked October 4, 2026: YOURLS homepage, YOURLS documentation, YOURLS installation, Public shortening guide, YOURLS releases, Geniuslink pricing, Hovercode pricing.

Conversion Gems independently reviews every tool.

YOURLS

What you need to run YOURLS

Frequently Asked Questions

YOURLS alternatives

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