Dub
A link management platform: short links, click analytics and attribution.
25.0k GitHub stars · Mixed or custom · last code push Oct 27, 2026 · GitHub · Website
Open-source alternatives to Bitly
Short links on your own domain, with click stats.
Category: Link shorteners · GitHub data as of Oct 29, 2026 · FAQ · Cost & self-hosting
| Project | What it is | License | GitHub stars | Last release | Runs as | Hosted plan |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dub Active Mixed or custom | A link management platform: short links, click analytics and attribution. | Mixed or custom | 25.0k | n/a | Self-hosted web app | Yes, from the project |
| YOURLS Active MIT | A self-hosted URL shortener written in PHP, with click stats and a plugin system. | MIT | 12.3k | Aug 30, 2026 | Self-hosted web app | Not confirmed |
| Shlink Active MIT | The definitive self-hosted URL shortener. | MIT | 5.4k | Oct 21, 2026 | Self-hosted web app | Not confirmed |
Are they still maintained?
3 of 3 Bitly alternatives here had a code push or release in the last 180 days (checked Oct 29, 2026).
- Dub: active, last activity Oct 27, 2026 (2 days ago)
- YOURLS: active, last activity Oct 27, 2026 (2 days ago)
- Shlink: active, last activity Oct 24, 2026 (5 days ago)
See every project in the "Is it still maintained?" tracker →
What switching from Bitly costs
Bitly: current plans and prices are on Bitly's pricing page.
| Alternative | How you run it | Software cost | What you pay for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dub | Your server, or the project's hosted plan | $0 (Mixed or custom, check terms) | A server you rent (or own), or the project's paid hosted plan. |
| YOURLS | Your server | $0 (MIT) | A server you rent or own, plus your time for updates and backups. |
| Shlink | Your server | $0 (MIT) | A server you rent or own, plus your time for updates and backups. |
Self-hosting basics: Dub, YOURLS and Shlink need a server, which can be a small cloud server or a spare machine at home. For a sense of scale, DigitalOcean's price list shows a 1 GiB server at $6/month and 2 GiB at $12/month (checked Oct 29, 2026). Check each project's documented requirements before choosing a size, and budget time for updates and backups.
Don't want to run a server? Dub offers a hosted plan run by the project itself. Prices change, so check each project's site.
License check: Dub does not use a single standard open-source license that GitHub can detect. Read the license before using it in a business.
The options in more detail
YOURLS
A self-hosted URL shortener written in PHP, with click stats and a plugin system.
12.3k GitHub stars · MIT · last code push Oct 27, 2026 · GitHub · Website
Shlink
The definitive self-hosted URL shortener.
5.4k GitHub stars · MIT · last code push Oct 24, 2026 · GitHub · Website
Bitly alternatives: common questions
What is the best open-source alternative to Bitly?
It depends on how you use Bitly. Of the 3 options here, Dub is the most followed on GitHub (25.0k stars) and is actively maintained.
Is there a self-hosted Bitly alternative?
Yes. Dub, YOURLS and Shlink run on a server you control, so your data stays with you. If you'd rather not run a server, Dub also offers a hosted plan from the people who make it.
Is there a free alternative to Bitly?
Yes. Every project on this page can be downloaded and used at no cost from its public repository. Server apps are free software, but you pay for the server they run on. Check the license of Dub before using it in a business.
Are these Bitly alternatives still maintained?
As of Oct 29, 2026, 3 of 3 had a code push or release in the last 180 days. None are flagged as inactive or archived. We re-check every project weekly.
How much does it cost to switch from Bitly?
The software itself is free. For server apps, the main cost is hosting: as a reference point, DigitalOcean lists a 1 GiB server at $6/month and a 2 GiB server at $12/month (checked Oct 29, 2026). Check each project's documented requirements before choosing a size. The hidden cost is time: moving your data and, for self-hosted apps, keeping up with updates and backups.
Are all of these really open source?
Not all under a standard license. Dub: GitHub could not identify a single standard license for this repository (often a mix of open-source and commercial parts). Read the LICENSE file before using it. The others use OSI-approved open-source licenses.
Know a project we missed, or maintain one listed here? Tell us. Maintainers can add a live status badge to their README.
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