Open Short URL
What Open Short URL is
Open Short URL is a self-hosted URL shortener for creating and managing short links on your own server. Links can use custom slugs, passwords, and expiration settings. Its dashboards track clicks, geographic locations, devices, browsers, and referrers, while A/B testing distributes traffic between destinations by weight. Smart routing can direct visitors according to device, location, language, time, or custom rules. URL bundles group links and support bulk operations, including bulk link creation.
The project offers a REST API with API-key authentication and webhooks for URL clicks, creation, and updates. Its AI assistant supports Anthropic Claude, OpenAI GPT, Google Gemini, Mistral, and Cohere; the MCP server connects with Claude Desktop, Cursor, and Windsurf. Security features include password protection, expiring links, rate limiting, Cloudflare Turnstile, role-based access, and two-factor authentication. Deployment options include Docker and manual self-hosting, VPS, Fly, PaaS, and frontend hosting on Vercel. It is MIT-licensed and free, with no monthly or annual fees or link and click quotas; self-hosting infrastructure costs apply. The project recommends considering Redis above 50K clicks per day or when using multiple instances.
Who it suits
It suits businesses, marketers, privacy-conscious users, and developers who want to host link management themselves. API access, bulk operations, and routing controls also suit teams managing many links or directing visitors by defined criteria.
What it does well
- Keeps link data on your own server.
- No monthly or annual fees or link quotas.
- Analytics cover clicks, locations, devices, browsers, and referrers.
- Supports weighted A/B testing and configurable smart routing.
- REST API, webhooks, and bulk link operations are available.
- MIT-licensed with listed access-control and security features.
What to know first
- Self-hosting infrastructure costs apply.
- Deployment requires self-hosting or configuring a supported hosting route.
- Redis is recommended above 50K clicks per day or for multiple instances.
Limits
The free plan has no link or click quotas, but self-hosted infrastructure costs apply. The project recommends considering Redis above 50K clicks per day or for multiple instances.
Plans
| Plan | Billed and limits | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Open Short URL | No monthly or annual fees · No link/click limits or quotas · Self-hosted infrastructure costs apply | Free |
As github.com lists them, read 12 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.
Getting started
- Open the project website on GitHub.
- Choose Docker, manual self-hosting, VPS, Fly, or PaaS deployment.
- Set up the service on your own infrastructure.
- Optionally host the frontend on Vercel.
- Use the web interface or API to create and manage links.
Verdict
Choose Open Short URL if you want a self-hosted short-link system with analytics, routing, API access, and no link or click quotas. It is a fit for teams comfortable managing their own infrastructure; those seeking a hosted service without infrastructure responsibility should look elsewhere.
Questions
How much does Open Short URL cost?
The listed plan is free. There are no monthly or annual fees, though self-hosted infrastructure costs apply.
Does it have a free plan?
Yes. The Open Short URL plan is free and has no link or click quotas.
Where can it be used?
Listed platforms are API, self-hosted, and web. Deployment guidance includes Docker, manual self-hosting, VPS, Fly, PaaS, and frontend hosting on Vercel.
Is Open Short URL open source?
Yes. The project is released under the MIT License.
What integrations does it support?
It provides a REST API with API-key authentication and webhooks for URL clicks, creation, and updates. Its AI assistant supports Anthropic Claude, OpenAI GPT, Google Gemini, Mistral, and Cohere, and its MCP server connects with Claude Desktop, Cursor, and Windsurf.
What should I know about hosting and scale?
Data stays on your server, and infrastructure costs apply. The project recommends considering Redis above 50K clicks per day or when running multiple instances.
Facts from Open Short URL's own pages
- A/B testing
- A/B testing splits traffic between destinations using weighted distribution. · supra126.github.io, 12 Oct 2026
- AI integrations
- The project says its built-in AI assistant supports Anthropic Claude, OpenAI GPT, Google Gemini, Mistral, and Cohere, and its MCP server connects with Claude Desktop, Cursor, and Windsurf. · github.com, 12 Oct 2026
- AI providers
- The built-in AI chat assistant supports Anthropic Claude, OpenAI GPT, Google Gemini, Mistral, and Cohere. · github.com, 12 Oct 2026
- Analytics
- Its dashboards track clicks, geographic locations, devices, browsers, and referrers. · supra126.github.io, 12 Oct 2026
- API access
- Yes · github.com, 20 Sept 2026
- Bulk link creation
- Yes · github.com, 20 Sept 2026
- Custom domains
- Yes · github.com, 20 Sept 2026
- Deployment
- The project documents Docker and manual self-hosting, VPS setup, Fly deployment, PaaS deployment, and hosting the frontend on Vercel. · github.com, 12 Oct 2026
- Geo targeting
- Yes · github.com, 20 Sept 2026
- Integrations
- The project describes a REST API with API-key authentication and webhooks for URL clicks, creation, and updates. · supra126.github.io, 12 Oct 2026
- Intended users
- The README describes it as suitable for businesses, marketers, privacy-conscious users, and developers seeking API access and no vendor lock-in. · github.com, 12 Oct 2026
- License
- The project is released under the MIT License. · supra126.github.io, 12 Oct 2026
- Limits
- The README says there are no link or click quotas and recommends considering Redis above 50K clicks per day or for multiple instances. · github.com, 12 Oct 2026
- Limits and costs
- The README states there are no monthly or annual fees and no link or click quotas, while noting a one-time infrastructure investment. · github.com, 12 Oct 2026
- Link controls
- Links can use custom slugs, passwords, and expiration settings. · supra126.github.io, 12 Oct 2026
- Organization
- URL bundles group links and support bulk operations. · supra126.github.io, 12 Oct 2026
- Privacy
- The project says data stays on the user's server and describes the product as having no third-party tracking or data selling. · github.com, 12 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- Open Short URL is a self-hosted URL shortener for creating short links while keeping data on your own server. · github.com, 12 Oct 2026
- Security
- Security features listed include password-protected URLs, expiring links, rate limiting, Cloudflare Turnstile, role-based access, and two-factor authentication. · github.com, 12 Oct 2026
- Security features
- Listed security features include password-protected URLs, rate limiting, Cloudflare Turnstile, role-based access control, and two-factor authentication. · github.com, 12 Oct 2026
- Security reporting
- The security policy asks reporters to email vulnerabilities privately and says reports are acknowledged within 48 hours, with a status update within 7 days. · github.com, 12 Oct 2026
- Smart routing
- Smart routing can direct visitors based on device, location, language, time, and custom rules. · supra126.github.io, 12 Oct 2026
- Support
- The project points users to its documentation and GitHub issue tracker for support. · github.com, 12 Oct 2026
Where Open Short URL stands on Freedom251
- URL shorteners#12 of 156