Shorty Link
What Shorty Link is
Shorty Link is an open-source URL shortener that operators deploy in their own Cloudflare account. A single Cloudflare Worker handles redirects, the admin interface, the admin API and authentication, with data stored in Cloudflare D1. Users can create custom slugs, choose redirect codes 301, 302, 303, 307 or 308, and disable links while keeping click history. Administrators can manage multiple redirect hostnames with host-specific slugs and a default fallback. Analytics record click counts and timestamps but do not provide funnel attribution. Optional Cloudflare Workers AI can suggest slugs. Authentication uses Better Auth and passkeys, with password login and signup disabled by default. Invite-based administration, expiring API keys and a REST admin API cover management tasks. The MIT-licensed project is pre-1.0 and designed for one organization per deployment.
Who it suits
Shorty Link suits organizations comfortable operating Cloudflare infrastructure and maintaining a self-hosted URL service. It is intended for one organization per deployment rather than multi-tenant use.
What it does well
- Open source under the MIT license
- Custom slugs and redirect codes
- Self-hosted in the operator’s Cloudflare account
- REST admin API and API keys
- Click counts and timestamps retained
What to know first
- No hosted SaaS signup
- Requires Cloudflare and development tools
- Pre-1.0 releases may break
- One organization per deployment
Verdict
Shorty Link gives technically capable operators control over hosting, redirects and administration. Its infrastructure requirements, pre-1.0 status and single-organization model should be considered before deployment.
Facts from Shorty Link's own pages
- Access management
- The product supports invite-based admin onboarding, role-aware permissions, session revocation, and API keys with optional expiry. · shorty-link.estepanov.com, 13 Oct 2026
- Admin access
- Additional administrators join by invite, and API keys can be used for programmatic access with optional expiry. · shorty-link.estepanov.com, 12 Oct 2026
- Admin API
- A REST admin API under /api/admin/* covers links, domains, users, invites, sessions, and API keys. · shorty-link.estepanov.com, 13 Oct 2026
- AI integration
- Cloudflare Workers AI can provide slug suggestions, and the core shortener works without that optional binding. · shorty-link.estepanov.com, 13 Oct 2026
- Analytics
- The product tracks per-link clicks and timestamps; it does not provide funnel attribution. · shorty-link.estepanov.com, 12 Oct 2026
- Analytics limit
- Analytics provide click counts and timestamps rather than funnel attribution or deeper marketing analytics. · shorty-link.estepanov.com, 13 Oct 2026
- API
- The product exposes a REST admin API under /api/admin/* for links, domains, users, invites, sessions, and API keys. · shorty-link.estepanov.com, 12 Oct 2026
- API access
- Yes · shorty-link.estepanov.com, 20 Sept 2026
- Authentication
- Admin sign-in uses passkeys through Better Auth, while password login and signup are disabled by default. · shorty-link.estepanov.com, 13 Oct 2026
- Custom domains
- Yes · shorty-link.estepanov.com, 20 Sept 2026
- Data and security
- The maker says data is stored in the operator's Cloudflare D1 database, and the self-hosting guide recommends using a least-privilege Cloudflare API token for deployments. · shorty-link.estepanov.com, 13 Oct 2026
- Deployment
- One Worker handles redirects, the admin UI, the admin API, and authentication, with data stored in Cloudflare D1. · shorty-link.estepanov.com, 12 Oct 2026
- Domains
- Admins can manage multiple redirect hostnames, with hostname-specific links and a fallback to a default-host entry. · shorty-link.estepanov.com, 13 Oct 2026
- Hosting
- The operator deploys Shorty Link to their own Cloudflare account; the maker says there is no hosted service to sign up for. · shorty-link.estepanov.com, 13 Oct 2026
- Hosting model
- Shorty Link is not a hosted SaaS; operators deploy it to their own Cloudflare account. · shorty-link.estepanov.com, 12 Oct 2026
- License
- The maker describes Shorty Link as open source under the MIT license. · shorty-link.estepanov.com, 13 Oct 2026
- Link controls
- Users can choose custom slugs, set redirect codes 301, 302, 303, 307, or 308, and enable or disable links while preserving click history. · shorty-link.estepanov.com, 12 Oct 2026
- Links
- It supports custom slugs, optional AI-generated slug suggestions, click tracking, and configurable redirect codes 301, 302, 303, 307, and 308. · shorty-link.estepanov.com, 13 Oct 2026
- Maturity
- The project is marked pre-1.0 and not yet stable, and the maker warns that minor releases may include breaking changes. · shorty-link.estepanov.com, 13 Oct 2026
- Open source
- The project is open source under the MIT license. · shorty-link.estepanov.com, 12 Oct 2026
- Organization limit
- Shorty Link is not multi-tenant; the maker describes one deployment as serving one organization and suggests another Worker for another tenant. · shorty-link.estepanov.com, 13 Oct 2026
- Product
- Shorty Link is a self-hosted URL shortener that runs as a single Cloudflare Worker with a Cloudflare D1 database. · shorty-link.estepanov.com, 13 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- Shorty Link is a self-hosted URL shortener that runs as a single Cloudflare Worker. · shorty-link.estepanov.com, 12 Oct 2026
- Requirements
- Self-hosting requires a Cloudflare account, Node.js 22, pnpm 10, Wrangler access, a Cloudflare D1 database, and one or more hostnames routed to the Worker. · shorty-link.estepanov.com, 12 Oct 2026
Where Shorty Link stands on Freedom251
- URL shorteners#101 of 156