Side by side
Go2 vs Shlink
Both stand on url shorteners. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.
Free plan APISelf-hostedWeb
Go2 combines branded links, click analytics, and developer access, with agent attribution as an additional link-management option. Its free tier has monthly link and click limits, and the listed paid prices are billed annually.
Visit Go2
Free plan APIExtensioniPhone+3
Choose Shlink if you want a free, self-hosted shortener with custom domains, analytics, and conditional redirects. Look elsewhere if you do not want to operate a self-hosted service or configure its deployment environment.
Visit ShlinkThe facts
| Go2 | Shlink | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | Not published | Not published |
| Runs on | API, Self-hosted, Web | API, Extension, iPhone, Linux, Self-hosted, Web |
| Lowest paid plan | Pro: $7 a month | Free or on request |
| Plans published | 4 | 1 |
| Maker | Not published | Not published |
| Website | go2.gg | shlink.io |
| On url shorteners | #10 of 156 | #6 of 156 |
Go2: what it does well
- Supports custom domains, slugs, QR codes, and link-in-bio pages
- Click reports include geography, device, browser, referrer, and UTM data
- Includes API, TypeScript SDK, and MCP server
- Free plan includes one custom domain
- Self-host option is included on Scale
What to know first
- Free plan is limited to 100 tracked links monthly
- Free plan includes 5,000 attributed clicks per month
- Anonymous free links expire after 24 hours
- Pro costs $7 per month billed annually
Shlink: what it does well
- Use multiple short domains and custom, multi-segment slugs.
- Track visit location, browser, and referrer.
- Set redirects by location, device type, or language.
- Limit URL access by date range or visit count.
- Import existing short URLs from Bitly and YOURLS.
What to know first
- The URL shortener is self-hosted and requires deployment.
- The distributable package requires PHP 8.3, 8.4, or 8.5 and extensions.
- Disabling IP anonymization removes the instance's GDPR compliance claim.