Side by side
Shorby vs YOURLS
Both stand on link management tools. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.
Free trial Web
Choose Shorby if you need a browser-based bio link page with click tracking, branded short links, and advertising audience tools. Look elsewhere if you need a free plan, built-in product sales, tips, or donations; custom domains are also labeled “Soon” on the pricing page.
Visit Shorby
Free plan APISelf-hostedWeb
YOURLS gives technically capable users control over a self-hosted short-link service, including APIs, reports, and plugins. Its server requirements and the operational risks of public shortening should be considered before deployment.
Visit YOURLSThe facts
| Shorby | YOURLS | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | A free trial | Yes |
| Open source | Not published | Not published |
| Runs on | Web | API, Self-hosted, Web |
| Lowest paid plan | Start: $9 a month | Free or on request |
| Plans published | 4 | 1 |
| Maker | Not published | Not published |
| Website | shorby.com | yourls.org |
| On link management tools | #18 of 21 | #14 of 21 |
Shorby: what it does well
- Places links, messengers, and social profiles behind an Instagram bio link.
- Provides real-time link click statistics.
- Supports retargeting audiences for Facebook, Instagram, and Adwords campaigns.
- Creates branded short links with ad tracking.
- Works in a browser on any device without installation.
What to know first
- There is no free plan.
- The Start plan includes 3,000 tracked clicks.
- Custom domains are labeled “Soon” across the listed plans.
- The service does not support selling products or tips and donations.
YOURLS: what it does well
- Free and open-source under the MIT license
- Self-hosted custom-domain URL shortening
- API returns links and statistics in multiple formats
- Historical clicks, referrers, and geolocation reports
- Private admin mode enabled by default
What to know first
- Requires PHP 8.1 or later
- Needs MySQL and mod_rewrite-enabled web server
- HTTPS is required
- Public shortening requires spam and security management
Alternatives to Shorby Alternatives to YOURLS The whole list