The short answer
Is Shortener.dev a good Shlink alternative?
Shortener.dev offers an API, multiple domains and device and geo targeting without running your own containers, with a dashboard and team accounts for non-developers.
When Shlink may fit better: You are a developer who wants to run the shortener inside your own infrastructure.
Side-by-side
Shortener.dev vs Shlink: feature comparison
Shlink details are based on its public product and pricing pages and can change. Availability and limits depend on the plan.
| Capability | Shortener.dev | Shlink |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | From $29 a month, or $149 one-time | Free, open source |
| Free plan | 10 links with 7 days of analytics | Yes |
| Custom domains | 1 to 10 branded domains, by plan | Yes, multiple |
| Click analytics | Country, city, referrer, browser, OS and device, 7 to 90 days by plan | Visit tracking |
| Device and geo targeting | iOS, Android and per-country destinations on every plan | Redirect rules |
| Expiration and passwords | Both, on every plan | See their docs |
| Social preview cards | Custom title, description and image per link | See their docs |
| REST API | OpenAPI-documented API on paid plans | Yes, API-first |
| Hosting | Managed, on Cloudflare’s global network | Self-hosted |
Cost & adoption
Pricing and ease of use
Shortener.dev is free for 10 links. Paid plans start at $29 a month for 1,000 links, three custom domains, click reports and API access, and a one-time $149 lifetime deal is available. Clicks are unlimited on every plan, and every link option is included.
Before you commit
- You will maintain the database, GeoIP updates and the web client yourself.
Next step
Try it on your own links.
Create a free account, add a few links from Shlink, and compare the analytics side by side before you move everything.
Product descriptions reflect publicly available positioning; capabilities and pricing may change. Check each provider’s current documentation before making a purchase decision. Visit Shlink