The short answer
Is Shortener.dev a good YOURLS alternative?
Shortener.dev replaces the server, plugins and updates with a managed service, with device and geo targeting, social previews, projects and team members built in.
When YOURLS may fit better: You already run PHP hosting and want to extend a shortener with plugins.
Side-by-side
Shortener.dev vs YOURLS: feature comparison
YOURLS details are based on its public product and pricing pages and can change. Availability and limits depend on the plan.
| Capability | Shortener.dev | YOURLS |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Your own domain |
| Click analytics | Country, city, referrer, browser, OS and device, 7 to 90 days by plan | Basic statistics |
| Device and geo targeting | iOS, Android and per-country destinations on every plan | See their docs |
| 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 |
| Hosting | Managed, on Cloudflare’s global network | Self-hosted (PHP, MySQL) |
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
- Several YOURLS features depend on third-party plugins and their upkeep.
Next step
Try it on your own links.
Create a free account, add a few links from YOURLS, 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 YOURLS