Shlink
Shlink is a self-hosted URL shortener designed for those who want a modern, API-first approach to link management. Built in PHP with a clean REST API at its core, it offers an official CLI, a progressive web app, custom domains, tags, and detailed visit analytics including geolocation and referrers.
Key Features
- REST API — Complete programmatic control over shortening, managing, and analysing links.
- Official CLI — Manage your shortener from the terminal without touching the web UI.
- Progressive web app — Use the official PWA to manage links from any device, including mobile.
- Custom domains — Serve shortened links from your own domains with multi-domain support.
- Tags — Organise links by project, campaign, or topic for easy filtering.
- Visit analytics — Track visits with geolocation, referrer, and browser data.
- QR codes — Generate QR codes for shortened links automatically.
- Docker support — Deploy quickly with the official Docker image and docker-compose setup.
Why Use Shlink?
Shlink stands out when you want to script and automate your link management. The API-first design means developers can integrate shortening directly into their workflows, while the CLI and PWA give non-technical users comfortable options. It is actively maintained and ships frequent releases with an extensive changelog.
Use Cases
- Developers embedding URL shortening into applications via the REST API.
- Teams managing branded links across multiple custom domains.
- Privacy-conscious users who want visit analytics without sending data to a third party.
Platform
Linux (Docker, or PHP server), macOS, Windows via Docker
Licence
MIT