Shorten.REST vs. YOURLs
YOURLS is a free, open-source URL shortener composed of a small set of PHP scripts. However, you always get what you pay for, and with YOURLS, you are paying with:
yourls eats up your time
Setting up and maintaining YOURLS takes a long time, and a lot of effort.
yourls limits your coding abilities
If you are not a master of PHP, trying to work with these scripts is not worth it.
yourls is a risk to your site's security
There is a level of risk for software failure, security and privacy, and migration.
yourls is not well established, and their bugs will wear out your patience
There are so many potential bugs in open source software, and no help center to ask for assistance.
YOURLS is free. But Shorten.REST has a free plan, too.
If you're looking for a free URL shortener, you don't have to use YOURLS. Our free for life plan is faster to set up and use, more flexible, and more reliable than YOURLS. If you want, for free:
the ability to easily create an unlimited number of branded links
the freedom to code in Curl, C#, Java, Node.js, PHP, or Python
an out-of-the-box analytics dashboard to monitor clicks
to install pixels without a new directory and installing separate plugins
a free SSL certificate
99.99% guaranteed uptime and traffic load balancing
to rest assured knowing your site and data are secure
a help center to assist with any problems you may run into
Then YOURLS is not the link shortening solution for you. Shorten.REST’s free plan is.
All Shorten.REST Plans Include
There are certain features that are non-negotiable, even if you’re on a free plan.
We know that.
Unlimited clicks.
Unlimited number of branded URLs.
UTM builder and unlimited meta tags.
Guaranteed 99.99% uptime for servers.
A free SSL certificate.
Click tracking by referrer, user agent, browser type, operating system, country (several more refined location-based features coming soon).
If you're looking for free, YOURLS is not the only solution out there.
Shorten.REST offers a free plan that is not only easier to use than YOURLS, but more secure. With Shorten.REST, you can rest assured that your site is safe and that you can manage your branded links without losing your mind.
Developer Testimonials
Hear Capterra verified testimonials from developers using our link shortener services.
The first URL shorten service with API. I am amazed with the full range of API facilities.
Freelancer
There are many link shorteners on the market but Shorten have gone the extra mile by providing a bunch of extra developer-friendly features – like a Zapier integration and decent click tracking stats.
Managing Director
Computer Software
Works as advertised. URL shortening is something that we expect to be easy to set up, no hassle and that just works. Shorten.REST does that very well. We integrated it in a few hours in our software solution.
CEO
Information Technology and Services
We literally set up Shorten.REST in less than an hour, live on functioning on our Esports Management platform.
Founder
Sports