After Google decided to end their Goo.gl URL-shortening service, many people started looking for self-hosted alternatives to host their links. The following self-hosted URL shortener scripts grant you absolute control and allow you to tweak and adjust your links to suit your peculiar taste. The following are five of the best URL shortener scripts available.
1. YOURLS
The ingenious creators of this excellent script prefer a more relatable name. YOURLS stands for “Your Own URL Shortener.” It is a set of optimized PHP scripts that allow you to run your URL shortener on any server of your choosing.
Unlike most of the competition, YOURLS is unique for a few reasons. First, it is open source, which has increased the level of refinement the PHP script has undergone over time. It’s also bundled with features that allow you to decide how accessible your shortened links will be. Now you can set your links to “Private” or “Public” at your discretion. Other features include the ability to check impressive link statistics. Some of these stats are click rate, the location of visitors and referrals tracking.
If you are seeking a solidly-coded PHP URL-shortener script, then you should check YOURLS out.
2. POLR
Another excellent solution for a URL-shortening service is POLR. Like YOURLS, it is also open source. The creators tout this tool as lightweight and fast. You’ll be shocked to find out that it is no hype at all.
POLR is one of the neatest self-hosted URL shortener scripts available on the Web today. It is straightforward to install and takes next to no time to understand. Its modern interface ensures that managing and controlling your links are a walk in the park. You have the option to tweak and brand it to your taste with minimal effort. Its robust API is one of the best in the business. Now you can integrate this tool into your other services without any hassle. If you are looking for a simple yet powerful URL shortener script, look no further. You have POLR!
3. Wurlie
In the business of shortening URLs, simplicity is a real virtue. The makers of Wurlie understand this rule, and they incorporate it into their URL shortener better than the competition. Wurlie is a simple, but incredibly powerful, PHP script.
Despite its simplicity, it offers more features than most other solutions. It is very secure, with provisions for fighting off phishing and malware attacks. It is also built for heavy site traffic, so if your website needs a tool that can take the onslaught, go for Wurlie. Other features include its robust support for Google Ads as well as social media sharing.
The process of installation is painless, too. There is enough documentation to guide a complete novice without much trouble.
4. Z.ips.Me
This self-hosted URL shortener script is one of the simplest to install and run on your website. It is an entirely open-source script that is continuously improved upon by a large community of users.
Z.ips.ME greatly emphasizes privacy. It provides the feature to ensure that your links remain as private as you would want. Other powerful features include statistics view. Z.ips.ME allows you to view and analyze your links for clicks and referrals. You also get to know which browsers they use to access your links and many more.
Its responsive design on both mobile and tablet devices is a huge relief. This feature means you can use it without qualms on any screen size.
5. Lessn More
This URL shortening script has been around the block for quite a while now. In fact, it is a modified version of another shortening script – Lessn – but way better.
Lessn More comes bundled with some of the best features that you’ll need for a self-hosted URL-shortening script. It also comes with an impressive simplicity that allows you to focus on what you need while ignoring everything else.
It also incorporates smart features to ensure that your links are not getting skipped over. One of these features prevents two similarly-styled alphabets from being used side by side. Another feature screens and blocks offensive words from your shortened URL. It uses a block list that you can edit. Its support for custom URLs lets you edit your link for your peculiar purpose. Its rich API supports give you the flexibility to leverage multiple services.
Conclusion
URL-shortening scripts have gone past being simple tools used for social media-sharing purposes. Marketers now employ them for sophisticated marketing campaigns as well as data analytics. Whatever solution you decide to adopt, ensure that it suits your purpose well.
