Shlink
URL shortener with REST API and command line interface. Includes official progressive web application and docker images.
Maintained, but at a slower pace than the leaders in its category.
Commit activity more than 50% of tracked projects; popularity more than 68%. How this is calculated.
Commits, last 11 months
| Stars | 5.3k |
|---|---|
| Latest release | v5.1.7 · 21 Sept 2026 |
| Repo updated | 21 Sept 2026 |
| Licence | MIT |
| Built with | PHP, Docker |
Is Shlink actively maintained?
Shlink is under active development: 273 commits landed over the last 11 months, averaging roughly 14 commits a month in the most recent quarter.
The most recent tagged release, v5.1.7, shipped within the last month — a current, installable version exists today.
Of the 11 projects we track in URL Shorteners, Shlink ranks #3 by health score — in the top quarter of its category.
What Shlink actually does
Shlink is a self-hosted URL shortener that lets you create and manage short links on your own domain. It provides a REST API and a command line interface for automation, alongside an official progressive web application for management.
Best fit: It suits developers and teams who require a private URL shortening service with programmatic access via an API.
Worth knowing: You will need to maintain and secure your own instance, which overlaps with many simpler open-source redirection tools.
Deployment notes
As a PHP and Docker application, it typically requires a persistent database backend and a reverse proxy to handle TLS termination.
Links
Shlink as a replacement for
Alternatives to Shlink
Projects in the same categories, ordered by health score.
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