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Linkly VS YOURLS

Compare Linkly VS YOURLS and see what are their differences

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Linkly logo Linkly

Linkly is a tool to help affiliate marketers track clicks and improve revenues.

YOURLS logo YOURLS

YOURLS is a website that contains all the tools you need to create and launch your very own URL shortener. URL shorteners like bitly or TinyURL are fine for public use, but they offer limited options in terms of URL customization.
  • Linkly Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-08-05

Linkly is a link management tool with feature-rich capabilities such as turning any link into a tracking link and converting complex URLs into simple, elegant, and branded links with redirects, retargeting and more. The Target and Redirect feature redirects visitors based on their geography, currency, language or device, while also automatically adding advertising retargeting code. Linkly keeps an account of the detailed traffic that is sent to third-parties and every link that is created with Linkly is comprehensively tracked which enables users to seamlessly make comprehensive reports with charts, graphs, and more.

Linkly helps you do click tracking, branded link shortening, mobile app redirection, location based redirects, A/B link rotation, retargeting/remarketing, link cloaking, shortening of mailto links and more.

Includes on site tools such as linkify text- the ability to automatically linkify specific words and phrases across your site, and automatic link replacement, allowing you to instantly replace links across your site with Linkly's smart links.

This makes the tool relevant to agencies, affiliates, advertisers, and publishers. Users can seamlessly collaborate with their team members on the platform and invite clients and partners into the project.

  • YOURLS Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-03-18

Linkly

Website
linklyhq.com
Pricing URL
Official Linkly Pricing
$ Details
freemium $29.0 / Monthly
Platforms
Browser
Release Date
2019 September
Edit details

YOURLS

Website
yourls.org
Pricing URL
-
$ Details
Platforms
-
Release Date
-
Edit details

Linkly features and specs

  • Ease of Use
    Linkly is designed to be user-friendly, allowing users to easily create and manage tracking links without needing technical expertise.
  • Comprehensive Analytics
    Linkly offers detailed analytics that provide insights into the performance of your links, including click rates, geographical data, and user behavior.
  • Customizable Links
    Users can create branded and customized short URLs, which can help improve brand recognition and trustworthiness.
  • Retargeting Features
    Linkly supports retargeting, allowing users to add retargeting pixels to the links they share and target their audience more effectively.
  • Integration Capabilities
    Linkly integrates with various third-party tools and platforms, enabling seamless workflows and enhanced functionality for digital marketing efforts.

Possible disadvantages of Linkly

  • Cost
    While Linkly offers a range of features, the platform is not free, and advanced features are available only through paid plans, which might not be suitable for all budgets.
  • Learning Curve
    Despite its ease of use, some users may experience a learning curve when navigating and utilizing all of the platform's features effectively.
  • Feature Limitations in Basic Plan
    The basic or lower-tier plans have limitations on features and usage, which could be restrictive for users looking to leverage more advanced functionalities.
  • Data Privacy Concerns
    Given the detailed tracking and analytics provided by Linkly, there could be concerns about data privacy and compliance with various data protection regulations.
  • Dependency on Third-Party Services
    Relying on Linkly's integration with third-party services means that any changes or issues with these services can impact Linkly's functionality.

YOURLS features and specs

  • Self-Hosted
    YOURLS allows you to host the URL shortening service on your own server, giving you full control over your data and avoiding reliance on third-party services.
  • Customization
    Since YOURLS is an open-source platform, you can customize it according to your needs, adding personalized branding and functionalities.
  • Analytics
    It offers detailed analytics for each shortened URL, including click counts, referrers, and geographical data, helping you understand your audience better.
  • Plugin Support
    YOURLS supports plugins, allowing you to extend its functionality with additional features like spam filtering, link previews, and more.
  • Free and Open-Source
    The platform is free to use and open-source, meaning there are no licensing costs and you benefit from a community of developers constantly improving the software.

Possible disadvantages of YOURLS

  • Technical Expertise Required
    Setting up and maintaining a YOURLS instance requires technical expertise, including knowledge of web servers and databases, which may not be suitable for non-technical users.
  • Hosting Costs
    Since YOURLS is self-hosted, you will incur costs for web hosting, domain registration, and potentially higher server resources if your service becomes popular.
  • Maintenance
    You are responsible for all maintenance tasks, such as updating software and ensuring security, which can be time-consuming.
  • Scalability Issues
    Depending on your hosting solution, you may face challenges in scaling the service to handle high volumes of traffic efficiently.
  • Limited Built-In Features
    While YOURLS is highly customizable through plugins, the out-of-the-box features are relatively basic when compared to some commercial URL shortening services.

Linkly videos

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YOURLS videos

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How to make a URL Shorter with YOURLS

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Linkly and YOURLS)

Linkly

YOURLS

Link Management
15 15%
Link Management
85% 85
URL Shortener
14 14%
URL Shortener
86% 86
Branded URLs
12 12%
Branded URLs
88% 88
Business & Commerce
100 100%
Business & Commerce
0% 0

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Linkly and YOURLS

Linkly Reviews

Top 10 Bitly alternatives and competitors in 2025
Linkly is a great tool for simple branded links to share across the multiple platforms. It offers features like branded links, UTM tracking, and real-time analytics, allowing you to monitor clicks, audience behavior, and campaign performance effectively.
Source: blog.replug.io

YOURLS Reviews

11 Best URL Shorteners For 2025 (Comparison)
YOURLS is a free and lightweight URL shortener you can install on your site via PHP scripts and/or plugins. You can use it to create simple, custom-branded short links. You can even set things up in such a way that allows outside parties to use your link shortener.
Source: startupbonsai.com
11 Best Bitly Alternatives & Similar URL Shorteners
Yourls is a lightweight software to install regardless of the many features you have to enhance your campaign. It will be worth your efforts to try this platform in the first place.
Source: www.regendus.com
Top 8 Alternatives of Bit.Ly in 2023
YOURLS URL shortenerEmail Verification Tools, Features and Comparison of top five ServicesEmail Verification Tools can be game-changing for your business operation. But not knowing how to purchase them will be a blunder. Learn how to select one for your business.StartupTalkyAnsh MehreyConclusionFAQsIs there a free alternative to Bit.ly?Does Google have a URL shortener?How do...
Source: startuptalky.com
The 8 Best Alternatives to Google URL Shortener
Yourls, which is an acronym for "your own URL shortener," is exactly that—a service your run on your own server. Similar to Polr, Yourls is free and open-source. With Yourls, you can choose whether your links will be public or private. It includes bookmarklets, which let you turn a long URL into a short one from your web browser in just one click. By default, the tool...
Source: zapier.com

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, YOURLS seems to be a lot more popular than Linkly. While we know about 21 links to YOURLS, we've tracked only 2 mentions of Linkly. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Linkly mentions (2)

  • FBI under TOR?
    Https://linklyhq.com/ is just some advanced redirect script. Source: about 2 years ago
  • Got the wide printer. Is there a way to tell if the QR code message has been read?
    There is a tracking site that I'm thinking of, but I can't find it. I did find this one that allows 1000 free tracks. https://linklyhq.com/. Source: over 3 years ago

YOURLS mentions (21)

  • Raindrop.io: cross-platform, collaborative bookmark manager
    This is what I use and like: https://yourls.org. - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
  • Ask HN: Building a url shortner, similar to bitly, can I make it profitable?
    Similar to...? https://yoslash.com/ Personally I just use https://yourls.org/. - Source: Hacker News / about 2 years ago
  • self-hosted url shorter with device targeting
    YOURLS has a "detect-mobile-device" plugin. Is that what you were looking for? Source: about 2 years ago
  • Tool/solution to "masquerade" or encode/decode part of the url to avoid showing subpaths details (f.e: myDomain.tld/myFolder/MyFile should became myDomain.tld/casualStringGeneratedAndMappedByTheTool) ?
    You will need to implement the YOURLS URL Shortener (https://yourls.org) and then implement the following YOURLS Plug-in - https://github.com/peterberbec/yourls-keyword_charset_length (Keywords, Charset & Length). Source: about 2 years ago
  • How create Short Links from my main domain name?
    Personally I would use something like this, although it does require a database. https://yourls.org/. Source: over 2 years ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Linkly and YOURLS, you can also consider the following products

Bitly - Get the most out of your social and online marketing efforts. Own, understand and activate your best audience through the power of the link with Bitly Enterprise.

Rebrandly - Rebrandly is the easiest way to create, share and manage branded links.

Polr - An open source URL shortener. A great non-profit and free alternative to bit.ly, TinyURL, or goo.gl.

Sniply.io - Add a call-to-action to every shortened link you share.

TinyURL - Are you sick of posting URLs in emails only to have it break when sent causing the recipient to...

ClickMeter - ClickMeter uses cookies on the website to give you a better experience. By using it you agree to our use of cookies in accordance with our cookie policy OK. VIDEO; API · TOUR · PRICING · LOGIN · GET STARTED .

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