Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Polr VS Milkshake

Compare Polr VS Milkshake and see what are their differences

Polr logo Polr

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

Milkshake logo Milkshake

Make a free website for your Instagram profile on your phone. Use the Milkshake App to say more, sell more, share more on Instagram. You Only Link Once!
  • Polr Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-26
  • Milkshake Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-03-10

Use a Milkshake website to… - Introduce yourself and what makes you amazing - Share your services, products, passion projects, promotions, testimonials & social profiles - Keep followers up to date on your latest blog posts, podcast episodes, ebooks & resources - Promote your YouTube videos and channel to turn your followers into subscribers - Recommend your top picks, fave buys, must-dos & must-haves - Highlight your latest and greatest work - Receive new bookings and clients + more coming your way!

Your Milkshake website can be your only website or the connection to your existing website.

Keep an eye on the performance of your Milkshake website with Insights. Track the analytics of card views and link clicks to optimize your Milkshake website - for free!

Build a website on your phone in minutes with the fun, fast, easy and free Milkshake website builder. Milkshake websites are super easy to make and update anytime. No desktops, design or website building skills needed. All you need is your smartphone and the Milkshake app.

The Milkshake website maker app is way easier than a drag and drop website creator. Create a Milkshake website all on your smartphone in four easy steps!

Polr features and specs

  • Open Source
    Polr is an open-source project, meaning the source code is publicly accessible and can be modified to fit individual needs.
  • Customizability
    Being open-source, Polr offers extensive customization options, allowing users to tailor the service according to specific requirements.
  • Self-Hosted
    Polr can be self-hosted, which provides users with complete control over their data and how the service is run.
  • Advanced Features
    Includes features like URL analytics, API access, and integration capabilities that can support advanced use cases.
  • Cost-Effective
    As a free open-source solution, Polr can be more cost-effective compared to proprietary URL shortening services.
  • Privacy
    Self-hosting ensures that user data remains private and secure, with no reliance on third-party services.

Possible disadvantages of Polr

  • Technical Expertise Required
    Setting up and maintaining Polr requires a certain level of technical skill, including knowledge of web servers, databases, and PHP.
  • Maintenance
    Since Polr is self-hosted, users are responsible for maintaining the server, applying updates, and ensuring security.
  • Initial Setup
    The initial setup can be time-consuming and may involve complex configurations, especially for users without technical backgrounds.
  • Limited Support
    Being an open-source project, Polr may have limited official support, relying on community forums and documentation for troubleshooting.
  • Resource Intensive
    Self-hosting requires server resources, including hardware and hosting costs, which might be an issue for small-scale users.

Milkshake features and specs

  • User-Friendly Interface
    Milkshake offers an intuitive and easy-to-use interface, making it accessible for individuals with varying levels of technical expertise.
  • Mobile-First Design
    Designed primarily for mobile devices, Milkshake ensures your content looks great on smartphones and tablets.
  • Customizable
    Offers a range of themes and customization options, allowing users to create unique and personalized mobile websites.
  • Quick Setup
    Enables users to quickly create and publish their mobile websites without the need for complex setups or technical knowledge.
  • Social Media Integration
    Easily integrates with various social media platforms, making it simple to share your Milkshake site and direct traffic from your social profiles.

Possible disadvantages of Milkshake

  • Limited Features
    Compared to more robust website builders, Milkshake offers fewer features and customization options, which may not be suitable for more complex sites.
  • Desktop Experience
    While optimized for mobile, the desktop experience is less polished and may not provide the best user experience when viewed on larger screens.
  • Subscription Costs
    Offers premium features at a cost, which might not be affordable for everyone, especially those seeking more advanced functionalities.
  • Reliance on Mobile
    As a mobile-first platform, it may not be suitable for users who expect a significant amount of traffic from desktop visitors.
  • Scalability
    May not be ideal for businesses or individuals planning to scale their online presence significantly, as it is designed primarily for simpler, one-page sites.

Analysis of Polr

Overall verdict

  • Polr is a good choice for individuals and organizations looking for a flexible and open-source URL shortener solution. Its ability to be self-hosted ensures data privacy and autonomy over the management of shortened URLs.

Why this product is good

  • Polr is an open-source URL shortener that offers a minimalist interface, robust features, and self-hosting capabilities, making it ideal for users who prioritize privacy and customization. It supports analytics for performance tracking and allows users to manage custom domains, offering flexibility and control over short links.

Recommended for

    Polr is recommended for developers, tech-savvy users, small businesses, and privacy-conscious individuals who need a customizable URL shortening service with the ability to host their own instance and have control over their data and URLs.

Analysis of Milkshake

Overall verdict

  • Overall, Milkshake is a good tool for its intended purpose. It offers a user-friendly experience with a range of customizable templates, which appeals to individuals looking for a quick and attractive solution to share multiple links from a single profile. While it may lack the advanced features of a full-blown website builder, its simplicity and efficiency are its main strengths.

Why this product is good

  • Milkshake is a popular app designed for creating mini-websites, often referred to as 'link-in-bio' sites, which are particularly useful for social media influencers, small business owners, and content creators. Its ease of use, attractive templates, and mobile-friendly interface make it a convenient option for those who want to create a simple and appealing online presence without the need for extensive technical knowledge.

Recommended for

  • Social media influencers who want to share multiple resources from a single bio link.
  • Small business owners seeking an easy way to showcase their products or services online.
  • Content creators and freelancers who need a straightforward platform to share their portfolio or contact information.
  • Individuals looking for a hassle-free and mobile-friendly way to create a personal landing page.

Polr videos

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Milkshake videos

Fast Food Milkshake Taste Test

More videos:

  • Review - McDonald's Strawberry Milkshake (Reed Reviews)
  • Review - MILKSHAKE APP REVIEW | Free Linktree Alternative That’s Actually On Brand
  • Tutorial - How To Create An Insta Website Using The Milkshake App
  • Demo - Milkshake App | Free Android Website Builder On Google Play!

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Polr and Milkshake)
Link Management
75 75%
25% 25
URL Shortener
100 100%
0% 0
Social Media Tools
0 0%
100% 100
Branded URLs
100 100%
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 Polr and Milkshake

Polr Reviews

10 Excellent Google URL Shortener Alternatives
Since Polr is open-source, it is entirely free to use and self-host. However, you will need some technical knowledge to set up and maintain your own URL shortener using Polr. Alternatively, you can opt for their hosting service, which requires custom pricing.
Source: bitly.com
11 Best Bitly Alternatives & Similar URL Shorteners
More than anything, Polr is free and an excellent choice for those who master technical knowledge. Before committing to this platform, you can check out its robust demo page. Once you create an account, you can manage and monitor each link you have made effortlessly.
The 8 Best Alternatives to Google URL Shortener
Polr is an open-source project that allows people with the technical know-how to host their own URL shortener. It's available through the Polr project page and from GitHub. You can use the tool as-is or fork it if you have the programming abilities to do so. (If you're so inclined, it's written in PHP and Lumen, using MySQL as its primary database.) Though similar to Yourls,...
Source: zapier.com
The 5 Best Alternatives to Google URL Shortener
Polr is an open-source project that allows people with the technical know-how to host their own URL shortener. It's available through the Polr project page and from GitHub. You can use the tool as-is or fork it if you have the programming abilities to do so. (If you're so inclined, it's written in PHP and Lumen, using MySQL as its primary database.) Though similar to Yourls,...
Source: zapier.com

Milkshake Reviews

10 ContactInBio alternatives to optimize your Instagram in 2025
With Milkshake, users create a mini Instagram landing page from the link in their Instagram bio. It’s a free, mobile-only, user-friendly platform that lets you use cards to create a miniature version of your website that has the look and feel of Instagram Stories.
Source: www.jotform.com
Best Linktree Alternatives of 2024
Milkshake is ideal for creators and influencers who run their social media exclusively from their phones. Its mobile-only approach makes it an excellent choice for creators who are always on the go and need a solution that is both simple and stylish. And if you are looking for a free alternative to Linktree, Milkshake can be your choice.
15 Best Link In Bio Tools of 2024 [Free and Paid]
#12Milkshake✅ Unique swipeable “Cards” for an engaging experience. ✅ Simple to use, mobile-based. ✅ Stylish and easy-to-change templates. ❌ Potentially confusing page layout. ❌ Limited to mobile devices, no desktop version. ❌ Customization options are not as deep.Free to use; $6/mo to remove branding.
14 Best Linktree Alternatives To Check Out in 2024
Milkshake has one of the most intuitive interfaces and creates beautiful pages in a snap. You can rapidly make a mini website on Milkshake, and if you don’t mind the platform’s own branding, the free plan has all of the rest of the features.
8 Linktree alternatives to spice up your link in bio
Milkshake uses interactive cards for each piece of content, allowing users to swipe across the screen to explore various links in a visually appealing manner reminiscent of the Instagram format. Additionally, Milkshake provides you with visitor analytics and an integrated email feature.
Source: www.wix.com

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Milkshake should be more popular than Polr. It has been mentiond 3 times since March 2021. 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.

Polr mentions (2)

  • Copying microsofts aka.ms links with our internal Dns to help stop phishing
    That said, setting up a URL shortener to forward HTTP requests it pretty trivial. There are open source projects that already exist for this purpose. For example, https://polrproject.org/. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • Angular Project Ideas For Beginners 2022
    This is one of the trending angular project for beginners. In this application, the main feature will be the input for the link you’d like to shorten and the result’s output space. You can check the Polr for example. It is an open-source web application written in PHP and powered by Lumen. It uses MySQL as the primary database and provides a robust interface to manage your links. You can host it on your domain to... - Source: dev.to / over 3 years ago

Milkshake mentions (3)

  • Website designer needed
    Would you not just use milkshake or square space for most websites you don't really need a developer these days. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Your Product Website
    ​For a faster and easier approach, skip the website all together and use a minisite like Milkshake on Instagram. Source: almost 3 years ago
  • In case you missed it - this is the Milkshake website that has since been taken down.
    To clarify, "Milkshake" is a website building platform, not actual drinks they are selling. 🤣 https://milkshake.app/. Source: almost 3 years ago

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Polr and Milkshake, 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.

Linktree - Connect your audience to all of your content with just one link.

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.

Carrd - Simple, responsive one-page site creator.

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

Taplink.at - Turn your link in bio into a navigation hotspot with Taplink's professional templates and drag-and-drop functionality.