Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Polr VS Tiny.cc

Compare Polr VS Tiny.cc 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.

Tiny.cc logo Tiny.cc

Changes a big URL into tiny URL. With link editing, detailed click statistics, QR Codes and Custom Domains.โ€ŽInfo ยทย โ€ŽExample ยทย โ€ŽHelp ยทย โ€ŽTinycc Blog โ€“ Branding .
  • Polr Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-26
  • Tiny.cc Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-27

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.

Tiny.cc features and specs

  • Ease of Use
    Tiny.cc offers a straightforward and user-friendly interface that makes it easy for users to shorten URLs quickly without needing extensive know-how.
  • Customizable Links
    Users can create custom short links, allowing for more memorable URLs that are easy to share and brand.
  • Tracking and Analytics
    The service provides detailed analytics for shortened URLs, including click counts, geographic location of clicks, and the referring website.
  • Integration Options
    Tiny.cc offers APIs and browser plugins for seamless integration with other platforms and tools, enhancing its usability in various workflows.
  • Free and Premium Versions
    Tiny.cc offers a free version with basic features and a premium version that provides advanced options and greater flexibility.

Possible disadvantages of Tiny.cc

  • Limited Free Features
    The free version of Tiny.cc has limitations in terms of features and analytics, which may not suffice for users needing comprehensive services.
  • Link Expiration
    Links created with a free account may expire after some period of inactivity, potentially causing inconvenience.
  • Privacy Concerns
    As with any URL shortener service, using Tiny.cc can raise privacy issues, especially concerning the data gathered for analytics purposes.
  • Reliance on Third-party Service
    Users are dependent on the continued operation and policies of Tiny.cc, so any service disruption or changes in terms can affect access to shortened links.
  • Potential for Abuse
    Shortened URLs can be used for malicious purposes, such as phishing scams, making them less trustworthy for some users.

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 Tiny.cc

Overall verdict

  • Tiny.cc is considered a good option for individuals and small businesses looking for a simple and cost-effective solution for URL shortening. It provides essential features like link tracking and some level of customization, although its analytics and third-party integrations may not be as advanced as those offered by some competitors.

Why this product is good

  • Tiny.cc is a URL shortening service that allows users to create shortened, easy-to-share links from long URLs. This can be particularly useful for sharing links on platforms where character count is limited, such as Twitter. It offers basic analytics to track clicks, and users have the option to customize their shortened links, making them more memorable and brandable.

Recommended for

    Tiny.cc is particularly recommended for social media managers, digital marketers, bloggers, and small businesses who need to create user-friendly and trackable links without requiring advanced analytics or enterprise-level features.

Polr videos

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Tiny.cc videos

Tiny.cc iphone - 11

More videos:

  • Tutorial - How To Track Clicks In Custom Url (Url Shortener) With Tiny.cc

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Polr and Tiny.cc)
Link Management
80 80%
20% 20
URL Shortener
78 78%
22% 22
Branded URLs
83 83%
17% 17
Online Services
55 55%
45% 45

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 Tiny.cc

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

Tiny.cc Reviews

11 Best URL Shorteners For 2025 (Comparison)
TinyCC is a custom URL shortener and link management tool used by over 279,000 companies around the world. A free, lightweight version of the tool is available at tiny.cc. You can create one shortened URL at a time with this version but can only customize the back-half of it (after the / ).
11 Best Bitly Alternatives & Similar URL Shorteners
Some platforms that provide a URL shortener feature are quite basic yet powerful. One of them is Tiny.cc. Even though this platform is simple, it is more than enough to get a shortened link for branding purposes.

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Polr should be more popular than Tiny.cc. It has been mentiond 2 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: about 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 youโ€™d like to shorten and the resultโ€™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 / almost 4 years ago

Tiny.cc mentions (1)

  • The files has been delete from google sheet
    DO NOT BOOKMARK THE SHEETS. They will change probably very often. Use the tiny.cc links on our info page. Source: over 4 years ago

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Polr and Tiny.cc, 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.

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.

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

Ow.ly - Shorten links, measure traffic, and demonstrate social ROI right inside the Hootsuite dashboard.

Lstu - A nice and open source url shortener. You can use it as service or install it on your own server.

Bit.do - Bit.