Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Polr VS TinyLetter

Compare Polr VS TinyLetter and see what are their differences

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Polr logo Polr

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

TinyLetter logo TinyLetter

Start writing your own newsletter instantly.
  • Polr Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-26
  • TinyLetter Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-01-18

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.

TinyLetter features and specs

  • Simplicity
    TinyLetter is very user-friendly and simple to use, making it ideal for beginners who are new to email marketing.
  • Free Service
    TinyLetter is free to use, which makes it an attractive option for individuals or small businesses that have a limited budget.
  • Personal Touch
    The platform allows for a more personal approach to email marketing, as it focuses on direct communication and has a more intimate feel.
  • No Ads
    Emails sent through TinyLetter are free of advertisements, providing a cleaner and more professional appearance.
  • Owned by Mailchimp
    Being owned by Mailchimp offers a guarantee of reliability and a quality backend infrastructure to handle email distributions.

Possible disadvantages of TinyLetter

  • Limited Features
    TinyLetter lacks advanced features such as segmenting, automation, detailed analytics, and advanced integrations, which are available in other email marketing tools.
  • Basic Design Options
    TinyLetter provides limited design customization options, which might not be sufficient for users looking to create highly branded emails.
  • Subscriber Limit
    The service is not suitable for larger email lists as it primarily supports smaller subscriber bases—typically around 5,000 subscribers.
  • No A/B Testing
    TinyLetter does not offer A/B testing capabilities, which can be a significant drawback for those who wish to optimize their email content and send times.
  • No Phone Support
    Customer support is limited to email and articles, with no phone support available, which could be challenging for those needing immediate assistance.

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 TinyLetter

Overall verdict

  • If you are looking for a basic, no-frills email newsletter service and have a relatively small subscriber list, TinyLetter is a good option. Its simplicity and focus on content without unnecessary features make it an attractive choice for personal newsletters or small projects.

Why this product is good

  • TinyLetter is considered good because it offers a simple, user-friendly platform for sending newsletters. It is particularly favored for its minimalistic design and straightforward functionality, which makes it easy for users without technical expertise to create and share content with their subscribers. The platform is free to use, which is appealing for users who are just starting out or have modest needs.

Recommended for

  • Individuals or small organizations with a simple newsletter need
  • Users who prioritize ease of use and minimal setup
  • Content creators wanting a direct and personal touch with subscribers
  • People who prefer a free service for smaller-scale email campaigns

Polr videos

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TinyLetter videos

REVIEW. Tinyletter (by Mailchimp)

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Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Polr and TinyLetter)
Link Management
100 100%
0% 0
Email Marketing
0 0%
100% 100
URL Shortener
100 100%
0% 0
Newsletter Marketing
0 0%
100% 100

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 TinyLetter

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

TinyLetter Reviews

7 Cheaper Mailchimp Alternatives to Consider in 2019
Are just looking for a simple way to stay in touch with fans. For example, TinyLetter is popular with artists and writers. It’s not a good option for businesses, though.
Oh God, It's Raining Newsletters - by Craig Mod
Buttondown is a (somewhat) recently launched NAAS built by a very engaged developer, beautifully designed, that looks like it might be the new TinyLetter. Subscription integrations forthcoming (eating into Substack territory?). This is probably where I’d start if I were starting a public newsletter today.
Source: craigmod.com
The 12 Best Free Email Marketing Apps
If you choose Mailchimp, here are 6 ways to automate your email marketing with Mailchimp. And if you love Mailchimp but just need a super simple, bare-bones option for email newsletters, the brand also offers TinyLetter.
Source: zapier.com
An Alternative for TinyLetter
TinyLetter users were quick to mourn the shutdown of the service. The reactions mostly expressed sadness. TinyLetter’s simplicity and intimacy were strong selling points to the artists, writers and other members of the creative class that relied on it.

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, TinyLetter should be more popular than Polr. It has been mentiond 8 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

TinyLetter mentions (8)

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What are some alternatives?

When comparing Polr and TinyLetter, 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.

MailChimp - MailChimp is the best way to design, send, and share email newsletters.

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.

Sendy - Sendy is a self hosted newsletter app that sends emails 100x cheaper via Amazon SES

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

Listmonk - Send e-mail campaigns from a powerful dashboard. High performance and features packed into one app.