Kutt vs YOURLS
Which should you use? A side-by-side look at what each one does, who it suits, what it costs, how hard it is to set up, and where each falls short.
Open source · MIT
A free, self-hostable URL shortener with custom domain support.
Open source · MIT
A self-hosted URL shortener written in PHP that you run on your own server.
The short answer
Choose Kutt if you need…
- People who want to run their own link shortener instead of using a hosted service
- Teams that need short links on a custom domain
- Developers who want a URL shortener with a RESTful API
- Self-hosters who want to choose between SQLite, Postgres, or MySQL/MariaDB
Choose YOURLS if you need…
- People who want short links on a domain they control
- Site owners who want to keep link data on their own server
- Developers who are comfortable running PHP software and want to extend it with plugins
Side-by-side
| Kutt | YOURLS | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | App | App |
| Price | Free and open source | Free and open source |
| Licence | MIT | MIT |
| GitHub stars | 11.2k | 12.3k |
| Setup difficulty | Intermediate | Intermediate |
| How you get it | Clone and build from source | See the README |
| Main language | JavaScript | PHP |
| Last code update | 18 days ago | 10 days ago |
What each one is
Kutt
Kutt turns long web addresses into short links and lets you manage them. You can create, edit, and delete links, see statistics for them, and manage users from an admin page. It can run on your own server and use your own domain.
YOURLS
YOURLS is a set of PHP scripts that lets you run your own URL shortener on your own server. The README says you keep full control over your data and get stats, analytics, and plugin support. It is free and open source under the MIT license.
Best for
Kutt
- People who want to run their own link shortener instead of using a hosted service
- Teams that need short links on a custom domain
- Developers who want a URL shortener with a RESTful API
- Self-hosters who want to choose between SQLite, Postgres, or MySQL/MariaDB
YOURLS
- People who want short links on a domain they control
- Site owners who want to keep link data on their own server
- Developers who are comfortable running PHP software and want to extend it with plugins
Strengths
Kutt
- The README lists zero-configuration startup and no build step for self-hosting
- Supports several databases (SQLite, Postgres, MySQL/MariaDB) and optional Redis caching
- Includes a RESTful API, Docker setup, and OpenID Connect login
YOURLS
- Self-hosted, so you keep control over your data as the README states
- Free and open source under the MIT license
- Has a documented plugin system and an active community
Not ideal for
Kutt
- People who only want a quick link shortener and don't want to host anything, since the README is aimed at running your own instance
- Users who need custom HTTPS certificates handled automatically, because the README says you must generate SSL certificates for custom domains yourself
YOURLS
- People who want zero setup and no server to manage, since the README describes it as something you host yourself
- Teams that need a hosted service with support contracts, since the README does not describe any paid support
Trade-offs
Kutt
- Custom-domain HTTPS certificates must be generated manually, according to the README
- Some features such as email signup and password reset depend on mail settings being configured
- The README warns that the kutt.it domain is not owned by the project and may be a phishing site
YOURLS
- Requires you to host and maintain a PHP server yourself
- The README is short and points to external docs for setup details
Getting started
Kutt
Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/thedevs-network/kutt.gitInstall dependencies
npm installYOURLS
Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/YOURLS/YOURLS.gitFrequently asked questions
What is the difference between Kutt and YOURLS?
Kutt: A free, self-hostable URL shortener with custom domain support. YOURLS: A self-hosted URL shortener written in PHP that you run on your own server. Kutt suits people who want to run their own link shortener instead of using a hosted service, while YOURLS suits people who want short links on a domain they control.
Are Kutt and YOURLS free?
Kutt: Free and open source. YOURLS: Free and open source.
Is Kutt or YOURLS more popular?
YOURLS has more GitHub stars (12.3k) than Kutt (11.2k). Popularity isn't the same as fit — check which one matches your use case above.
Built from our catalogue entries for both products: open-source details come from each project's README (AI-assisted, refreshed weekly) and GitHub data; AI-tool details are editorial. Spotted something wrong? Let us know from either product's page.