Can I open-source Bitly?
YES · mature open-source replacementYes. PostHog (30k stars), Umami (28k stars), Dub (24k stars) are mature open-source replacements for Bitly — self-host with real ops work and stop paying $35/mo.
Bitly's actual product is a promise about the future: that a link printed on a box in 2019 still resolves today. No amount of code buys that, only an institution that intends to keep existing. Teams also pay for shared workspaces, SSO, and the audit trail, and marketing departments pay because the alternative is asking engineering for a redirect and waiting two weeks.
xlinks that outlive your own infrastructure · a domain you stop renewing takes every link with it
xbit.ly's recognition in the link itself, which cuts both ways now that shorteners get spam-filtered
xbundled QR code management, landing pages, and campaign grouping
xcity-level and device-level analytics rollups without building them
xan SLA and someone to call
These projects already replace it, free.
DDubBitly with deeper attribution; self-hosting means recreating half a startup's infrastructure.open source↗SSinkA polished Bitly clone on Cloudflare; free hosting, several bindings, and no server to patch.open source↗SShlinkBranded links, routing rules and serious click stats in one container; the QR endpoint is living on borrowed time.open source↗What each one is, in full: Dub · Shlink
all 7 open-source alternatives to Bitly →· no votes, no pay-to-list · just what's real
Bitly pricing
| plan | monthly | annual (per mo) | what you get |
|---|---|---|---|
| free | $0/workspace | $0/workspace | 5 links/month; 2 QR codes/month; 2 landing pages; 3 custom back-halves/month; 1,000 API requests/month; unlimited clicks/scans |
| core | — | $10/workspace | 100 links/month; 5 QR codes/month; 5 landing pages; 5 redirects/month; 5,000 API requests/month; 30-day analytics history |
| growth | $35/workspace | $29/workspace | 500 links/month; 10 QR codes/month; 10 landing pages; 20 redirects/month; 25,000 API requests/month; 120-day history; 1 custom domain |
| premium | $300/workspace | $199/workspace | 3,000 links/month; 200 QR codes/month; 20 landing pages; 110 redirects/month; 50,000 API requests/month; 1-year history |
| enterprise | custom | — | Custom links, QR codes, landing pages, API volume and users; 2-year analytics history |
free tier5 links/month, 2 QR codes/month, 2 landing pages, 3 custom back-halves/month, 1,000 API requests/month, and unlimited clicks/scans
billingCore annual only; Growth and Premium monthly + annual; plans auto-renew and sales tax may apply
hidden costsCore cannot be bought monthly. Feature quotas reset monthly; extra enterprise capabilities such as parameter passing can be separately purchasable, and sales tax may be added.
verified 2026-08-12 · source ↗
Can I open-source Bitly?
Yes. Dub replaces Bitly today — self-host it on your own server or machine with no subscription. The full list of open-source alternatives is on this page.
How much does Bitly cost?
Bitly costs about $35/month (Growth, checked 2026-07-30), which is $420 per year. That's what you save by replacing it with open source.
What do I lose by replacing Bitly?
Honestly: links that outlive your own infrastructure · a domain you stop renewing takes every link with it; bit.ly's recognition in the link itself, which cuts both ways now that shorteners get spam-filtered; bundled QR code management, landing pages, and campaign grouping; city-level and device-level analytics rollups without building them; an SLA and someone to call. If any of those are load-bearing for you, keep paying.
Is there an open-source alternative to Bitly?
Yes: Dub (Bitly with deeper attribution; self-hosting means recreating half a startup's infrastructure.) Sink (A polished Bitly clone on Cloudflare; free hosting, several bindings, and no server to patch.) Shlink (Branded links, routing rules and serious click stats in one container; the QR endpoint is living on borrowed time.) All 7 curated open-source alternatives are at caniopensourceit.online/bitly/alternatives.