The offering of PHP URL shortener scripts bring as much variety and varying degrees of complexity as any other web development solution. Self-hosted URL shorteners can be set up exclusively for private use, but they can also be used for public use as well.
There are a great number of PHP URL shortener scripts that can be developed into a fully robust monetized link shortening service like AdFly. At the same time, these shortener solutions can be used by marketers to analyze and maximize their marketing efforts—not to mention those that may like to monitor their own personal links without using third-party solutions like Bitly.
No matter what type of shortener solution you’re looking for, here are the 10 best PHP URL shortener scripts that will certainly help you get started:
1. AdLinkFly – Monetized URL Shortener
AdLinkFly – Monetized URL Shortener is not your typical URL shortener. It’s a robust system designed to monetized short URLs—much like the monetized link shortening services like AdFly and ouo.io.
“Allow members to shorten links & earn money, and keep a share of the profit.”
This complete publisher and advertiser system supports several payment gateways including:
- PayPal
- Payza
- Bitcoin
- Bank Transfer
- and more
With four different API tools, admin panel, social media network login, and more, you’ll be up and running your own customized URL shortener system in no time.
AdLinkFly – Monetized URL Shortener is perfect for advertisers, referral systems, and more.
2. Mighty URL Shortener | Short URL Script
The Mighty URL Shortener | Short URL Script offers several useful URL shortener features—and packs it into a membership-based service.
Users can choose from different plans that can be customized and pay for the link shortener service via PayPal, Bitcoin, bank transfer, and more.
Some of the features included for users:
- display website articles into redirect page
- comments system in short link pages
- advanced statistics and analytics
- social media user logins
- and more
You can also develop applications that work with the service, using the advanced API. Mighty URL Shortener | Short URL Script is mighty indeed.
3. Premium URL Shortener
This PHP URL shortener offers some nice features and includes some CMS tools to help you build something amazing. Whether you want a public or private system, Premium URL Shortener can accommodate.
Features include:
- fully responsive template with built-in template editor
- full featured admin panel and powerful dashboard
- Facebook and Twitter user login
- geotargeting and advanced API
- jQuery with fallback
It also includes a URL bookmarking system with bookmarklet:
“URLs are automatically associated to registered users and are saved on their account for future access.”
This allows users to drag the bookmarklet tool to their browser bookmark bar, making it easy to shorten the URL of any website they view.
With full documentation and support included, the Premium URL Shortener should not be overlooked.
4. LinkPress – URL Shortener, Links Directory & Link Management Platform
Gain a strong grasp on your marketing channel performance by using LinkPress – URL Shortener, Links Directory & Link Management Platform. Built with PHP, MySQL, Laravel, and Bootstrap, this management platform also looks good with its responsive and retina-ready design.
You can easily add links one at a time, but this also supports bulk import. Quickly and easily add and shorten thousands of links at one time.
Other features include:
- Disqus-powered comment system
- spam and bot protection
- Google AdSense ready
- link tracking with stats
- powerful API
- and more
With this system, you also have the option of collecting link details like a title, description, keywords, etc. This information can then appear on the link detail cards with previews and keywords.
Build, analyze, shorten and so much more with LinkPress – URL Shortener, Links Directory & Link Management Platform.
5. Shortny – The URL Shortener
Shortny – The URL Shortener reduces much of the bloat found in other URL shorteners and offers a straightforward, simple solution that gets the job done.
On the front-end, users can:
- create their shortened URL
- password protect the link
- copy and share the link
- see the link statistics
On the back-end side, the website admin can:
- see statistics
- delete any URLs
- edit website settings and ads
Shortny – The URL Shortener is a solid solution that provides just the right amount of features most people are looking for.
6. URL Shortener with Ads and Powerful Admin Panel
The URL Shortener with Ads and Powerful Admin Panel is another AdFly type system. When a user clicks on a link created by this URL shortener, up to two pages of ads are shown before displaying the original URL.
On the technical side, features include:
- PHP/MySql powered
- customizable template
- includes API, LESS files and compiled CSS
Some of the user and admin features include:
- assign different admin privileges
- AdSense, analytics support
- social sharing
- search URLs
- and more
URL Shortener with Ads and Powerful Admin Panel includes just enough features to set up your own advertising link shortener.
7. Shortny B – Shorten in Style
If you’re looking for a simple and stylish URL shortener, then you need to look at Shortny B – Shorten in Style. With its responsive design and clean look, URL redirect advertising rarely looks this good.
When URLs are shortened, users have several options:
- choose tag, top, or bottom for ad placement
- add button with custom URL
- set header text
- custom URL
And then copy and share your freshly created link.
After the link is shared, view the link stats:
- top visits
- top referrals
- and more
The back-end admin provides the ability to:
- change website settings
- edit and delete links
- add tracking scripts
- web stats
- and more
Shortny B – Shorten in Style is an elegant URL shortener that needs to be seen.
8. Shortix – URL Shortener
Shortix – URL Shortener makes it easy to develop an anonymous and/or registered user based system. Registered users can view graphic link stats and can optionally gain access to the shortener API, while anonymous users can simply share their newly created shortened URL.
““Shortix” is a simple and beautiful script which allows to start your own URL shortening service, a web service that provides short aliases for redirection of long URLs.”
Additional features include:
- PHP mail and SMTP support
- optional shortener API
- spam protection
- AJAX interface
- and more
Shortix – URL Shortener is easy to install and ready to be used for your next project.
9. URL Shortener
One of the most barebones URL shorteners is URL Shortener.
But don’t let its simplicity fool you. It has plenty of power.
Features include:
- generates QR code for shortened URLs
- Google, Bing, and Yandex verification
- supports AdSense and analytics
- social share buttons
- auto copy button
- AJAX powered
- developer API
- and more
With its powerful admin panel and easy installer, URL Shortener may be just what you’re looking for.
10. URL Shortener Script with Statistics
The URL Shortener Script with Statistics packs an incredible punch for its price point. Using the Google Shortener API, this PHP URL shortener script is both good looking and powerful.
Because it leverages Google’s Shortener API, “it offers advanced link statistics from Google, such as referrals, browsers, or operating system used by the visitors.”
Additional features include:
- World Map visitors from Google Shortener API
- shortlinks with custom alias option
- clean and fully responsive design
- QR code generated shortlink
- 3 AdSense ready spots
- and more
URL Shortener Script with Statistics is an impressive solution that delivers in both form and function.
Ask the Right Questions
What type of PHP URL shortener script are you looking for?
There are several things to consider:
- Do you want to monetize your system with advertising?
- If so, do you want to use advertising redirects or simply place ads on your URL shortener website?
- What statistics are the most important to you, if any?
- Do you want to use your own API?
- What about user accounts? Or do you only want the shortener used anonymously?
These are just a few general questions you should be asking yourself. You’ll want to ask more specific questions depending on your project.
Conclusion
Because there is such a wide spectrum of PHP URL shortener scripts within a limited number of solutions, it’s important to completely think through what you’re trying to create, and understand the problem you’re trying to solve before looking for the answer.
If you can’t find the solution you’re looking for, you could consider making your own. On Envato Tuts+, you’ll find many resources to learn PHP, like PHP tutorials, code eBooks, and video code courses. They have beginner PHP courses, like PHP Fundamentals or more advanced video courses such as PHP Object Oriented Programming Fundamentals. No matter your learning style, you’ll be sure to find helpful the right PHP code courses.
And if you’re curious to know what other PHP scripts are offered, take a good look on Envato Market.
