Need a URL shortener for your site, but aren’t sure which PHP solution is best for you?
Like with any web development solution, there are layers of complexity to the choice. Will I be using this shortener myself? Do public users need to access it? Do I need to inject an ad, popup, or other form of content during the process?
With a shortener script in hand, you can implement a variety of solutions. Whether you’re looking to make a monetized link-shortening service, track your own links throughout the web, or get more value out of sharing URLs, there’s a tool for that.
When choosing a self-hosted URL shortener, all of this and more come into effect.
We’ve gathered some of the best PHP URL shortening scripts and tools out there, and highlighted their features to make your search easier. Whatever you’re looking for in a shortener, there’s likely to be something for you on this list.
Let’s jump in!
1. AdLinkFly: Monetized URL Shortener
AdLinkFly: Monetized URL Shortener is not your typical URL shortener. It’s a robust system designed to monetize 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
The Mighty URL Shortener short URL script offers several useful URL shortener features—and packs them 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 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 bookmarklets:
“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. Shortny
Shortny 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 is a solid solution that provides just the right amount of features most people are looking for.
5. 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 and MySql powered
- customizable template
- includes an API, LESS files and compiled CSS
Some of the user and admin features include:
- assign different admin privileges
- AdSense and 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.
6. Shortix URL Shortener
Shortix URL Shortener makes it easy to develop a link shortener that allows registered or anonymous users. 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.”
This makes it a great pick for those looking to implement a link shortening service with little setup or workarounds.
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.
7. URL Shortener
One of the most bare-bones solutions on this list, URL Shortener can still get the job done.
While it may not be an out-of-the-box solution for complex projects, it’s simplicity allows for easy extensibility, making it a great pick as a component of larger setups.
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.
8. 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.
Offers advanced link statistics from Google, such as referrals, browsers, or operating system used by the visitors.
Because it leverages Google’s Shortener API, it easy to integrate this script with Google Analytics, making it perfect for those in need of tracking for a marketing or paid tracking campaign.
Additional features include:
- World Map visitors from Google Shortener API
- shortlinks with custom alias option
- clean and fully responsive design
- QR code for generated shortlink
- three AdSense -ready spots
- and more
URL Shortener Script with Statistics is an impressive solution that delivers in both form and function.
What Kind of Shortener Do You Need?
What type of PHP URL shortener script are you looking for?
When it comes to comparing all of the tools out there, you’ll want to ask some important questions:
- 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?
- Are you looking to inject additional content onto your URLs?
Depending on your project, these questions will help you get off to a good start when researching your solution. With these answers in hand, you’ll be able to quickly tell which scripts will work for your situation, and which won’t.
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 and video code courses. We 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.
