Best Self Hosted Alternatives to BL.INK

YOURLS (Your Own URL Shortener) is a PHP application for running a private URL shortening service under your own domain. It provides a web interface and an API to create, manage, and track short links, with extensibility via plugins and themes.

Key Features

• Create short URLs for long links using sequential IDs or custom keywords
• Public or private mode (use as an internal shortener or an open service)
• Link analytics: click counts and referrer tracking for each short URL
• Admin web interface for managing links, keywords, titles, and stats
• Developer-friendly API for automation and third-party integrations
• Plugin system to extend behavior (authentication, spam controls, custom formats, etc.)
• Custom URL structures (e.g., prefixing, reserved keywords) and configurable redirects

Use Cases

• Branded short links for marketing campaigns and social media posts
• Internal link shortener for teams (docs, ticket links, shared resources)
• Programmatic short-link generation via API for apps and automation workflows

Limitations and Considerations

• Requires a traditional LAMP/LEMP-style stack (PHP + MySQL/MariaDB) and ongoing patching like any web app
• Built-in analytics are basic compared to dedicated marketing analytics suites

YOURLS is a mature, widely-used option for organizations that want full control over short-link domains and data. It fits well when you need simple link management, dependable redirects, and lightweight per-link statistics with the option to extend via plugins.

OpenSign is an open-source electronic signature (e-sign) platform for creating signature workflows, sending documents to recipients, and collecting legally relevant signing evidence. It provides a web UI for preparing documents, defining signers and fields, and tracking signature status, with a focus on organization/team workflows.

Key Features

• Create and send signature requests (“envelopes”) to one or more recipients
• Drag-and-drop placement of signing fields (e.g., signature, initials, text/date fields)
• Templates for reusing common document workflows and field layouts
• Email-based signing flow with document status tracking
• Audit trail / activity history for signature events
• Team/organization features (users, roles, shared templates/documents)
• PDF/document upload and in-browser viewing during signing

Use Cases

• Internal HR and onboarding paperwork (offer letters, policies, acknowledgements)
• Sales/procurement approvals (quotes, MSAs, vendor agreements)
• Operations and compliance sign-offs (SOP acknowledgements, change approvals)

OpenSign is a solid choice for teams that want to run their own e-sign workflow and retain control of documents and signing data. It covers common signing needs such as multi-recipient flows, templates, and document tracking while remaining approachable to deploy and operate.