Bitly charges $348/year just to use your own domain with your links — and your click data lives on their servers. Trimly runs on your $5 VPS (or right on your desktop), keeps every click in a local SQLite file you own, and never phones home.
If you've searched for a Bitly alternative, Trimly is the pay-once option worth putting at the top of the list: Trimly is $29, one time, and covers the same core job Bitly charges $29/mo for.
What makes Trimly the pick for 2026
- Branded short links — Auto-generated or custom slugs on your own domain.
- Click analytics — Total + unique clicks, clicks-over-time chart, top referrers, devices, browsers, countries.
- QR code for every link — Downloadable PNG and SVG.
- 301 / 302 per link — SEO-permanent or trackable-temporary — your call, editable any time.
- UTM builder — Built into the create form — tag campaigns without a spreadsheet.
Trimly vs Bitly, at a glance
| Trimly | Bitly | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $29 once | $29/mo ($348/yr) for a custom domain |
| Your own domain | Included | Paid plans only |
| Links | Unlimited | Capped per plan |
| Click data ownership | Your SQLite file | Their servers |
| QR codes (PNG + SVG) | Included | Limited / paid tiers |
| Bulk CSV import/export | Yes | Paid tiers |
| Tracking pixels / telemetry | None | Their business model |
One month of Bitly's custom-domain plan costs the same as Trimly does once.
Common questions
Is it really free on GitHub?
Yes — MIT source at github.com/bensblueprints/link-shortener-mvp. The $29 buys the packaged 1-click installer, updates and setup support.
Do I need a server for public links?
Yes — public short links need a public host, so budget a $5/mo VPS. Desktop mode works fully offline for QR generation and campaign planning. Even VPS + Trimly year one costs less than 3 months of Bitly.
Can I migrate from Bitly?
Yes — bulk CSV import is built in. Export from Bitly, paste, done. Printed QR codes keep working because destinations stay editable.
The bottom line
Trimly won't out-feature Bitly on every axis — no subscription tool with a bigger team and a bigger roadmap loses on everything. But for the core job, $29 once against $29/mo forever is a trade most people should at least look at. Trimly is part of OneTimeSuite, a catalog of pay-once apps that replace subscription SaaS.
Try Trimly — $29, once
Branded short links, QR codes and click analytics — on your domain, in your SQLite file.