Better YOURLS
Integrate your blog with YOURLS custom URL generator.
Consider an alternative
Better YOURLS shows warning signs in 2026 — compare the alternatives below before installing. It runs on 200+ sites, is rated 4.9/5 and was last updated 8 years ago, and scores 38/100 on our health check.
- Small user base (200+ active installs)
- No update in 7 years
- Only tested up to WordPress 5.1 (latest is 7.1)
Daily downloads
Download spikes usually follow a new release — each site that auto-updates counts as a download.
Rankings
Where Better YOURLS stands todayWordPress.org search rankings
Live position in the plugin search, top 100| Keyword | Position |
|---|---|
| custom shortlink | >100 |
| shortlink | >100 |
| yourls | #9 |
Version adoption
Share of active sites per release.
Rating breakdown
★★★★★★★★★★ 4.9 from 12 reviews
About Better YOURLS
From the official readme · v2.3.0Description
Integrates your blog with the YOURLS custom URL generator.
Features
- Creates YOURLs links for all content using wp_shortlink
- Saves links to post_meta to reduce server calls
- Easily access link stats from the admin bar
- Only 2 options: domain and api key
Translations
- English
License
Released under the terms of the GNU General Public License.
Installation
- Backup your WordPress database, config file, and .htaccess file
- Upload the zip file to the
/wp-content/plugins/directory - Unzip
- Activate the plugin through the ‘Plugins’ menu in WordPress
- Visit the Better YOURLS page under settings to add domain and API key
Changelog
Version 2.1.3 is a bugfix update that is recommended for all users.
2.3.0
- Plugin is now compatible with Gutenberg.
- Fixed security error when using Bulk Edit. Thanks <a href=”https://github.com/clementduncan>@clementduncan!
- Plugin adopted by Aaron Eaton
2.2.3
- Fixed an error that prevented private post types from being handled correctly.
2.2.2
- Fixed deployment error
2.2.1
- Fixed error on settings save due to unavailable array.
- Fixed “Security Error” when saving ignored posts.
- Minor JS and CSS refactoring for easier debugging
- Moved .pot file to “languages” folder
2.2
- Added ability to properly handle non-public post types.
- Minor fixes and typo corrections.
2.1.6
- Minor code sniffer fixes.
- Added nonce to keyword form.
Screenshots
For developers
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FAQ
Better YOURLS: quick answers
Straight answers, pulled from live WordPress.org data.
Live data from WordPress.org · checked Oct 13, 2026
Is Better YOURLS free?
Yes. Better YOURLS is free to download and use from the official WordPress.org plugin directory.
Is Better YOURLS safe to use in 2026?
Better YOURLS shows warning signs in 2026 — compare the alternatives below before installing. It runs on 200+ sites, is rated 4.9/5 and was last updated 8 years ago, and scores 38/100 on our health check.
How many websites use Better YOURLS?
Better YOURLS is active on 200+ WordPress websites and has been downloaded 15,127 times since it launched in April 2014. It was downloaded 105 times in the last 30 days.
Does Better YOURLS work with WordPress 7.1?
Better YOURLS is officially tested up to WordPress 5.1.27, while the latest release is 7.1.3. It may still work, but try it on a staging site first.
When was Better YOURLS last updated?
The latest version, 2.3.0, was released on February 20, 2019 (8 years ago).
Who makes Better YOURLS?
Better YOURLS is developed and maintained by Chris Wiegman.
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