URL Shorteners · head-to-head
Cutt.ly vs Kutt
Cutt.ly shortens links to cutt.ly URLs and layers on click tracking, custom back-halves, branded domains, and campaign management. Its REST API is called with an API key issued from a Cutt.ly account and returns JSON; the same key drives link creation, editing, and per-link statistics. A free plan covers basic shortening and stats, with paid tiers adding branded domains, team seats, and higher limits.
Kutt is a free, open-source, self-hostable URL shortener supporting custom domains, link expiration, password protection, and per-link statistics. The public instance and REST API live at kutt.to (authenticated with an X-API-Key header), and the AGPL-licensed codebase can be self-hosted for full control. Note that the old kutt.it domain is no longer operated by the project — its maintainers warn it may now be a phishing site — so integrations should target kutt.to.
| Cutt.ly | Kutt | |
|---|---|---|
| Authentication | API Key | API Key |
| Pricing | freemium | free |
| Formats | JSON | JSON |
| CORS | no | yes |
| HTTPS | Yes | Yes |
Kutt supports CORS, while Cutt.ly doesn't — pick Kutt for direct browser calls.