Deploy and Host YOURLS on Railway

YOURLS (Your Own URL Shortener) is a free, open-source PHP application that lets you run your own URL shortening service on your server. You'll have full control over your data, detailed analytics, custom short domains, and extensive plugin support - all without depending on third-party services.

Implementation Details

Initial Setup Process:

1. After deployment, visit the yourls service in Railway
2. Go to Settings → Networking → Edit Port
3. Select the port in the dropdown, or manually enter 80
4. Re-deploy the service

Post-Installation Configuration:

• Root domain will show "Forbidden" (this is expected)
• Visit /admin to access the installation page
• Click "Install YOURLS" and wait for completion
• Default username: admin
• Password: Found in Variables tab as YOURLS_PASS (not YOURLS_DB_PASS)
• Password can be changed in Variables and applied with re-deployment

About Hosting YOURLS

Hosting YOURLS involves deploying a PHP-based web application with a MySQL database backend. The setup includes configuring Apache web server with mod_rewrite, setting up database connections, and managing user authentication. YOURLS provides comprehensive statistics, click tracking, and customizable short URLs using your own domain. The platform supports extensive customization through plugins and themes, making it ideal for businesses, developers, and organizations who want complete control over their URL shortening infrastructure while maintaining branding consistency.

Common Use Cases

• Brand-consistent marketing campaigns - Use your own domain for all shortened links to maintain brand recognition and trust
• Analytics and tracking - Monitor click-through rates, geographic data, and referrer information for marketing insights
• Internal link management - Create memorable short links for internal documentation, resources, and team sharing
• Social media optimization - Generate clean, trackable links for social media posts and email campaigns
• API integration - Programmatically create and manage short URLs through YOURLS' comprehensive REST API

Dependencies for YOURLS Hosting

• PHP 8.1+ with cURL extension enabled for API functionality
• MySQL 5.0+ or MariaDB 10.0+ for data storage and link management
• Apache 2.4+ with mod_rewrite module for URL routing
• HTTPS support recommended for security and modern browser compatibility

Deployment Dependencies

• YOURLS Official Documentation - Complete installation and configuration guide
• YOURLS GitHub Repository - Source code and issue tracking
• Awesome YOURLS - Community plugins, themes, and tools

Why Deploy YOURLS on Railway?

Railway is a singular platform to deploy your infrastructure stack. Railway will host your infrastructure so you don't have to deal with configuration, while allowing you to vertically and horizontally scale it.

By deploying YOURLS on Railway, you are one step closer to supporting a complete full-stack application with minimal burden. Host your servers, databases, AI agents, and more on Railway.