bit vs Dub
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted url shorteners options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Not the right match-up?
bit
Fast, lightweight, resource-efficient, compiled URL shortener
VS
Dub
Open-source link management platform
| Feature | bit | Dub |
|---|---|---|
| Category | URL Shorteners | URL Shorteners |
| License | MIT | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | Crystal | TypeScript |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Hard |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 1,024 MB |
| Deployment | docker | docker |
| GitHub stars | ★ 105 | ★ 24,245 |
| First released | 2025 | 2022 |
| Replaces | — | Bitly, Rebrandly |
Why pick each one
Choose bit if…
- Released under the MIT license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Written in Crystal
- Lightweight — runs in 512 MB RAM
Frequently asked questions
Is bit or Dub better?
Neither is universally better. Dub has the larger community, while bit is simpler to set up (medium difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are bit and Dub free and open-source?
Yes. bit is licensed under MIT and Dub under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run bit and Dub with Docker?
bit: yes. Dub: yes.