bit vs Shlink
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
Shlink
The definitive self-hosted URL shortener
| Feature | bit | Shlink |
|---|---|---|
| Category | URL Shorteners | URL Shorteners |
| License | MIT | MIT |
| Language | Crystal | PHP |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 256 MB |
| Deployment | docker | docker, kubernetes, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 105 | ★ 5,192 |
| First released | 2025 | 2016 |
| 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 Shlink better?
Neither is universally better. Shlink has the larger community; both share a medium setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are bit and Shlink free and open-source?
Yes. bit is licensed under MIT and Shlink under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run bit and Shlink with Docker?
bit: yes. Shlink: yes.