Dub vs Lstu
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted url shorteners options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | Dub | Lstu |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Category | URL Shorteners | URL Shorteners |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | WTFPL |
| Language | TypeScript | Perl |
| Setup difficulty | Hard | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 1,024 MB | 128 MB |
| Deployment | docker | docker, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 24,809 | ★ 200 |
| First released | 2022 | 2014 |
| Replaces | Bitly, Rebrandly | TinyURL, Bitly |
What are Dub and Lstu?
Dub
Dub is a modern, open-source link management platform for creating branded short links with advanced analytics, QR codes, and team collaboration. It can be self-hosted with Docker.
- Branded short links
- Advanced click analytics
- QR code generation
- Team workspaces
Lstu
Lstu is a free, lightweight URL shortener written in Perl that focuses on simplicity and privacy. It can shorten links and optionally make them expire after a set time.
- Simple ephemeral links
- Privacy-focused
- Lightweight Perl app
- API support
Dub vs Lstu: key differences
Dub is written in TypeScript, while Lstu is built with Perl. Licensing differs — AGPL-3.0 for Dub versus WTFPL for Lstu. Lstu is the lighter option, starting around 128 MB of RAM against 1,024 MB for Dub. Lstu is the more established project (first released 2014), while Dub arrived in 2022. Dub has the considerably larger community, at 24,809 GitHub stars versus 200.
Why pick each one
Choose Dub if…
- Polished modern UI
- Powerful analytics
Watch out for
- Complex self-hosting setup
Choose Lstu if…
- Released under the WTFPL license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Written in Perl
Frequently asked questions
Is Dub or Lstu better?
Neither is universally better. Dub has the larger community, while Lstu is simpler to set up (easy difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are Dub and Lstu free and open-source?
Yes. Dub is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and Lstu under WTFPL. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Dub and Lstu with Docker?
Dub: yes. Lstu: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Dub or Lstu?
Lstu has the smaller minimum footprint at 128 MB of RAM, compared to about 1,024 MB for Dub. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.