Flink vs Slash
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?
Flink
Create QR Codes, embeddable link previews for your website and
VS
Slash
Open-source, self-hosted bookmarks and link shortener
| Feature | Flink | Slash |
|---|---|---|
| Category | URL Shorteners | URL Shorteners |
| License | MIT | MIT |
| Language | Docker | TypeScript |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 256 MB |
| Deployment | docker | docker |
| GitHub stars | — | ★ 3,169 |
| First released | 2020 | 2023 |
| Replaces | — | Bitly, go links |
Why pick each one
Choose Flink if…
- Released under the MIT license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Written in Docker
- Lightweight — runs in 512 MB RAM
Choose Slash if…
- Released under the MIT license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Active community (3.2k GitHub stars)
Frequently asked questions
Is Flink or Slash better?
Slash is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider Flink if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are Flink and Slash free and open-source?
Yes. Flink is licensed under MIT and Slash under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Flink and Slash with Docker?
Flink: yes. Slash: yes.