Gull vs Simply Shorten
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?
Gull
Simple, modern URL shortener
VS
Simply Shorten
Slimline self-hosted URL shortener with no bloat
| Feature | Gull | Simply Shorten |
|---|---|---|
| Category | URL Shorteners | URL Shorteners |
| License | MPL-2.0 | MPL-2.0 |
| Language | Go | Java |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 50 MB | 256 MB |
| Deployment | bare-metal | docker |
| GitHub stars | ★ 37 | ★ 100 |
| First released | 2025 | 2020 |
| Replaces | bitly | TinyURL |
Why pick each one
Choose Gull if…
- Released under the MPL-2.0 license
- Written in Go
- Tiny footprint — runs in 50 MB RAM
Choose Simply Shorten if…
- Released under the MPL-2.0 license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Written in Java
Frequently asked questions
Is Gull or Simply Shorten better?
Simply Shorten is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider Gull if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are Gull and Simply Shorten free and open-source?
Yes. Gull is licensed under MPL-2.0 and Simply Shorten under MPL-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Gull and Simply Shorten with Docker?
Gull: check the project docs for container support. Simply Shorten: yes.