Kutt vs Lstu
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?
Kutt
Modern open-source URL shortener with analytics
VS
Lstu
Let's shorten that URL, simple and ephemeral
| Feature | Kutt | Lstu |
|---|---|---|
| Category | URL Shorteners | URL Shorteners |
| License | MIT | WTFPL |
| Language | JavaScript | Perl |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 128 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal | docker, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 11,015 | ★ 200 |
| First released | 2017 | 2014 |
| Replaces | Bitly, TinyURL | TinyURL, Bitly |
Why pick each one
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 Kutt or Lstu better?
Neither is universally better. Kutt 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 Kutt and Lstu free and open-source?
Yes. Kutt is licensed under MIT and Lstu under WTFPL. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Kutt and Lstu with Docker?
Kutt: yes. Lstu: yes.