Lstu 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?
Lstu
Let's shorten that URL, simple and ephemeral
VS
Slash
Open-source, self-hosted bookmarks and link shortener
| Feature | Lstu | Slash |
|---|---|---|
| Category | URL Shorteners | URL Shorteners |
| License | WTFPL | MIT |
| Language | Perl | TypeScript |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 128 MB | 256 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal | docker |
| GitHub stars | ★ 200 | ★ 3,169 |
| First released | 2014 | 2023 |
| Replaces | TinyURL, Bitly | Bitly, go links |
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
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 Lstu or Slash better?
Neither is universally better. Slash has the larger community; both share a easy setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are Lstu and Slash free and open-source?
Yes. Lstu is licensed under WTFPL and Slash under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Lstu and Slash with Docker?
Lstu: yes. Slash: yes.