SHSelfHostIndex

Lstu vs Shlink Web Client

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?
LS Lstu Let's shorten that URL, simple and ephemeral VS SH Shlink Web Client Web dashboard for managing Shlink instances
FeatureLstuShlink Web Client
Deploy effortUnder-an-hour setupUnder-an-hour setup
CategoryURL ShortenersURL Shorteners
LicenseWTFPLMIT
LanguagePerlTypeScript
Setup difficultyEasyEasy
Min. RAM128 MB128 MB
Deploymentdocker, bare-metaldocker
GitHub stars★ 200★ 398
First released20142018
ReplacesTinyURL, BitlyBitly

What are Lstu and Shlink Web Client?

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

Shlink Web Client

Shlink Web Client is the official browser-based interface for managing one or more Shlink servers. It provides link creation, analytics dashboards, and tag management.

  • Manage multiple Shlink servers
  • Visual analytics dashboards
  • Tag and domain management
  • No backend of its own

Lstu vs Shlink Web Client: key differences

Lstu is written in Perl, while Shlink Web Client is built with TypeScript. Licensing differs — WTFPL for Lstu versus MIT for Shlink Web Client. Lstu is the more established project (first released 2014), while Shlink Web Client arrived in 2018.

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
Lstu details

Choose Shlink Web Client if…

  • Released under the MIT license
  • Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
  • First-class Docker support for quick deployment
  • Written in TypeScript
Shlink Web Client details

Frequently asked questions

Is Lstu or Shlink Web Client better?

Neither is universally better. Shlink Web Client has the larger community; both share a easy setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.

Are Lstu and Shlink Web Client free and open-source?

Yes. Lstu is licensed under WTFPL and Shlink Web Client under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.

Can I run Lstu and Shlink Web Client with Docker?

Lstu: yes. Shlink Web Client: yes.

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