Lstu vs Shlink
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted url shorteners options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Shlink
The definitive self-hosted URL shortener
| Feature | Lstu | Shlink |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Category | URL Shorteners | URL Shorteners |
| License | WTFPL | MIT |
| Language | Perl | PHP |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 128 MB | 256 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal | docker, kubernetes, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 200 | ★ 5,303 |
| First released | 2014 | 2016 |
| Replaces | TinyURL, Bitly | Bitly, Rebrandly |
What are Lstu and Shlink?
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
Shlink is a self-hosted URL shortener with a powerful REST API, detailed visit analytics, QR codes, and a separate web client. It supports custom domains and tags for organizing links.
- Powerful REST API
- Detailed visit analytics
- QR code generation
- Multi-domain support
Lstu vs Shlink: key differences
Lstu is written in Perl, while Shlink is built with PHP. Licensing differs — WTFPL for Lstu versus MIT for Shlink. Lstu is the lighter option, starting around 128 MB of RAM against 256 MB for Shlink. Lstu is the more established project (first released 2014), while Shlink arrived in 2016. Shlink has the considerably larger community, at 5,303 GitHub stars versus 200.
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 Shlink if…
- Excellent API
- Geolocation analytics
Watch out for
- Web UI is a separate component
Frequently asked questions
Is Lstu or Shlink better?
Neither is universally better. Shlink 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 Lstu and Shlink free and open-source?
Yes. Lstu is licensed under WTFPL and Shlink under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Lstu and Shlink with Docker?
Lstu: yes. Shlink: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Lstu or Shlink?
Lstu has the smaller minimum footprint at 128 MB of RAM, compared to about 256 MB for Shlink. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.