SHSelfHostIndex

Lstu vs Simple-URL-Shortener

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 SI Simple-URL-Shortener KISS URL shortener, public or private (with account)
FeatureLstuSimple-URL-Shortener
CategoryURL ShortenersURL Shorteners
LicenseWTFPLMIT
LanguagePerlPHP
Setup difficultyEasyMedium
Min. RAM128 MB512 MB
Deploymentdocker, bare-metalbare-metal
GitHub stars★ 200★ 59
First released20142015
ReplacesTinyURL, 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
Lstu details

Choose Simple-URL-Shortener if…

  • Released under the MIT license
  • Written in PHP
  • Lightweight — runs in 512 MB RAM
Simple-URL-Shortener details

Frequently asked questions

Is Lstu or Simple-URL-Shortener better?

Lstu is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider Simple-URL-Shortener if its specific feature set fits your needs better.

Are Lstu and Simple-URL-Shortener free and open-source?

Yes. Lstu is licensed under WTFPL and Simple-URL-Shortener under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.

Can I run Lstu and Simple-URL-Shortener with Docker?

Lstu: yes. Simple-URL-Shortener: check the project docs for container support.

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