Lstu vs Trotto
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
Trotto
Open-source go-links for company shortcuts
| Feature | Lstu | Trotto |
|---|---|---|
| Category | URL Shorteners | URL Shorteners |
| License | WTFPL | Apache-2.0 |
| Language | Perl | Python |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 128 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal | docker, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 200 | ★ 349 |
| First released | 2014 | 2018 |
| Replaces | TinyURL, Bitly | Golinks, GoLinks.io |
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 Trotto if…
- Released under the Apache-2.0 license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Written in Python
- Lightweight — runs in 512 MB RAM
Frequently asked questions
Is Lstu or Trotto better?
Neither is universally better. Trotto 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 Trotto free and open-source?
Yes. Lstu is licensed under WTFPL and Trotto under Apache-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Lstu and Trotto with Docker?
Lstu: yes. Trotto: yes.