Lstu vs Sink
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
Sink
Serverless URL shortener with built-in analytics
| Feature | Lstu | Sink |
|---|---|---|
| Category | URL Shorteners | URL Shorteners |
| License | WTFPL | MIT |
| Language | Perl | Vue |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 128 MB | 128 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal | source, one-click |
| GitHub stars | ★ 200 | ★ 7,000 |
| First released | 2014 | 2024 |
| Replaces | TinyURL, Bitly | 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
Choose Sink if…
- Released under the MIT license
- One-click install on common self-host platforms
- Mature project with 7k GitHub stars
- Written in Vue
Frequently asked questions
Is Lstu or Sink better?
Neither is universally better. Sink 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 Sink free and open-source?
Yes. Lstu is licensed under WTFPL and Sink under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Lstu and Sink with Docker?
Lstu: yes. Sink: check the project docs for container support.