Reduced.to 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.
| Feature | Reduced.to | Shlink Web Client |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 15 · At risk | 78 · Good |
| Status | Archived | Actively maintained |
| Category | URL Shorteners | URL Shorteners |
| License | MIT | MIT |
| Language | TypeScript | TypeScript |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 1,024 MB | 128 MB |
| Deployment | docker | docker |
| GitHub stars | ★ 705 | ★ 398 |
| First released | 2022 | 2018 |
| Replaces | Bitly, Rebrandly | Bitly |
What are Reduced.to and Shlink Web Client?
Reduced.to
Reduced.to is an open-source URL shortener and link management platform with real-time analytics, QR codes, and password-protected links. It can be fully self-hosted.
- Real-time link analytics
- QR code generation
- Password-protected links
- Modern web UI
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
Reduced.to vs Shlink Web Client: key differences
The biggest difference is maintenance: Reduced.to's repository is archived and no longer developed, while Shlink Web Client is actively maintained. Both projects are written in TypeScript. Shlink Web Client is the lighter option, starting around 128 MB of RAM against 1,024 MB for Reduced.to. Shlink Web Client is the more established project (first released 2018), while Reduced.to arrived in 2022.
Why pick each one
Choose Reduced.to if…
- Released under the MIT license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Written in TypeScript
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
Frequently asked questions
Is Reduced.to or Shlink Web Client better?
Neither is universally better. Reduced.to has the larger community, while Shlink Web Client is simpler to set up (easy difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are Reduced.to and Shlink Web Client free and open-source?
Yes. Reduced.to is licensed under MIT and Shlink Web Client under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Reduced.to and Shlink Web Client with Docker?
Reduced.to: yes. Shlink Web Client: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Reduced.to or Shlink Web Client?
Shlink Web Client has the smaller minimum footprint at 128 MB of RAM, compared to about 1,024 MB for Reduced.to. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.