Shlink vs spoo.me
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?
Shlink
The definitive self-hosted URL shortener
VS
spoo.me
Open-source URL shortener with click stats
| Feature | Shlink | spoo.me |
|---|---|---|
| Category | URL Shorteners | URL Shorteners |
| License | MIT | MIT |
| Language | PHP | Python |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 256 MB | 256 MB |
| Deployment | docker, kubernetes, bare-metal | docker, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 5,192 | ★ 240 |
| First released | 2016 | 2023 |
| Replaces | Bitly, Rebrandly | Bitly, Cuttly |
Why pick each one
Choose spoo.me if…
- Released under the MIT license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Written in Python
Frequently asked questions
Is Shlink or spoo.me better?
Neither is universally better. Shlink has the larger community, while spoo.me is simpler to set up (easy difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are Shlink and spoo.me free and open-source?
Yes. Shlink is licensed under MIT and spoo.me under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Shlink and spoo.me with Docker?
Shlink: yes. spoo.me: yes.