Shlink 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?
Shlink
The definitive self-hosted URL shortener
VS
Trotto
Open-source go-links for company shortcuts
| Feature | Shlink | Trotto |
|---|---|---|
| Category | URL Shorteners | URL Shorteners |
| License | MIT | Apache-2.0 |
| Language | PHP | Python |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 256 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | docker, kubernetes, bare-metal | docker, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 5,192 | ★ 349 |
| First released | 2016 | 2018 |
| Replaces | Bitly, Rebrandly | Golinks, GoLinks.io |
Why pick each one
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 Shlink or Trotto better?
Neither is universally better. Shlink has the larger community; both share a medium setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are Shlink and Trotto free and open-source?
Yes. Shlink is licensed under MIT and Trotto under Apache-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Shlink and Trotto with Docker?
Shlink: yes. Trotto: yes.