Shlink vs Chhoto URL
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
Chhoto URL
Fast, lightweight and FOSS URL shortener in Rust
| Feature | Shlink | Chhoto URL |
|---|---|---|
| Category | URL Shorteners | URL Shorteners |
| License | MIT | MIT |
| Language | PHP | Rust |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 256 MB | 64 MB |
| Deployment | docker, kubernetes, bare-metal | docker |
| GitHub stars | ★ 5,192 | ★ 929 |
| First released | 2016 | 2023 |
| Replaces | Bitly, Rebrandly | TinyURL, Bitly |
Why pick each one
Choose Chhoto URL if…
- Released under the MIT license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Written in Rust
Frequently asked questions
Is Shlink or Chhoto URL better?
Neither is universally better. Shlink has the larger community, while Chhoto URL is simpler to set up (easy difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are Shlink and Chhoto URL free and open-source?
Yes. Shlink is licensed under MIT and Chhoto URL under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Shlink and Chhoto URL with Docker?
Shlink: yes. Chhoto URL: yes.