Shlink Web Client 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?
Shlink Web Client
Web dashboard for managing Shlink instances
VS
Sink
Serverless URL shortener with built-in analytics
| Feature | Shlink Web Client | Sink |
|---|---|---|
| Category | URL Shorteners | URL Shorteners |
| License | MIT | MIT |
| Language | TypeScript | Vue |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 128 MB | 128 MB |
| Deployment | docker | source, one-click |
| GitHub stars | ★ 391 | ★ 7,000 |
| First released | 2018 | 2024 |
| Replaces | Bitly | Bitly |
Why pick each one
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
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 Shlink Web Client or Sink better?
Neither is universally better. Sink 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 Shlink Web Client and Sink free and open-source?
Yes. Shlink Web Client is licensed under MIT and Sink under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Shlink Web Client and Sink with Docker?
Shlink Web Client: yes. Sink: check the project docs for container support.