Simply Shorten 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?
Simply Shorten
Slimline self-hosted URL shortener with no bloat
VS
Trotto
Open-source go-links for company shortcuts
| Feature | Simply Shorten | Trotto |
|---|---|---|
| Category | URL Shorteners | URL Shorteners |
| License | MPL-2.0 | Apache-2.0 |
| Language | Java | Python |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 256 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | docker | docker, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 100 | ★ 349 |
| First released | 2020 | 2018 |
| Replaces | TinyURL | Golinks, GoLinks.io |
Why pick each one
Choose Simply Shorten if…
- Released under the MPL-2.0 license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Written in Java
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 Simply Shorten or Trotto better?
Neither is universally better. Trotto has the larger community, while Simply Shorten is simpler to set up (easy difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are Simply Shorten and Trotto free and open-source?
Yes. Simply Shorten is licensed under MPL-2.0 and Trotto under Apache-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Simply Shorten and Trotto with Docker?
Simply Shorten: yes. Trotto: yes.