Dub vs Shlink vs Kutt: Link Management Showdown

Three open source approaches to URL shortening and link management. Dub is the feature-rich platform. Shlink is the API-first backend. Kutt is the minimal, privacy-focused option. Here's the breakdown.

Quick Verdict

Dub for the complete Bitly replacement with analytics and team features. Shlink for a developer-focused API with CLI. Kutt for the simplest, most privacy-focused URL shortener.

The Comparison

Feature	Dub	Shlink	Kutt
Stack	Next.js, TypeScript	PHP, Symfony	Node.js, TypeScript
Dashboard	✅ (built-in, polished)	Separate web client	✅ (built-in, basic)
Click analytics	✅ (detailed)	✅	✅ (basic)
Geo analytics	✅	✅	✅
Custom domains	✅	✅	✅
QR codes	✅	✅	❌
Team workspaces	✅	❌	❌
Link expiration	✅	✅	✅
Password protection	✅	❌	✅
UTM builder	✅	❌	❌
API	✅	✅ (most comprehensive)	✅
CLI	❌	✅	❌
Bot detection	✅	✅	❌
No tracking option	❌	❌	✅
Stars	19K+	3K+	8K+
License	AGPL-3.0	MIT	MIT

Decision Guide

Choose Dub if:

You want the most complete platform
Marketing team needs analytics, UTM, and team features
You're replacing Bitly for a team
Modern UI matters

Choose Shlink if:

You need the best API and CLI
URL shortening as infrastructure (embedding in other systems)
PHP ecosystem
MIT license matters

Choose Kutt if:

Simplest possible self-hosted shortener
Privacy is the priority (optional no-tracking mode)
Basic analytics are sufficient
Lightest deployment footprint
MIT license matters

The Bottom Line

These three serve different segments. Dub is the platform for marketing teams. Shlink is the API for developers. Kutt is the simple tool for privacy-conscious self-hosters.

Most teams should choose Dub — it has the most features, largest community, and best UI. Developers building link management into apps should choose Shlink for its API. Teams wanting the minimal option should choose Kutt.

Compare link management tools on OSSAlt — features, privacy options, and community health side by side.