Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Lstu VS Zero Width Shortener

Compare Lstu VS Zero Width Shortener and see what are their differences

Lstu logo Lstu

A nice and open source url shortener. You can use it as service or install it on your own server.

Zero Width Shortener logo Zero Width Shortener

Shorten URLs with zero-width characters
  • Lstu Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-06-19
  • Zero Width Shortener Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-29

Lstu features and specs

  • Lightweight
    Lstu is designed to be very minimalistic and lightweight, which means it requires fewer resources to run effectively.
  • Open Source
    Lstu is open source, allowing users to inspect, modify, and contribute to its code, thus ensuring transparency and flexibility.
  • Privacy-Focused
    Lstu emphasizes user privacy by not collecting any personal data or analytics, making it a good choice for privacy-conscious users.
  • Customizable
    Users can customize Lstu according to their needs, including features like adding custom short URLs and branding.
  • Self-Hosted
    Being self-hosted, users have complete control over their data and the operational environment, enhancing security.
  • Free to Use
    As an open-source project, Lstu does not require any licensing fees, making it cost-effective for both personal and commercial use.

Possible disadvantages of Lstu

  • Limited Features
    Compared to more comprehensive URL shorteners, Lstu lacks advanced features like analytics, link lifecycle management, and extensive API support.
  • Technical Setup
    As a self-hosted solution, users need some technical knowledge for installation, configuration, and maintenance.
  • Support
    Being an open-source project, it might lack formal customer support. Instead, users rely on community support which may not be as immediate or comprehensive.
  • Scalability
    Lstu may not be inherently designed for handling a very high volume of short URLs and traffic, limiting its use for larger-scale applications.
  • Dependency on Server
    Self-hosted solutions like Lstu require users to have a reliable server and take care of backups and uptime, which can be a burden for some users.
  • Basic User Interface
    Its minimalist approach can result in a very basic user interface that might not be as polished or user-friendly as other commercial options.

Zero Width Shortener features and specs

  • Privacy
    The use of zero-width characters makes URLs harder to detect and trace, enhancing privacy.
  • Customization
    Users can embed zero-width characters into URLs, providing a way to customize links without affecting their appearance.
  • Data Concealment
    Zero-width characters can hide information within URLs, making it useful for specific security or data obfuscation applications.
  • No Visual Impact
    The zero-width characters do not alter the visual appearance of the URL, maintaining visual consistency.

Possible disadvantages of Zero Width Shortener

  • Compatibility Issues
    Some platforms and applications might not recognize zero-width characters properly, potentially leading to broken links.
  • Security Risk
    The hidden nature of zero-width characters can be exploited for malicious purposes, such as hiding phishing links or malware.
  • Debugging Difficulty
    Identifying problems with URLs containing zero-width characters can be challenging, complicating debugging efforts.
  • Misuse Potential
    Because zero-width characters can be invisible, there’s a risk they could be misused for sneaky or unethical purposes.

Analysis of Lstu

Overall verdict

  • Lstu is considered a good choice for those looking for a straightforward, no-frills URL shortening service. Its open-source nature and ease of use make it an attractive option for individual users and developers who wish to integrate URL shortening into their own projects.

Why this product is good

  • Lstu is a minimalistic URL shortener that is free, open-source, and self-hostable. It is praised for its simplicity and the ability to host it on your own server, giving users full control over their data. It is particularly appreciated by users who prioritize privacy and want to avoid using more commercial options that might track user data.

Recommended for

  • Developers looking for a customizable and self-hostable URL shortener.
  • Privacy-conscious users who want to avoid third-party tracking.
  • Small businesses and individuals seeking a free and open-source solution.

Analysis of Zero Width Shortener

Overall verdict

  • Zero Width Shortener can be considered 'good' for users seeking to create novel, discreet, or filtered URLs. However, it may not be suitable for all situations, especially if transparency is a priority or if there are concerns about the URL's legitimacy from the recipients' perspective.

Why this product is good

  • Zero Width Shortener (zws.im) is a tool that allows users to create short URLs that contain zero-width characters. This provides a unique way to conceal the URL's destination, making it less obvious at first glance. Such URLs can be useful for novelty purposes, sharing links with a touch of mystery, or bypassing certain filters that scrutinize URLs based on visible text.

Recommended for

  • Tech enthusiasts interested in innovative URL solutions
  • Users looking to share links in a novel way
  • Individuals trying to bypass simple URL filters

Lstu videos

Welcome to LSTU!

Zero Width Shortener videos

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Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Lstu and Zero Width Shortener)
URL Shortener
55 55%
45% 45
Link Management
55 55%
45% 45
Branded URLs
58 58%
42% 42
Online Services
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Zero Width Shortener seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 2 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Lstu mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of Lstu yet. Tracking of Lstu recommendations started around Mar 2021.

Zero Width Shortener mentions (2)

  • TikTok tells staff impacted by wildfires to use sick hours if they can't work
    > Google used to watermark internal emails using non-visible Unicode. It would catch people copy-pasting things to the press. How does that even work? I assume the unique identifiers are generated along the lines of https://zws.im but do they send a different version of the same email to each unique recipient? Or does the watermark get inserted by some email client when copying text? - Source: Hacker News / 5 months ago
  • Oda gets sent an IP grabber 1 hour before Runescape DMM tourney
    It works for link shorteners like https://zws.im/ so it will work for ip grabbers too. I don't think I've seen one like that though. Source: almost 3 years ago

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Lstu and Zero Width Shortener, you can also consider the following products

Polr - An open source URL shortener. A great non-profit and free alternative to bit.ly, TinyURL, or goo.gl.

Bitly - Get the most out of your social and online marketing efforts. Own, understand and activate your best audience through the power of the link with Bitly Enterprise.

YOURLS - YOURLS is a website that contains all the tools you need to create and launch your very own URL shortener. URL shorteners like bitly or TinyURL are fine for public use, but they offer limited options in terms of URL customization.

Shlink - A self-hosted URL shortener

TinyURL - Are you sick of posting URLs in emails only to have it break when sent causing the recipient to...

Zagl - Zagl is an online tool that allows you to shorten your domain URL links and get paid with the engagements.