Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Pxl.to VS Shlink

Compare Pxl.to VS Shlink and see what are their differences

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Pxl.to logo Pxl.to

Build short links, QR codes, and microsites for your audience. Manage, edit and track every click and scan with Pixel.

Shlink logo Shlink

A self-hosted URL shortener
  • Pxl.to
    Image date //
    2024-05-20
  • Shlink Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-04-08

Pxl.to

Website
pxl.to
$ Details
paid Free Trial $10.0 / Monthly
Release Date
2022 April

Shlink

Website
shlink.io
Pricing URL
-
$ Details
Release Date
-

Pxl.to features and specs

  • Ease of Use
    Pxl.to offers a straightforward and intuitive interface, making it simple for users to shorten URLs quickly without extensive technical knowledge.
  • Analytics
    The platform provides detailed analytics for each shortened URL, allowing users to track clicks, geographic data, and referrers to measure the success of their links.
  • Customizable Links
    Users can customize their shortened URLs, making it easier to create memorable links and reinforce their branding.
  • Link Management
    Pxl.to provides tools for managing multiple links efficiently, which is particularly useful for businesses or marketers handling numerous campaigns.
  • Security Features
    The service includes security measures such as link expiration and password protection to enhance the safety and control of shared links.

Possible disadvantages of Pxl.to

  • Limited Free Features
    The free version of Pxl.to might offer limited features compared to its paid plans, which could be a disadvantage for users not willing to invest in a subscription.
  • Dependence on Service
    Since Pxl.to is a third-party service, users rely on its availability and uptime for their shortened links to work, which poses a risk if the service experiences downtime.
  • Privacy Concerns
    As with many URL shorteners, there may be privacy concerns regarding data collection practices and how link interaction data may be used by the service provider.
  • Link Data Loss
    If users migrate away from Pxl.to or if the service discontinues, there is a potential risk of losing analytics data and access to previously shortened URLs.
  • Competitive Alternatives
    There are several other URL shortening services available, some of which might offer more competitive pricing or additional features, making it tough for Pxl.to to stand out.

Shlink features and specs

  • Self-Hosted
    Shlink is a self-hosted URL shortener, providing full control over your data. You can deploy it on your own server and manage the privacy and security of your shortened links.
  • Custom Domains
    Shlink supports the use of custom domains for shortened URLs, allowing you to maintain consistent branding and a professional appearance.
  • Detailed Analytics
    Shlink offers comprehensive analytics, including geographic breakdowns, referrers, and device types, allowing you to gain valuable insights into your link traffic.
  • REST API
    Shlink comes with a powerful REST API, enabling developers to integrate URL shortening functionality into their own applications with ease.
  • Open Source
    As an open-source project, Shlink invites community contributions and code audits, ensuring the software continues to improve and remain secure.
  • QR Code Generation
    Shlink can automatically generate QR codes for each shortened URL, providing an easy way to share links in physical media.
  • Webhooks
    Shlink supports webhooks, allowing for real-time notifications and triggering of actions when certain events, such as link clicks, occur.

Possible disadvantages of Shlink

  • Setup Complexity
    Setting up Shlink requires some technical knowledge, including server management and configuration, which might be a barrier for users without technical expertise.
  • Maintenance
    As a self-hosted solution, Shlink requires regular maintenance and updates to ensure security and performance, which can be time-consuming.
  • Resource Intensive
    Running Shlink on your own server can consume significant resources, especially with high traffic volumes, necessitating a robust hosting environment.
  • Lack of Premium Support
    Being an open-source project, Shlink does not offer official, dedicated premium support, which might be a drawback for businesses needing immediate assistance.
  • Learning Curve
    The extensive feature set and customization options of Shlink come with a learning curve, requiring time and effort to master all functionalities.

Analysis of Shlink

Overall verdict

  • Shlink is a robust and flexible URL shortening solution, particularly favored by those who prefer self-hosting for privacy reasons. Its comprehensive set of features and ease of integration make it a good choice for users with technical knowledge who want to maintain their data sovereignty.

Why this product is good

  • Shlink is a self-hosted URL shortener that provides privacy-focused features. It allows you to create and manage short links with advanced features like custom slugs, URL tags, and detailed analytics. Its self-hosted nature ensures that you have full control over your data, which is a significant advantage for those concerned with privacy and data ownership. Additionally, Shlink supports features such as QR code generation, REST API integrations, and Geolocation and Device Targeting for enhanced link customization.

Recommended for

  • Tech-savvy individuals or organizations seeking to self-host their URL shortener
  • Privacy-conscious users who want to retain control over their data
  • Developers looking for a URL shortener with robust API support
  • Businesses that require advanced analytics and customization features for their URLs

Pxl.to videos

Pxl.to Review - Unlock the Power of Pxl.to to Create Amazing Visuals!

More videos:

  • Review - ๐Ÿš€ Pxl.to Review | Best URL Shortener Tool | AppSumo Lifetime Deal

Shlink videos

2020 Wine Reviews: Shlink Haus Wines

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Pxl.to and Shlink)
URL Shortener
9 9%
91% 91
Link Management
9 9%
91% 91
Branded URLs
11 11%
89% 89
URL Monitoring
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Pxl.to and Shlink

Pxl.to Reviews

07 Best Bitly Alternative You Will Only Need (FREE)
Pxl.to is different because it is built using a serverless architecture. This provides robust and reliable links with unparalleled uptime, protection against network and application-layer attacks, and low latency, no matter where your visitors are. Additionally, pxl.to allows for unlimited links and tracked clicks.

Shlink Reviews

We have no reviews of Shlink yet.
Be the first one to post

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Shlink seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 14 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.

Pxl.to mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of Pxl.to yet. Tracking of Pxl.to recommendations started around Feb 2023.

Shlink mentions (14)

  • How I Built a Scalable, Free URL Shortener.
    Building a URL shortener from scratch? Nah, youโ€™re crazy! Instead, we grabbed a trusty open-source solution thatโ€™s already been battle-tested. By using this ready-made tool, we skipped the drama of starting from zero and cut our development time way down. This gave us more time to focus on making our app and management system even betterโ€”plus, it saved us from pulling out our hair! - Source: dev.to / about 1 year ago
  • Show HN: An open-source alternative to Bitly
    Last big project at my old job was for an appointment notification service. In addition to making messages longer and thus costing us more, counterintuitively the unshortened URLs got flagged as spam by automated systems and end users more than shortened. However, you canโ€™t use bitly or other free/public shorteners; use one hosted on your own domain. I used shlink https://shlink.io/. - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
  • Copying microsofts aka.ms links with our internal Dns to help stop phishing
    IF you just want to setup an internal link shortener, there is software out there for it. We do it at my company. The best one I've found is Shlink: https://shlink.io/. Source: about 2 years ago
  • Shlink CLI issue
    I have just set up shlink.io via /r/portainer and docker-compose. Now I have tried opening the CLI to generate an API key which I need for the shlink web interface but unfortunately it closes in a fraction of a second after bin/cli, showing all available arguments. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Permanent URL to file possible?
    Are you looking for stable HTTP/S URLs that you can publish for others to access? One solution to that might be to purchase your own domain and host a little redirector service that bounces the consumer to the real, currently active, cloud URL. Something like https://shlink.io/ might work (but Iโ€™ve not used it, and thatโ€™s just a suggestion not a recommendation!). Source: over 2 years ago
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing Pxl.to and Shlink, you can also consider the following products

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.

Short.io - Short.io makes short links (vanity urls) on your own domain. Free signup, analytics and API. Chrome, slack, zapier and segment integrations.

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

T.LY - The best link management service to track, brand, and share short URLs in one simple click

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.

Rebrandly - Rebrandly is the easiest way to create, share and manage branded links.