Dub alternatives: 5 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave Dub: self-hosting depends on several third-party services, and conversion features only on higher plans. We ranked 5 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Dub, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. Bitly currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#	App	Pricing	Open source	Platforms	Verified facts	Score
1	Bitly	Free plan + paid	No	Web, iOS, Android +1	5 of 5	66.5
2	Short.io	Free plan + paid	No	Web, iOS, Android +1	5 of 5	62.6

1. BitlyTop pick
Best for: Marketing teams that want a trusted, widely recognised short-link and QR code platform
Free plan + paidWeb, iOS, Android, Browser extension
66.5
score / 100
Why switch from Dub
The incumbent, with broader QR code and enterprise features.
Pros
Recognisable, trusted short links
Dynamic QR codes and link-in-bio in the same account
Mature API and integrations
Cons
Free plan is very limited and shows ads
Monthly volume caps on paid plans
Costs climb steeply for higher tiers
Visit Bitly Details and reviews
How this score is calculated
Editorial fit ×0.3100
Reviews ×0.363
Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
Freshness ×0.1585
Votes ×0.150
0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula
Is Bitly a good Dub alternative?
Verified facts
5 of 5 verified
Free plan
5 links/month, with ads
Checked Oct 25, 2026bitly.com(opens source in a new tab)
Core plan
$10/month billed annually
Checked Oct 25, 2026bitly.com(opens source in a new tab)
Growth plan
$29/month billed annually
Checked Oct 25, 2026bitly.com(opens source in a new tab)
Premium plan
$199/month billed annually
Checked Oct 25, 2026bitly.com(opens source in a new tab)
Integrations
Shopify, Canva, HubSpot and more
Checked Oct 25, 2026bitly.com(opens source in a new tab)
2. Short.io
Best for: Small businesses that want branded short links on their own domains without paying much
Free plan + paidWeb, iOS, Android, Browser extension
62.6
score / 100
Why switch from Dub
Cheaper branded links with custom domains on the free plan.
Pros
Custom domains on the free plan
Low-cost entry paid plan
Deep links, targeting and A/B redirects
Cons
Interface is functional rather than polished
Advanced security features only on higher tiers
Tracked-click caps on lower plans
Visit Short.io Details and reviews
How this score is calculated
Editorial fit ×0.387
Reviews ×0.363
Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
Freshness ×0.1585
Votes ×0.150
0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula
Is Short.io a good Dub alternative?
Verified facts
5 of 5 verified
Free plan
5 custom domains, 1,000 branded links
Checked Oct 25, 2026short.io(opens source in a new tab)
Hobby plan
$5/month
Checked Oct 25, 2026short.io(opens source in a new tab)
Pro plan
$18/month
Checked Oct 25, 2026short.io(opens source in a new tab)
Team plan
$48/month
Checked Oct 25, 2026short.io(opens source in a new tab)
Users
1.2 million+
Checked Oct 25, 2026short.io(opens source in a new tab)

The best Dub alternative for…

The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.

Best Dub alternative for most people

Bitly

The incumbent, with broader QR code and enterprise features.

Best Dub alternative for a free option

Shlink

Simpler to self-host with a single Docker image.

Best Dub alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

Short.io

Cheaper branded links with custom domains on the free plan.

Best Dub alternative for open source

Sink

Serverless and open source, running entirely on Cloudflare.

Best Dub alternative for self-hosting

Shlink

Simpler to self-host with a single Docker image.

Best Dub alternative for iPhone and Android

Bitly

The incumbent, with broader QR code and enterprise features.

Best Dub alternative for working in the browser

Rebrandly

Strong branded-domain management and compliance certifications.

Dub alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to Dub?

Bitly ranks first right now. The incumbent, with broader QR code and enterprise features. Short.io and Shlink follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to Dub?

Yes. Bitly (free plan + paid), Short.io (free plan + paid), Shlink (open source) and Rebrandly (free plan + paid) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to Dub?

Yes: Shlink and Sink. Shlink and Sink can also be self-hosted.

Why do people switch from Dub?

The complaints we hear most: self-hosting depends on several third-party services; conversion features only on higher plans; more platform than casual users need.

How is this list ranked?

Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces Dub, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.