ShortFreeURL vs Dub.co: an honest comparison
Dub is the developer favourite — open source, clean API, modern UI. The gaps are in link-level controls and free-tier volume.
By ShortFreeURL Team · 27 June 2026
Where Dub.co is strong
Excellent developer experience, an open-source core you can self-host, a clean API and SDKs, conversion tracking and a modern dashboard.
Where Dub.co stops
No cloaking or password protection, a small free tier, and pricing that starts above most small-team budgets. Some governance features sit in higher tiers.
Pricing
Paid plans start around $24 per month.
ShortFreeURL offers Free and four paid plans. Google and Meta tracking, core plugins, mobile targeting, A/B testing, link bundles, conversions, exports and click webhooks start on Starter. Other ads connectors and email marketing drafts are on eligible paid plans. Website and API-created links have separate allowances. Review current prices and features.
The verdict
Dub if self-hosting the open-source core is genuinely on your roadmap. ShortFreeURL if you want the same developer ergonomics plus passwords, cloaking, encryption and geo rules without tier-shopping.
How to check this yourself
Open the full feature matrix on our compare page, then open Dub.co's own pricing page next to it. Vendor pricing changes often — if anything here is out of date, tell us and we will correct it.