The Problem
Bitly charges $35/month for features that should be free. Custom domains, analytics, QR codes — all locked behind a paywall.
The Solution: Dub.co
Dub.co is an open-source link management platform that gives you:
- 25 free links with full analytics
- Custom domains on the free tier
- QR code generation built in
- Self-hosting option for unlimited everything
Why I Switched
I was paying Bitly $35/month for my SaaS marketing links. After switching to Dub.co:
- Better analytics — Dub shows me geographic data, device breakdowns, and referrer sources for free
- Custom domain — I use my own domain for branded links, included in the free tier
- Open source — I can inspect the code, contribute, and self-host if I outgrow the free tier
The Numbers
| Feature | Bitly Free | Bitly Paid ($35/mo) | Dub.co Free |
|---|---|---|---|
| Links | 10 | Unlimited | 25 |
| Analytics | Basic | Advanced | Advanced |
| Custom Domain | No | Yes | Yes |
| QR Codes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Open Source | No | No | Yes |
Bottom Line
If you are bootstrapping a SaaS or side project, there is no reason to pay for Bitly. Dub.co gives you more features on their free tier than Bitly does on their $35/month plan.
What link management tool do you use? I would love to hear about alternatives I might have missed.
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