Comparison · Self-hosted vs Self-hosted

Lasso vs Dub

Dub is $24/mo (Pro). Lasso is a self-hosted alternative at $0.99/mo. Here's when each makes sense.

Try Lasso Free Lasso overview
LassoDub
HostingSelf-hosted, your infraOpen source, self-hostable but requires Planetscale/MySQL, Redis, and Vercel
Data locationYour server, your diskYour server (if self-hosted)
Free tier50 linksPaid only
Pro pricing$0.99/mo$24/mo (Pro)
DependenciesNone (single binary + SQLite)Docker, Postgres, etc.
Setup time~30 seconds15-30 minutes (self-host)
DashboardBuilt-in at /uiWeb UI
LicenseBSL 1.1Open source
When to use Lasso

Pick Lasso when you want simplicity and ownership.

Lasso is a single Go binary with embedded SQLite. Install it with one command, and you are running in under a minute. Your data stays on your server.

curl -fsSL https://stockyard.dev/lasso/install.sh | sh
Install Lasso Lasso docs

Dub makes sense when you need more.

Dub is a modern, well-designed link management platform with great analytics. If you want a polished managed experience or are willing to self-host with Vercel + MySQL, Dub is excellent. If you want a simple binary with no external dependencies, Lasso is easier to run.
Deciding between the two

Dub is a strong product. There is no point pretending otherwise. Where Lasso earns its place is in situations where Dub cannot be used — airgapped environments, regulated industries, teams with strict data sovereignty requirements, or simply developers who prefer tools they can inspect end to end. If none of those constraints apply, Dub may genuinely be the better choice.

The operational difference is significant. Dub requires you to trust their infrastructure, their security practices, and their business continuity. Lasso requires you to run a process and keep the data directory backed up. If your server dies, restore the binary and the SQLite file to a new server. The entire recovery procedure fits in a single paragraph because there is nothing else involved.

Dub can be self-hosted, but the experience differs significantly from Lasso. Open source, self-hostable but requires Planetscale/MySQL, Redis, and Vercel With Lasso, self-hosting means downloading one file and running it. The gap in operational complexity matters most for small teams without dedicated DevOps staff.

Migration path

Moving from Dub does not have to be all-or-nothing. Some teams run Lasso for new data while keeping Dub as a read-only archive of historical records. The API makes it straightforward to build a sync script if you need both systems to reflect the same data during a transition period.

FAQ
Is Lasso a Dub alternative?
Both are link shorteners with analytics. Lasso is a single Go binary with embedded SQLite. Dub requires MySQL, Redis, and ideally Vercel to self-host.
How does pricing compare?
Lasso: free to 50 links, $0.99/mo Pro (unlimited). Dub: free to 25 links, $24/mo Pro (1,000 links).
Related

Lasso overview

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Self-hosted link shortener in 30 seconds.

Single binary. Free to start. $0.99/mo for Pro.

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