If you're looking to move off Dub, start by naming what it's actually gating. Dub.co is a genuinely good, MIT-licensed, developer-loved link platform - the alternatives worth considering are the ones that cover the specific thing Dub makes you pay for or go without. For EU data residency and a signed DPA, the closest fit is Elido, which keeps both on its free plan. For the biggest free-tier volume, Short.io. For an open-source self-host like Dub's own model, Shlink.
Dub's free plan is tight: 25 links a month, 1,000 tracked events, and 30-day analytics retention as of July 2026 (Dub's pricing page has the current figures). Conversion tracking - the feature most teams actually want - lives on the Business plan at 75 USD a month. None of that makes Dub bad. It makes Dub a specific fit, and the six platforms below cover the cases where that fit breaks. For the wider market view, our Bitly alternatives feature gap cornerstone maps the whole field, and Elido vs Dub is the head-to-head if Dub is your only shortlist entry.
How We Chose
Six criteria, weighted toward the things Dub users tend to hit a wall on:
- Free tier that's usable, not just a demo - link and event caps you won't blow through in week one.
- EU data residency and a DPA - where the click data lives, and whether you can sign a contract for it.
- Conversion tracking without an enterprise-tier jump.
- Open-source or self-host option, since Dub's own OSS story is a big part of its appeal.
- Branded domains and API on reachable tiers.
The Platforms at a Glance
| Platform | Free tier | EU DPA on free | Conversion tracking | Open-source / self-host |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elido | 50 links, 500 clicks, analytics | Yes | Yes (paid) | Yes (Apache-2.0) |
| Short.io | ~1,000 links, custom domains | No (paid) | Limited | No |
| PIMMS | Conversion tracking on free | No | Yes (free) | Yes |
| BL.INK | Trial, not a standing free tier | Enterprise | Yes | No |
| Bitly | 5 links/month, ad interstitial | No | Paid | No |
| Shlink | Self-host (your infra) | You control it | Via integrations | Yes (self-host only) |
1. Elido - best for EU residency and honest billing
Elido is the alternative for teams that hit Dub's two hardest walls: EU data residency and conversion tracking priced for the mid-market. A signed GDPR DPA and EU data residency are included on the free plan, not gated behind an enterprise contract - which is the whole point for an EU-hosted SaaS or an agency answering a client's procurement review. Server-side conversion tracking is a paid feature, but it arrives well before the 75 USD tier Dub reserves it for.
The honest part: Elido's free caps are modest - 50 links and 500 clicks a month, hard-capped so a free plan never turns into a surprise bill. That's a deliberate evaluation floor, not the biggest free tier here (Short.io wins on raw volume, and Dub's own 25-link cap is close). What the free plan does include is the full click analytics with 90-day retention, a bio page, QR codes, two workspaces, and no ad interstitial on any tier. Like Dub, Elido has an open-source, self-hostable edition, so the "own your data plane" option Dub buyers care about is on the table - under Apache-2.0.
Where it fits: mid-market and EU teams that need residency, a DPA, SSO without an enterprise quote, and conversion attribution without the top-tier jump. Where it doesn't: if you want the single largest free link allowance, or you're all-in on the Vercel ecosystem Dub is built around.
Start on Elido free if EU residency and no-surprise billing are the reasons you're leaving Dub - the analytics and DPA are on from your first link.
2. Short.io - best for free-tier volume
Short.io is the alternative if the thing pushing you off Dub is simply the 25-link free cap. Its free tier is the most generous of this group: roughly 1,000 links, custom domains, and full click analytics at no cost. That's a real production-adjacent free tier, not an evaluation stub.
The catch mirrors Dub's: historical data beyond the free window and a signed EU DPA sit on paid plans, and there's no self-host edition. If your constraint is volume, Short.io leads. If it's residency or open-source, it doesn't solve what Dub didn't. We go deeper in Short.io alternatives.
3. PIMMS - best for conversion attribution on a budget
PIMMS is the most direct answer to Dub's biggest gate. It's an open-source link platform built around conversion and revenue attribution, with native Stripe and Shopify integrations, and - unlike Dub - it puts conversion tracking on the free plan rather than behind a 75 USD tier. For a small team whose entire reason for wanting Dub was "connect clicks to sales," PIMMS removes the paywall on exactly that feature.
It's younger and narrower than Dub, and EU residency isn't its headline. But for revenue-attribution-first teams watching cost, it's the sharpest fit on this list.
4. BL.INK - best for enterprise link governance
BL.INK is the enterprise end of the market: link governance, granular permissions, advanced UTM management, SSO, and the compliance posture large brands and agencies need at scale. There's no standing free tier - it's a sales-led, trial-then-contract model.
If you're leaving Dub because you've outgrown a self-serve tool and need governance and access controls across a big team, BL.INK is built for that. If you're a solo developer or small startup, it's aimed well above you, and Elido or Short.io will fit the budget better.
5. Bitly - the incumbent, with a catch
Bitly is the name everyone knows, and it's a fine managed shortener on paid plans. Two things to weigh against Dub, though. Its free plan is now 5 links a month with an ad interstitial in front of every free link - we covered that in Bitly ads on links. And it's US-centric, so it doesn't solve an EU-residency requirement any better than Dub does.
Pick Bitly for brand familiarity and a mature paid product. Skip it if you're switching from Dub specifically to get a better free tier or EU hosting.
6. Shlink - best for a self-hosted, open-source shortener
Dub's open-source story is part of why people choose it, and Shlink is the alternative for teams that want that model without Dub's SaaS. It's a mature, actively maintained, self-hosted shortener with a REST API, smart rules, and QR codes - you run it on your own infrastructure, so the data plane is entirely yours.
The trade is operational: you own the hosting, the database, the upgrades, and the uptime. "Free" here means no license fee, not no cost. For a team with the ops capacity and a hard data-control requirement, that's the point. For everyone else, a hosted tier is less work. If self-hosting is the goal, best EU URL shorteners covers the residency angle too.
Which One Should You Pick
Map the alternative to the reason you're leaving. Dub's free cap too tight - Short.io. Conversion tracking too expensive - PIMMS or Elido. EU residency and a DPA - Elido. Enterprise governance - BL.INK. You want the open-source, self-host model - Shlink or Elido's Apache-2.0 edition. And if none of Dub's gates actually bite your team, Dub is a strong tool worth staying on. The free URL shortener with analytics comparison is a useful companion if analytics depth is part of your decision.
Related on the Blog
Frequently asked questions
What is the best Dub.co alternative?
It depends on what Dub is gating for you. For EU data residency and a signed DPA, Elido is the closest fit and keeps both on the free plan. For raw free-tier volume, Short.io. For an open-source, self-hosted setup like Dub's own, Shlink. There is no single winner - match the alternative to the feature Dub charges you for.
Is there an open-source alternative to Dub?
Yes. Dub itself is open-source (MIT), and so are several alternatives. Shlink and Kutt are self-hosted URL shorteners you run yourself; PIMMS is an open-source link platform focused on conversion attribution. Elido's self-hosted edition is Apache-2.0. All trade SaaS convenience for control over your data plane.
Does Dub have a free plan?
Yes, but it's tight. As of July 2026 Dub's free plan allows 25 links a month, 1,000 tracked events, 30-day analytics retention, and 3 custom domains. Conversion tracking and event webhooks require the Business plan at 75 USD a month.
Why would I switch from Dub?
Usually one of three reasons: you need EU data residency or a DPA that Dub doesn't offer by default, you want conversion tracking without jumping to the 75 USD Business tier, or the 25-link free cap and 30-day retention are too tight for your use. If none of those bite, Dub is a strong tool and worth keeping.
Is Dub GDPR compliant and EU-hosted?
Dub is US-centric and does not market EU data residency as a default. It can be used in a GDPR-compliant way, but the hosting location and DPA specifics are yours to check against your requirements. If EU residency is a hard constraint, choose a shortener that guarantees it in writing rather than one you have to configure around.
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