Short.io vs Dub: which is better? Comparison 2026
By our public methodology Short.io scores 96 out of 100 and Dub scores 71. Below: the factors and facts where they differ, each fact with its source.
Score breakdown
| Short.io | Dub | |
|---|---|---|
| Price and free plan | 94 | 40 |
| Link features | 100 | 88 |
| Security and privacy | 100 | 100 |
| Track record | 82 | 51 |
Pros and cons
Short.io
- Low monthly price
- Independent security certification
- Published GDPR commitment
- Single sign-on available
Dub
- Independent security certification
- Published GDPR commitment
- Single sign-on available
- Has a permanent free plan
Facts side by side
| Fact | Short.io | Dub |
|---|---|---|
| Cheapest paid plan, monthly billing | $5.00 short.io | Not verified |
| Free plan | Yes short.io | Yes dub.co |
| Links on the free plan (per month, or in total where the vendor sets a lifetime limit) | 1,000 short.io | 25 dub.co |
| Own custom domain on the free plan | Yes short.io | Yes dub.co |
| Own custom domain for short links | Yes short.io | Yes dub.co |
| Edit the destination after sharing | Yes short.io | Yes dub.co |
| Link expiry | Yes short.io | Yes dub.co |
| Password-protected links | Yes short.io | Yes dub.co |
| UTM builder | Yes short.io | Yes dub.co |
| QR codes | Yes short.io | Yes dub.co |
| Link-in-bio page | Yes short.io | Not verified |
| Bulk shortening | Yes short.io | Yes dub.co |
| Public API | Yes short.io | Yes dub.co |
| Single sign-on (SSO) | Yes short.io | Yes dub.co |
| SOC 2 or ISO 27001 certification | Yes short.io | Yes dub.co |
| GDPR commitment published | Yes short.io | Yes dub.co |
| Founded | 2015 short.io | 2022 dub.co |
| Public status page | Yes shortiostatus.com | Yes status.dub.co |
| Company headquarters | United States short.io | Not verified |
| Company | Short.cm Inc. short.io | Dub Technologies, Inc. dub.co |
← URL shorteners and link management Short.io alternatives Dub alternatives