OpenReadervsShlink
Two self-hosted projects, compared on the numbers selfhost.directory tracks live: score, popularity, release cadence and setup effort.
| OpenReader | Shlink | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 59/100 | 70/100 |
| Rank in category | #4 of 15 in Audiobook Management | #3 of 23 in URL Shortener |
| GitHub stars | 550 | 5 379 |
| Stars, last 30 days | +34 | +76 |
| Stable releases, 12 months | 19 | 13 |
| Latest release | v5.4.0 · 28 Oct 2026 | v5.1.8 · 21 Oct 2026 |
| Setup | Moderate | Easy |
| Official Docker image | Yes | Yes |
| License | MIT | MIT |
| Main language | Typescript | PHP |
Which one should you pick?
Shlink scores 70/100 against 59/100 for OpenReader, so it is the safer default.
OpenReader ships more often: 19 stable releases in the past year, against 13 for Shlink.
If you want the quickest setup, Shlink is easier to run; OpenReader needs more configuration.
Shlink is growing faster right now (+76 stars in 30 days).
OpenReader details →Shlink details →
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