# PixelFed vs Shlink

> Two self-hosted projects, compared on the numbers selfhost.directory tracks live: score, popularity, release cadence and setup effort.

| | PixelFed | Shlink |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 64/100 | 70/100 ✓ |
| Rank in category | #12 of 69 in Social Networks & Forums | #3 of 23 in URL Shortener |
| GitHub stars | 7 130 ✓ | 5 383 |
| Stars, last 30 days | +23 | +80 ✓ |
| Stable releases, 12 months | 15 ✓ | 13 |
| Latest release | v0.15.2 · 21 Oct 2026 | v5.1.8 · 21 Oct 2026 |
| Setup | Advanced | Easy ✓ |
| Official Docker image | No | Yes ✓ |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | MIT |
| Main language | PHP | PHP |

## Which one should you pick?

Shlink scores 70/100 against 64/100 for PixelFed, so it is the safer default.

PixelFed ships more often: 15 stable releases in the past year, against 13 for Shlink.

If you want the quickest setup, Shlink is easier to run; PixelFed needs more configuration.

Shlink is growing faster right now (+80 stars in 30 days).

## Details

- [PixelFed](https://selfhost.directory/project/pixelfed) (markdown: https://selfhost.directory/project/pixelfed.md)
- [Shlink](https://selfhost.directory/project/shlink) (markdown: https://selfhost.directory/project/shlink.md)

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Source: https://selfhost.directory/compare/pixelfed-vs-shlink