Dub.co Builds Links. Linkly Builds Campaigns.
Dub.co is a polished link shortener built for developers — clean API, beautiful UI, open source. Linkly adds the marketer layer: retargeting pixels, geo-targeting redirects, device routing, and A/B split testing that Dub.co doesn't offer.
Free plan available. No credit card required.
What Linkly Has That Dub.co Doesn't
Dub.co is excellent for link infrastructure. Linkly is built for marketers who need campaign control — retargeting, routing, and split testing built in.
Retargeting Pixels
Add Facebook, Google, TikTok, and LinkedIn pixels to any Linkly link — every click automatically builds your retargeting audience. Dub.co doesn't support retargeting pixels on any plan.
Geo-Targeting Redirects
Create one link, set country rules, and Linkly routes each visitor to the right URL automatically. Dub.co captures location in analytics but doesn't use it for routing decisions.
Device & OS Targeting
Route iOS users to the App Store, Android users to Google Play, and desktop users elsewhere — all from one Linkly link, combinable with geo rules for layered targeting. Dub.co has no device-based routing.
A/B Split Testing
Linkly's link rotator splits traffic across multiple destination URLs for A/B testing, with results appearing directly in your analytics dashboard. Dub.co has no built-in split-testing.
Link Cloaking
Link cloaking keeps your destination hidden behind your branded domain — essential for affiliate marketers. Dub.co exposes the destination URL at redirect. Linkly includes cloaking on the Business plan and above.
Pricing Built for Click Volume
Linkly includes unlimited link creation on paid plans. Dub.co Pro caps new links at 1,000 per month — a limit that becomes restrictive for teams running multiple campaigns simultaneously.
Linkly vs Dub.co: Our Honest Assessment
Dub.co has earned genuine respect in the link management space by building a thoughtfully designed, open-source product with a strong developer focus. The API is well-documented, the UI is clean, and the fact that you can self-host it is a meaningful differentiator for engineering teams with specific data residency or compliance requirements. If you're a developer or engineering team building link infrastructure, Dub.co is worth serious consideration.
Where Dub.co falls short is in the marketer-facing campaign layer. Retargeting pixels, geo-targeting redirects, device-based routing, and A/B split testing are all absent. These aren't fringe features — they're core to how performance marketers use short links. Every link Linkly creates can fire a pixel, route by location, adapt to device, and contribute to a conversion experiment. Dub.co links are smart URLs; Linkly links are active campaign assets.
The pricing comparison is nuanced: Dub.co Pro at $19/mo is cheaper than Linkly at $39/mo, but also caps new link creation at 1,000 links per month rather than offering unlimited links. For marketing teams that need campaign features, the choice is between a tool that supports your workflow at $39/mo and one that doesn't at $19/mo. For developer teams that need a great API and don't require marketing automation, Dub.co is an excellent, cost-effective option.
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
See exactly how Linkly and Dub.co stack up across the features that matter for marketing campaigns.
| Feature |  | Dub.co |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly Price | $39/mo 25k Plan | $25/mo Pro Plan |
| Custom Domains | Free on all plans | On paid plans |
| Link Cloaking | Business plan & up | Not available |
| Geo-Targeting Redirects | Route by country | Analytics only |
| Device Targeting | Route by device/OS | Not available |
| Retargeting Pixels | Facebook, Google, etc. | Not available |
| A/B Split Testing | Link rotator built-in | Not available |
| Link Expiration | Date, clicks, or schedule | Available |
| Click Analytics | Real-time dashboard | Available |
| QR Codes | Included | Included |
| API Access | All plans | Strong REST API |
| UTM Builder | Built-in | Built-in |
| Team Workspaces | On paid plans | On paid plans |
Based on publicly available documentation and pricing pages as of May 2026.
Linkly or Dub.co — Which Is Right for You?
Choose Linkly if…
You're a marketing team, performance marketer, or affiliate marketer who needs campaign-layer features on your links — specifically retargeting pixels, geo-targeting redirects, device-based routing, or A/B split testing. Linkly is also the better fit if you want unlimited link creation rather than a monthly cap, and if you don't need or want the complexity of self-hosting.
Choose Dub.co if…
You're a developer or engineering team building link infrastructure who values an open-source codebase, a strong REST API, and the option to self-host for data sovereignty. Dub.co is also a solid choice for startups and individuals who need clean, affordable link shortening with solid analytics and don't require marketing automation features like retargeting pixels or geo-routing.
Trusted by 100,000+ Marketers
Marketing teams choose Linkly when they need campaign tools beyond what developer-focused shorteners offer.
“We tried Dub.co for a while — great UI, solid API. But we needed retargeting pixels and geo-targeting for our campaigns. Linkly had both, and the switch took less than an afternoon.”
Performance Marketer
Digital Agency
“The geo-targeting alone justified the switch. We run campaigns across 12 countries and now send each visitor to the right language page from a single short link.”
Marketing Director
SaaS Company
“Link rotators changed how we test campaigns. We A/B test every landing page variation now — something we couldn't do at all with Dub.”
Growth Lead
E-commerce Brand
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I migrate my links from Dub.co to Linkly?
Yes. You can recreate your short links in Linkly using your own custom domain. If you use a custom domain with Dub.co, point it to Linkly instead and your existing branded URLs will continue to work without any broken links.
Is Dub.co open source? Does Linkly have an open-source option?
Dub.co offers an open-source version you can self-host. Linkly is a hosted SaaS product — there is no self-hosted option. If self-hosting is a requirement, Dub.co is the better fit. If you need retargeting pixels, geo-targeting, and A/B testing without the ops overhead, Linkly is the better choice.
Does Linkly have a developer API?
Yes. Linkly has a full REST API available on all paid plans. You can create links, retrieve analytics, manage domains, and more programmatically. We also offer Zapier, Make, and n8n integrations for no-code workflows.
Does Dub.co support retargeting pixels?
No. Dub.co does not support adding retargeting pixels to shortened links. Linkly lets you add Facebook, Google, TikTok, and other pixels to any link on all plans — every click automatically builds your ad retargeting audience.
Which is better for marketers — Dub.co or Linkly?
Dub.co is an excellent choice for developers and engineering teams building link infrastructure — it has a great API and a clean open-source codebase. For marketing teams who need retargeting pixels, geo-targeting redirects, device routing, and A/B split testing, Linkly is the better fit. These campaign-focused features don't exist in Dub.co.
Does Linkly offer an open-source version like Dub.co?
Linkly is a hosted SaaS product — there is no open-source or self-hosted version. If data residency, on-premises deployment, or access to the source code is a requirement for your organisation, Dub.co's open-source option is the better fit. If you prefer a fully managed service with no infrastructure overhead, Linkly handles everything including uptime, scaling, and security updates.
How does Linkly's API compare to Dub.co's?
Both products offer REST APIs for creating links, retrieving analytics, and managing domains. Dub.co has a well-regarded developer experience with good SDKs and documentation. Linkly's API covers the same core operations and additionally exposes marketing-specific features — pixel configurations, geo and device routing rules, link expiration settings, and rotator weights — which Dub.co's API doesn't need to support because those features don't exist in the product. Both are solid choices for programmatic link management; the decision comes down to which feature set your application needs.
Ready to Get More From Your Links?
Join 100,000+ marketers using Linkly for retargeting, geo-targeting, split testing, and link cloaking — the campaign tools Dub.co doesn't have.