Dub is the modern open-source link attribution platform for creating short links, QR codes, and managing affiliate programs. It serves marketing teams who need every link to carry analytics and conversion credit back to the click that produced it, with named customers including Framer, Perplexity, Superhuman, Twilio, and Buffer.[1][2]
Quick verdict
Marketing teams that must trace campaign clicks through to leads and revenue will get the most from Dub. Its branded links carry analytics, targeting, QR codes, and conversion attribution in one platform, with an API and AGPLv3 self-hosting for teams that want data ownership. The price of that depth is operational and metered cost, so anyone who wants simple shortening with zero program overhead should stay with a basic hosted shortener instead. If you can manage a Partner program or a small deployment, choose Dub; if you need hands-off links with flat effort, choose a simpler shortener.[1][2][3]
Key features
Branded short links on your domains Custom domains carry branded short links, with 3 free custom domains and 100 new links per month on the Hobby plan and higher link limits on paid plans.[1][2]
Targeting and access controls Per-link attributes cover password protection, expiry dates, device and geographic targeting, and link cloaking, so one link can behave differently by audience or lapse on schedule.[1]
Click analytics with context Analytics break clicks down by location, device, referrer, top links, and UTM parameters with smart grouping, backed by a real-time events feed on the homepage workflow.[1]
Conversion and revenue attribution Conversion and revenue tracking connect leads and sales back to the originating link, which turns short links into the measurement layer under campaigns rather than bare redirects.[1]
QR codes built in QR code creation sits inside the same link workflow, so print and in-person surfaces reuse the same tracking and attribution as digital links.[1]
Partner program management Dub Partner runs affiliate and referral programs with a consolidated Partner program plus partner discovery, and revenue attribution accrues toward higher tiers on paid plans.[1][2]
API, SDKs, and integrations A REST API with client SDKs plus webhooks supports programmatic link creation and event tracking, and the platform advertises 5,000 plus app integrations through official connections and bridges.[1][2]
Open source and self-hostable The TypeScript codebase ships under AGPLv3 with a public deployment guide tree, so teams can self-host their link infrastructure while the managed cloud remains the zero-ops path.[1]
Who will love it
Campaign marketers attributing spend to revenue: click analytics plus lead and sale attribution show which links actually produced pipeline, not just traffic.[1][2]
Operators consolidating links, affiliates, and referrals: one program covers creation, tracking, partner discovery, and payouts instead of three disconnected tools.[1]
Engineering-led teams wanting data ownership: the API and SDKs handle programmatic creation while AGPLv3 self-hosting keeps click data first party.[1][2]
Who should avoid it
People who want set-and-forget shortening with zero operations: running a Partner program or a self-hosted instance is real marketing-ops and maintenance work.[1][2]
Buyers needing predictable flat pricing at scale: tracked clicks, new links, seats, and metered overages all gate the plans, so high-volume use needs usage monitoring.[1]
Archivists treating short links as permanent records: links depend on domain renewal, service continuity, and retention windows as short as 7 days of logs on Hobby.[1][2]
What the reports suggest
One inspected G2 firsthand excerpt plus the G2 aggregate rating context observed October 9, 2026.
1 cited community source. Single inspected firsthand report plus a vendor-hosted aggregate count; not a prevalence or satisfaction survey. No Reddit report inspected in this pass.
The inspected firsthand report emphasizes ease of use, extensive personalization, and genuinely useful statistics even on the free plan, which supports the low-friction onboarding claim while saying nothing about program-scale operations.[1]
The broader G2 aggregate of 4.6 out of 5 across a small review count is a platform-hosted signal, not an independent measurement; treat it as background while the single inspected excerpt carries the quotable evidence.[1]
Alternatives and compatibility
A hosted shortener with a free tier remains the right choice when branded links with no program overhead carry the workflow and attribution can wait.[1][2]
Dub began in public positioning as Dub.sh, the open-source Bitly alternative, and now centers link attribution for marketing teams; that rename marks the shift from shortening utility to measurement platform.[1]
No canonical alternatives edges are proposed in this revision; Bitly-style shorteners and branch-style attribution tools are editorial comparisons only until catalogue relationships are reviewed.[1]
How people experience it
Exact excerpt
It is easy to use, has a ton of personalization options available
G2 review of Dub, 5.0/5 stars; reviewer reports using Dub for URL shortening and tracking
Questions worth asking
What is the best Dub alternative for non-technical users?
Is Dub really no-code?
How much does Dub cost per month?
The Hobby plan costs 0 dollars with 1,000 tracked clicks and 100 new links per month. Paid plans start at 24 dollars per seat per month on Pro and 37 on Business with monthly billing, or 19 and 29 with annual billing; Enterprise is custom. Metered overages apply, so usage above plan limits bills extra. Prices checked October 9, 2026.[1]
Can you self-host Dub?
Yes. The public repository ships under AGPLv3 with a deployment guide tree for self-hosting, so click data can stay first party. Self-hosting means owning updates, infrastructure, and log retention yourself, unlike the managed cloud on dub.co.[1]
Sources and editorial review
Source research. Reviewed on October 9, 2026. Written by Sanjib Sah. AI assisted; reviewed by a human editor.
We have not run or tested this product.
One inspected G2 firsthand excerpt plus the G2 aggregate rating context observed October 9, 2026. Single inspected firsthand report plus a vendor-hosted aggregate count; not a prevalence or satisfaction survey. No Reddit report inspected in this pass.
- Dub - The Modern Link Attribution Platform
official · Observed October 9, 2026
Official homepage; attribution positioning, named customers, workflow, customer logos
- Dub Pricing
official · Observed October 9, 2026
Official pricing page; plan prices, click/link/seat limits, retention, overage and SSO terms
- dubinc/dub - The Modern Link Attribution Platform
official · Observed October 9, 2026
Official repository; AGPLv3 license, star/fork counts, feature list, deployment guide tree, TechStack
- Dub Reviews 2026 on G2
community · Observed October 9, 2026
G2 product page; 4.6/5 aggregate, ease-of-use notes, and the selected Julian R. excerpt