Brace.to

Best Self Hosted Alternatives to Brace.to

A curated collection of the 2 best self hosted alternatives to Brace.to.

Web-based URL shortener and link manager that creates short, branded or custom links, tracks clicks and analytics, and lets users save links to read later. The service includes Web3-based features for user-managed account and data ownership.

Alternatives List

#1
LittleLink

LittleLink

LittleLink is a lightweight, self-hosted Linktree alternative for creating a fast, accessible link-in-bio landing page with branded buttons and themes.

LittleLink screenshot

LittleLink is a lightweight DIY Linktree alternative for creating a simple “link in bio” landing page you can host yourself. It focuses on performance, accessibility, and minimal dependencies by using static HTML and CSS.

Key Features

  • Static, framework-free page built with vanilla HTML and CSS
  • 100+ branded button styles for common platforms and services
  • Built-in theme support: light, dark, and automatic
  • Accessibility-oriented styling, including contrast-aware button outlines where needed
  • Simple customization by editing the page markup and styles
  • Optional Docker Compose setup for local development or containerized hosting

Use Cases

  • Personal link-in-bio page for social profiles
  • Simple landing page collecting key links for creators, teams, or projects
  • Lightweight, privacy-friendly alternative to hosted “link hub” services

Limitations and Considerations

  • Primarily a static page; it does not include an admin UI, database, or multi-user management
  • Some brand-accurate button styles may not meet ideal contrast targets in every theme

LittleLink is a good fit if you want a minimal, fast, customizable link hub without relying on a heavy framework or hosted platform. It’s easy to fork, edit, and deploy anywhere you can serve static files (or via Docker).

2.8kstars
1.4kforks
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#2
Betula

Betula

Single-user self-hosted federated bookmark manager written in Go, using a single SQLite file, with ActivityPub support, web archiving, RSS and tagging.

Betula is a single-user, self-hosted bookmark manager that supports federation with the Fediverse. It stores the whole collection as a single SQLite file, provides a simple web interface, and can publish and receive bookmarks from other instances.

Key Features

  • Federated publishing and timeline features enabling following, liking, and reposting across Fediverse-compatible instances
  • Single-file storage using SQLite for the entire bookmark collection
  • Create bookmarks with optional title and rich-text notes (Mycomarkup), tagging, and public/private visibility
  • Built-in web archiving to save copies of linked pages
  • Local search across your collection and the ability to search mutuals' instances
  • RSS feed support and integration with feed readers (Miniflux integration available)
  • Lightweight, minimal-JavaScript UI with bookmarklet and built-in documentation
  • Distributed-friendly behavior: can be followed by Mastodon and other Fediverse software

Use Cases

  • Personal bookmarking with optional public sharing and Fediverse distribution
  • Maintaining an archived, searchable collection of links for research or long-term reference
  • Following and aggregating bookmarks from a small network of mutuals or other Betula instances

Limitations and Considerations

  • Single-user design: not intended for multi-user or multi-tenant deployments
  • Single-file SQLite backend may not scale well for very large collections or multi-user needs
  • Federation compatibility can vary; interactions with other Fediverse software may be partial depending on implementations

Betula is suited for users who want a simple, privacy-oriented bookmark manager that can publish and federate links. It emphasizes minimal setup, local storage, and integration with the Fediverse for sharing and discovery.

120stars
5forks
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Why choose an open source alternative?

  • •Data ownership: Keep your data on your own servers
  • •No vendor lock-in: Freedom to switch or modify at any time
  • •Cost savings: Reduce or eliminate subscription fees
  • •Transparency: Audit the code and know exactly what's running