Kytelink vs LinkStack
Kytelink vs LinkStack, open source vs open source
LinkStack is real open source with a real admin panel, and if you want a PHP app on shared hosting, it's a fine choice. Kytelink's difference: a free hosted version with every feature, scheduled publishing, and team roles.
Create your KytelinkKytelink vs LinkStack, side by side
LinkStack details as of August 2026 — verify current details at linkstack.org.
First: LinkStack is the real thing
This page compares two open-source projects, so let's start fair. LinkStack is a genuine, actively maintained Linktree alternative — a PHP/Laravel app with a proper admin panel, drag-and-drop links, community themes, built-in click and visitor analytics, and an installer designed to work on cheap shared hosting without touching a terminal.
If your ideal setup is a PHP app on the hosting you already pay for, LinkStack is a fine choice, and its hosted plans mean you can even use it without running a server yourself.
Where Kytelink differs
The biggest practical difference is the hosted version. Kytelink's is free with every feature — custom domains included — because it's a passion project, hosted out of pocket. LinkStack's official hosted plans are paid, with custom domains from the $5-a-month tier.
Kytelink also ships two things LinkStack doesn't advertise. Scheduled publishing queues a page change for release day. And organizations with roles let a team manage one page together — LinkStack's multi-user support gives each account its own page instead. If you're searching for a LinkStack alternative for either of those reasons, that's the short version of the pitch.
Different stacks, different licenses
LinkStack is PHP/Laravel with SQLite or MySQL, installed from a zip or its Docker image, and licensed AGPL-3.0. Kytelink is TypeScript end to end — Next.js, Fastify, Postgres — runs with one docker compose command, and is MIT-licensed, which matters if you ever want to embed or modify it commercially.
Both projects are honest answers to the same question. Pick LinkStack if PHP hosting is your comfort zone; pick Kytelink if you want the free hosted page today and a modern TypeScript stack when you decide to self-host.
Frequently asked questions
- Are both Kytelink and LinkStack open source?
- Yes. LinkStack is AGPL-3.0 and Kytelink is MIT — both fully self-hostable with public source code on GitHub.
- Does LinkStack have a hosted version?
- Yes — official paid hosted plans, with custom domains from the $5/month tier (as of August 2026). Kytelink's hosted version is free with every feature, custom domains included.
- Does LinkStack have analytics?
- Yes — LinkStack has built-in link click and visitor analytics. Kytelink's analytics are also free: views, clicks, referrers, devices, and countries.
- Can a team manage one page on LinkStack?
- Not on one page — LinkStack's multi-user support gives each account its own page on a shared instance. Kytelink organizations let several people manage the same page with roles.
- Which is easier to self-host?
- LinkStack is easier on classic shared PHP hosting — that's its specialty. Kytelink is easier with Docker: one compose command brings up the whole TypeScript/Postgres stack.
- Is Kytelink a good LinkStack alternative?
- If you want LinkStack's openness plus a free hosted version, scheduled publishing, and team roles, yes — Kytelink is a natural LinkStack alternative. Neither project takes fees, shows ads, or sells data.