Comparison

    LinkPilot vs OneTimeSecret

    A team-grade alternative to OneTimeSecret with audit logs, file attachments, RBAC, and bundled short links.

    OneTimeSecret is a well-known open-source one-time secret tool. It does one thing — burn-after-read text secrets — and it does it cleanly. For ad-hoc personal sharing or a quick self-hosted instance, it's hard to beat.

    Where it runs out of room is anything team-shaped. There's no workspace, no audit log per secret beyond what you store yourself, no RBAC, no file attachments on the hosted tier, and no way to revoke a secret from a dashboard.

    LinkPilot offers the same core burn-after-read primitive plus team workspaces, audit timelines (created, viewed, burned, revoked), file attachments behind signed URLs, branded short links, and an API — all in one tenant-isolated workspace.

    LinkPilot is different from a pure secret-sharing tool. It pairs a first-class burn-after-read primitive (passphrase-protected, expiring, file attachments, atomic row-locked reveal) with a full short-link platform — branded domains, real-time analytics, audit logs, RBAC, and an API — all in the same tenant-isolated workspace. Secret contents are kept on a separate workflow from analytics, so passwords and tokens never enter campaign data.

    Feature comparison

    Feature LinkPilot OneTimeSecret
    One-time / burn-after-read Yes — atomic, row-locked
    Passphrase protection Yes — hashed client-side
    Configurable expiry 5 minutes to 30 days Up to 14 days (hosted)
    Manual revoke before view Limited
    Audit timeline per secret Created, viewed, burned, revoked Minimal
    File attachments Yes — signed URLs Limited / paid tier
    Team workspaces + RBAC 5 built-in roles Not the focus
    Per-tenant audit logs
    Branded short links in same workspace
    Link analytics Privacy-first
    Public API Limited
    Self-hosting Hosted SaaS Open-source available
    Notification on view Limited
    IP-binding / view restrictions
    Burn-after-read across attachments
    Hashed-IP recipient privacy Standard

    Pricing tiers, side by side

    OneTimeSecret details as published July 2026 — plans change; verify current pricing with the vendor.

    Free

    LinkPilot

    Secret links + short links + analytics

    OneTimeSecret

    Hosted free with limits

    Starter

    LinkPilot

    Higher secret cap + branded domain

    OneTimeSecret

    Pro tier (small attachments, branding)

    Growth

    LinkPilot

    RBAC + audit logs + file attachments

    OneTimeSecret

    Higher tier

    Self-hosted

    LinkPilot

    Not offered

    OneTimeSecret

    Open-source available

    Which should you pick?

    Choose LinkPilot if…

    • You want a team workspace with roles, audit logs, and revocation.
    • You also need branded short links and analytics in the same product.
    • You need expiry, passphrase, and burn-after-read combined with delivery events.
    • You want a hosted product without running infrastructure yourself.

    Choose OneTimeSecret if…

    • You want a single-purpose tool with nothing else attached.
    • You prefer to self-host an open-source project.
    • You only ever send ad-hoc personal secrets, not team-managed shares.

    Why teams switch

    • Audit timeline per secret — created, viewed, burned, revoked — without bolt-on logging.
    • Team workspaces with RBAC, so sensitive shares aren't tied to a single user's session.
    • File attachments behind the same burn / passphrase / expiry controls.
    • Branded short links and analytics in the same workspace, on a strictly separate workflow.

    The verdict

    OneTimeSecret is a great single-purpose primitive; LinkPilot is the better pick for teams that need an audit trail, file attachments, RBAC, or any of the surrounding link tooling.

    FAQ

    Is LinkPilot a drop-in replacement for OneTimeSecret?

    For the burn-after-read workflow, yes — and you also get team controls, audit logs, and the rest of a link platform. If you specifically want a self-hosted single-purpose tool, OneTimeSecret remains a solid choice.

    Can I self-host LinkPilot?

    LinkPilot is a hosted SaaS. If self-hosting is a hard requirement, OneTimeSecret's open-source edition is the better fit.

    Are secrets used for analytics or profiling?

    No. Secret contents are handled separately from short-link analytics and are never used for campaign analytics, profiling, or retargeting.

    What expiry options are available?

    Anywhere from 5 minutes to 30 days, plus burn-after-read so the first view ends the secret regardless of the expiry window.

    Can I attach files?

    Yes — file attachments sit behind the same burn / passphrase / expiry controls as text secrets, served via short-lived signed URLs.

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