Linktree is the better pick if you want a simple, trusted link page that connects to lots of other apps. Beacons is the better pick if you're a creator who wants to sell digital products, collect emails and send a media kit to brands from one place. Both have free plans, so you can try each before you commit.
Your bio link is the one clickable link most social platforms give you. Whatever sits behind it decides whether a follower becomes a subscriber, a customer or a lost click. Linktree and Beacons are two of the most popular choices, and they've grown in different directions.
Linktree started as a simple list of links and is still the name most people recognise. Beacons was built for creators from the start and tries to be a whole small business in a page: store, email list, media kit and AI helpers. Here's how they line up.
Linktree vs Beacons side by side
| Feature | Linktree | Beacons |
|---|---|---|
| Page design | Clean, simple and instantly recognisable. Themes, buttons and images, with more styling on paid plans. | More like a mini website, with blocks and sections you can stack. More layout freedom, but it takes longer to set up. |
| Selling digital products | You can sell through its shop and payment features. Check what's included on your plan. | A built-in store for digital products and services is one of its main selling points. |
| Email capture | An email signup block that can connect to popular email marketing tools. | Collects emails and includes its own email marketing, so you can send to your list from Beacons. |
| Analytics | Basic click data on the free plan, with deeper insights on paid plans. | Page and link analytics, with more detail on paid plans. |
| AI features | Has added some AI-assisted features, but they aren't the focus. | AI is a big part of its pitch, with AI helpers for writing and setting up your page. |
| Media kit | Not its focus. Check its current features if you need one. | A media kit builder designed for pitching brand deals. |
| Integrations | A wide range of link apps for music, video, commerce and payments. | Covers the main social, payment and selling platforms, with fewer integrations than Linktree. |
Features and plans on both change often, so check each tool's current pricing page for what's on the free plan before you build anything big.
Pick Linktree if
- You want a link page that's up and running in five minutes.
- Your audience already recognises a Linktree link and trusts it.
- You mainly send people to other places: your website, shop, podcast, YouTube channel or booking page.
- You rely on integrations with tools you already use, such as your online store or music platforms.
- You're a local business or service provider rather than a content creator, and the page is a signpost rather than a shop.
Pick Beacons if
- You're a creator and you want your link page to earn money directly.
- You sell digital products like guides, templates, presets or coaching calls and don't want a separate store.
- You want to build an email list and send to it without paying for another email tool on day one.
- You pitch brands and want a media kit you can share with one link.
- You like the idea of AI helping you set up and write your page.
If you're still unsure, think about where the money comes from. If the sale happens somewhere else, Linktree's simplicity wins. If the sale happens on the link page itself, Beacons is built for that.
What matters most for a small business
In my experience working with small businesses, the tool matters less than what's on the page. A few things make the biggest difference whichever one you choose:
- Put your most important link first. Most people tap the top button and leave. Make it the thing you most want them to do this month.
- Keep it short. Five clear links beat fifteen. Archive old promotions instead of stacking them.
- Match your bio to the page. If your bio promises a free guide, the guide should be the first thing they see. If you need help with the words, try my Instagram bio generator.
- Capture an email. Followers on a platform aren't yours. An email address is.
Three other options if neither fits
If neither Linktree nor Beacons feels right, these three are well known and worth a look. I've covered more in my comparison of the best link in bio tools for Instagram and TikTok.
Later's link in bio
Later's link in bio tool turns your Instagram grid into a clickable page, so people can tap the post they saw and land on the right product or article. It makes most sense if you already use Later to schedule your social posts.
Milkshake
Milkshake is a mobile app that builds a swipeable, card-style mini website from your phone. It's simple and visual, and it suits people who want something a little more designed than a list of buttons without touching a computer.
Carrd
Carrd builds simple one-page websites. It's not a link in bio tool as such, but plenty of people use it as one because it gives full control over layout, works on your own domain and looks like a real website rather than a link list.
Want AI doing the heavy lifting in your marketing?
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Make a link in bio tool? See how to get it featured on this list.
How to switch without losing clicks
Moving from one link page to another is low risk if you do it in the right order. Here's what I'd do:
- Build the new page completely before you change anything. Copy over every link that still gets clicks.
- Check your old analytics and put your top three links in the same order on the new page.
- Add tracking tags to your important links so you can see which platform each click came from.
- Update your bio link on every platform on the same day: Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Threads, LinkedIn and anywhere else you use it.
- Hunt down the hidden places your old link lives: email signature, podcast show notes, pinned posts, printed QR codes and old video descriptions.
- Keep the old page live for a few weeks with one clear button pointing to the new page, so nobody hits a dead end.
- Compare clicks after a month. If they've dropped, check the order of your links before you blame the tool.
One tip that saves a lot of hassle: if you can, point your bio to a short link on your own domain that redirects to your link page. Then next time you switch tools, you change one redirect instead of every profile.
Frequently asked questions
Is Beacons better than Linktree?
Beacons is better for creators who want to sell digital products, build an email list and share a media kit from one page. Linktree is better for a simple, recognisable link page with lots of integrations. Neither is better for everyone.
Are Linktree and Beacons free?
Both have free plans, with more features on paid plans. Check each tool's current pricing page, as what's included on the free plan changes.
Can I sell digital products on Linktree?
Yes, Linktree has shop and payment features, but selling is more central to Beacons, which has a built-in store. Check which selling features are on your plan before you set up.
Will I lose followers if I change my link in bio tool?
No. Your followers stay on the social platform. You only risk lost clicks if old links are left pointing nowhere, so update every profile and keep the old page live for a few weeks.
