7 Beacons Alternatives for Creators in 2026 (Compared)

Beacons works as a link hub. But if your business model involves live interactions with paying clients, you will outgrow it quickly.

The 7 Best Beacons Alternatives for Creators

1. Talkspresso (Best for Live Video Sessions + Digital Products)

Talkspresso is the best Beacons alternative if you want to sell live video sessions alongside digital products. While Beacons focuses on links and storefronts, Talkspresso focuses on live experiences.

What sets it apart:

• Built-in HD video for 1:1 calls, group sessions, and workshops (up to 500 people)
• Scheduling with automatic time zone conversion and availability management
• Payments handled directly on the platform
• Automatic session recording with AI-generated summaries and action items
• Digital product sales (PDFs, templates, recordings, courses)
• Professional booking page you can share as your single link
• Client management with session history and intake forms

What it does not do: Beacons includes email marketing, media kits, and invoicing tools. Talkspresso does not. It focuses on sessions and products.

Pricing: Free to start. 10% platform fee on paid transactions. No monthly subscription.

Best for: Creators, coaches, and consultants who monetize through live video (calls, workshops, group sessions) and want digital products on the same platform.

2. Linktree (Best for Simple Link-in-Bio)

Linktree is the original link-in-bio tool and still the most popular. If all you need is a clean page with links to your content, shop, and social profiles, Linktree does that well.

What makes it different:

• Simple, fast link pages
• Good analytics on click-through rates
• Integrations with Shopify, Spring, and other stores
• Custom themes and branding
• Commerce links for tips and product sales

Drawbacks:

• No live video or scheduling
• No workshop or session support
• Limited monetization compared to Beacons
• Premium plans start at $5/month for basic features
• No client management

Pricing: Free tier available. Pro at $5/month. Premium at $9/month. Teams at $24/month.

Best for: Creators who need a straightforward link page without built-in monetization features. For a deep dive on Linktree, see our Linktree pricing breakdown.

3. Stan Store (Best for Digital Product Storefronts)

Stan Store is a link-in-bio tool built specifically for selling digital products. It is more commerce-focused than Beacons, with a better checkout flow for courses, ebooks, and templates.

What makes it different:

• Clean product storefront optimized for conversions
• Digital product delivery (ebooks, courses, templates)
• Booking calendar integration
• Email and SMS marketing
• Funnel builder for upsells

Drawbacks:

• No built-in video calls
• No group sessions or workshops
• $29/month subscription whether you sell or not
• Limited customization
• No session recording or AI features

Pricing: $29/month (Creator), $99/month (Creator Pro).

Best for: Creators focused on digital product sales who want a better storefront than Beacons offers. See our full Stan Store alternatives comparison.

4. Shorby (Best for Multi-Link Landing Pages)

Shorby is a lightweight link management tool designed for social media marketers. It creates smart landing pages with multiple links, messenger integrations, and retargeting pixels.

What makes it different:

• Clean multi-link landing pages
• Messenger integrations (WhatsApp, Telegram, Facebook)
• Retargeting pixel support
• Dynamic content feeds from RSS, YouTube, and blogs
• Custom domain support

Drawbacks:

• No monetization features
• No video calls, scheduling, or products
• Limited creator-specific features
• Starts at $12/month
• No free plan

Pricing: $12/month (Rocket), $24/month (Pro), $82/month (Agency).

Best for: Social media marketers who need retargeting pixels and messenger integrations on their link pages.

5. Koji (Best for Interactive Link-in-Bio Apps)

Koji takes a different approach to link-in-bio. Instead of static links, it offers mini-apps that you can add to your page. Things like tip jars, Q&A widgets, custom games, and storefronts.

What makes it different:

• Mini-app marketplace with hundreds of interactive widgets
• Tip jars, paid shoutouts, and custom requests
• Gamification elements
• Developer platform for custom apps
• Free to use with transaction fees

Drawbacks:

• Can feel cluttered with too many apps
• No built-in video calling
• No professional scheduling
• Limited analytics
• Better for entertainment creators than professionals

Pricing: Free. Transaction fees vary by app (typically 5-15%).

Best for: Entertainment creators who want interactive, gamified experiences on their link page.

6. Milkshake (Best for Mobile-First Link Pages)

Milkshake is a mobile-only link-in-bio builder. You create swipeable card-based pages entirely from your phone. It is designed for creators who manage everything from mobile.

What makes it different:

• Built entirely for mobile creation
• Swipeable card format (not just a list of links)
• Beautiful templates optimized for Instagram
• Free to use
• Very fast setup (under 5 minutes)

Drawbacks:

• No desktop editor
• No monetization features
• No scheduling or video
• Limited analytics
• Not suitable for professional services

Pricing: Free.

Best for: Instagram creators who want a visually appealing link page and do everything from their phone.

7. Carrd (Best for Custom One-Page Websites)

Carrd is not technically a link-in-bio tool. It is a simple one-page website builder. But many creators use it as their bio link because it offers far more design flexibility than dedicated link-in-bio tools.

What makes it different:

• Full design control over a single-page website
• Custom domains, forms, and embeds
• Clean, professional layouts
• Very affordable ($19/year for Pro)
• Can embed payment widgets, calendars, and videos

Drawbacks:

• Requires more setup than link-in-bio tools
• No built-in monetization
• No scheduling or video
• No app marketplace
• Not mobile-optimized for creation

Pricing: Free tier. Pro at $19/year.

Best for: Creators who want a custom-designed landing page with more flexibility than any link-in-bio tool provides.

Feature Comparison

How to Choose the Right Beacons Alternative

The best alternative depends on what you actually do with your platform.

Choose Talkspresso if:

• You sell live video calls, coaching, workshops, or group sessions
• You want video, scheduling, and payments in one tool
• You also sell digital products
• You do not want to pay a monthly fee before earning anything
• You want automatic session recordings with AI summaries

Choose Linktree if:

• You just need a simple link page for your social profiles
• You do not sell products or services directly
• You want the most widely recognized link-in-bio brand

Choose Stan Store if:

• Digital products (courses, ebooks, templates) are your main revenue
• You want a storefront with checkout optimization
• You do not mind paying $29/month upfront

Choose Shorby if:

• You need retargeting pixels on your link page
• Messenger integrations are important to your workflow
• You are a social media marketer, not a creator selling services

Choose Koji if:

• You want interactive, gamified experiences
• You are an entertainment creator (not a professional/coach)
• You like experimenting with mini-apps and widgets

Choose Milkshake if:

• You do everything from your phone
• You want a beautiful, swipeable link page
• You do not need monetization features

Choose Carrd if:

• You want full design control over your landing page
• You are comfortable with a website builder
• You want the cheapest option with the most flexibility

The Link-in-Bio Problem

Here is the honest truth about link-in-bio tools: they are traffic routers, not business platforms.

Beacons, Linktree, Shorby, and the others excel at one thing: giving you a page with links. Some have added storefronts, email marketing, and basic scheduling. But these are bolted-on features, not core capabilities.

If your business model is "people click my links and buy things elsewhere," a link-in-bio tool is all you need.

But if your business model is "people pay me for my time and expertise," you need a platform built for that. That means built-in video, real scheduling, session management, and automatic recording.

The most successful creators in 2026 are not just linking to things. They are selling access to themselves:

1. Free content on social media to build an audience
2. Digital products ($10-50) for passive income
3. Live 1:1 calls ($50-500) for premium revenue
4. Workshops and group sessions ($15-100/seat) for scalable income

Beacons handles steps 1 and 2. Talkspresso handles steps 2, 3, and 4. The right choice depends on which steps matter most to your business.

Making the Switch from Beacons

If you decide to switch, here is a practical plan:

Day 1: Set up your new platform. Create your services, set pricing, and configure your availability.

Day 2: Update your social media bio links. Most platforms give you a shareable URL that works the same way as your Beacons link.

Day 3: Announce the change to your audience. Frame it as an upgrade: "I'm now offering live workshops and coaching sessions in addition to my products."

Day 4-7: Monitor traffic and bookings. Make sure everything is working smoothly.

The switch itself takes a few hours. The only real work is deciding what services to offer and how to price them. If you need help with that, check our guide on how to price your first online workshop.

The Bottom Line

Beacons is a solid link-in-bio tool with decent monetization features. If you are happy with it, there is no reason to switch.

But if you want built-in live video, real scheduling, workshop hosting, or session recordings, Beacons cannot do those things. No link-in-bio tool can.

For simple link pages, Linktree is the standard. For digital product storefronts, Stan Store is purpose-built. For custom landing pages, Carrd gives you the most control for the least money.

For live video sessions, coaching calls, workshops, and digital products on one platform with no monthly fee, Talkspresso is the best Beacons alternative for creators who sell their expertise.

For a full breakdown, see our 9 best platforms for paid video calls or read how creators sell paid video calls to their followers.

For a full breakdown, see our 9 best platforms for paid video calls or read how creators sell paid video calls to their followers.

Therapy & Counseling

A spiritual coach who will lead you toward greatness with a deeper connection to your Higher Power, whom I know as God. I do incorporate scripture into my sessions because I feel the word is very...