Linktree: What You Get
Linktree is the household name in link-in-bio. With more than 50 million users, it's the default for creators starting out. Its commerce features are functional, but the platform's center of gravity is link sharing.
Free ($0)
- Unlimited links
- Basic themes
- QR codes, embedded video, social icons
- Basic analytics (views and clicks)
- 12% sales fee on digital products
Starter ($8/month)
- Custom themes and animated links
- Still keeps Linktree branding
- 12% sales fee
Pro ($15/month)
- Removes Linktree branding
- Advanced analytics (CTR, location, device, referrers)
- Instagram comment and DM automation
- Mailchimp, Klaviyo, Zapier integrations
- Link scheduling
- Branded short URLs (linktr.ee/yourbrand) with UTM
- Facebook and TikTok pixel
- 9% sales fee
Premium ($35/month)
- Everything in Pro
- 0% sales fee on digital products
- Higher email collection limits
- Priority support
Annual billing roughly cuts these prices: Starter ~$5/mo, Pro ~$10/mo, Premium ~$24/mo.
For a fuller Linktree breakdown, see our Linktree free vs Pro features comparison and Linktree complete guide 2026.
Where Beacons Wins
1. Cheaper path to 0% fees
Beacons Creator Plus is $30/month with 0% sales fees. Linktree Premium is $35/month for 0% fees. That $5/month gap adds up: $60/year. Both also exclude Stripe processing fees, which apply on every sale either way.
2. More creator-store features at lower tiers
The Beacons Creator plan ($10) includes order bumps, automation, AI brand outreach, and custom domain. Linktree Starter ($8) includes mostly themes and animations. The price is almost the same; the Beacons feature set is heavier on commerce.
3. Custom domain support
Beacons gives you a free custom domain on Creator ($10/month) for the first year. Linktree has no custom domain support on any plan. If owning yourname.com matters for your brand, Beacons wins outright.
4. Built-in courses and memberships
Beacons Creator Plus ($30/month) includes a course builder and subscription/membership products. Linktree doesn't include either, even on Premium. Creators selling courses through their bio link have to bolt on a separate tool with Linktree.
5. Lower free-plan sales fee
9% on Beacons free vs 12% on Linktree free. On $500/month in sales, that's $15 saved every month with no upgrade.
Where Linktree Wins
1. Brand recognition
Linktree is the default. Most audiences recognize a linktr.ee URL. Most creators link out to one. The brand carries weight that Beacons hasn't fully matched.
2. Cleaner link-hub experience
If you're mostly aggregating links (podcast, YouTube, blog, social), Linktree's design is purpose-built for that. Beacons can do it but feels more like a storefront with a links section.
3. More mature integrations
Linktree Pro's Mailchimp, Klaviyo, Zapier, and pixel integrations are deeper and more reliable than Beacons' equivalents at the same price tier.
4. Instagram automation polish
Linktree Pro's Instagram DM and comment automation is a mature, well-tested feature. Beacons has automation, but Linktree's implementation is generally cleaner.
5. Faster setup for non-sellers
If you don't sell anything and just need a link page, Linktree Free is slightly faster to set up than Beacons Free. Lower friction for the simplest use case.
The Real Cost Math
| Monthly product sales | Beacons Free (9%) | Beacons Plus ($30, 0%) | Linktree Free (12%) | Linktree Premium ($35, 0%) |
|---|
| $0 | $0 | $30 | $0 | $35 |
| $250 | $22.50 | $30 | $30 | $35 |
| $500 | $45 | $30 | $60 | $35 |
| $1,000 |
Crossovers:
- At $250/month sales, Beacons Free ($22.50) is cheaper than upgrading to Beacons Plus ($30)
- At $333+/month sales, Beacons Plus saves money over Beacons Free
- At $292+/month sales, Linktree Premium saves money over Linktree Free
- Across all volumes above $250/month, Beacons Plus ($30) beats Linktree Premium ($35) on raw cost
Neither row factors in Stripe processing fees (2.9% + $0.30), which apply on every sale on either platform.
Where Both Fall Short: Live Video
This is the gap nobody markets, and it's the one creators feel hardest once they try to scale.
Neither Beacons nor Linktree has built-in video calls. Neither has full paid scheduling. Neither records sessions. Neither runs live workshops.
If you sell:
- 1:1 coaching or consulting calls
- Group sessions or masterminds
- Live workshops, masterclasses, or trainings
- Paid AMAs or office hours
...you'll need a separate video tool, a separate scheduling tool, and probably a recording or transcription tool on top.
That stack runs roughly $25-50/month before you earn a dollar:
- Zoom Pro: $13.33/month
- Calendly Standard: $10/month
- Notes/recording add-on: $10-25/month
This is where Talkspresso fits. It's a creator platform built around live video monetization, with HD calls, scheduling, payments, and recording in one tool. Free to start. 10% platform fee only when you earn.
For more, see our breakdown of the best platforms for paid video calls in 2026 and linktree alternatives for creators selling paid video calls.
Who Should Pick What
Pick Beacons if:
- You sell digital products as a meaningful part of your income
- You want a custom domain at a low price
- You want courses or memberships included in the platform
- You earn $500+/month in product sales (Plus pays for itself)
- You want creator-store mechanics over pure link aggregation
Pick Linktree if:
- Your bio link is mostly a navigation hub, not a storefront
- Brand recognition with your audience matters
- You need mature integrations (Mailchimp, Klaviyo, Zapier)
- You want polished Instagram automation
- You don't need a custom domain or built-in courses
Pick something else if:
- You sell live sessions (coaching, consulting, workshops)
- You want video, scheduling, and recording in one tool
- You'd rather pay only when you earn (no monthly subscription)
- Selling your time, not products, is your business model
In that last case, Talkspresso is the better fit. You can also keep Beacons or Linktree as your link hub and add your Talkspresso booking link as one of the entries.
What Most Reviews Get Wrong
A few things worth flagging that don't usually show up in side-by-side reviews.
The free-plan trap. Both platforms have generous free plans, and creators stay on them too long. At $500/month in product sales, Linktree free is costing you $60/month in fees and Beacons Free is costing you $45/month. That's already more than most paid plans.
Custom domain is a real factor. Beacons gives you one. Linktree never does. If you're building a personal brand and care about owning yourname.com, Beacons closes a loop Linktree leaves open.
Email automation depth. Beacons' AI-driven brand outreach and email tools have gotten genuinely useful in 2026. Linktree's automation is good for Instagram comments, but Beacons' approach is broader.
Brand fit matters more than features. If your audience expects to see a linktr.ee URL, that brand recognition has real value. If your audience doesn't care, Beacons' broader feature set wins.
The Bottom Line
Beacons and Linktree are both legitimate tools for creators. Beacons leans further into commerce and has a cheaper path to 0% sales fees. Linktree has more polish, brand recognition, and mature integrations.
For most digital-product sellers, Beacons is the better economic pick today. For creators whose bio link is mostly a navigation hub, Linktree's free plan and cleaner link-hub UX still win. For creators whose business is live sessions, neither covers what matters most.
For more context, see our guides on Stan Store vs Linktree, Beacons alternatives, and creator economy platforms ranked by what they pay.
Try Talkspresso free if you sell live time. Pick Beacons or Linktree if your bio link is your storefront.
