"Is Linktree free?" is one of the most searched questions about the platform. The short answer: yes, Linktree has a free plan. The longer answer: free doesn't mean no cost.
If you're a creator deciding whether Linktree is worth it, this guide breaks down exactly what the free plan includes, what it doesn't, and what you'll actually pay when you start selling through it.
Yes, Linktree Has a Free Plan
Linktree's free plan is genuinely free. No credit card required, no time limit, no trial period. You can sign up and use it forever at $0/month.
Here's what you get on the free plan:
- Unlimited links to your social profiles, websites, and content
- Basic themes and colors for your link-in-bio page
- Lifetime analytics showing total clicks and views
- QR code for your Linktree page
- Social icons for platform links
- Basic integrations like social media embeds
For creators who just need a simple link-in-bio page to point followers to their content, the free plan does the job.
The Hidden Cost: 12% on Every Sale
Here's where "free" gets expensive. If you use Linktree's Commerce feature to sell digital products, tip jars, or paid content, the free plan charges a 12% seller fee on every transaction.
That's on top of standard payment processing fees (Stripe or PayPal at 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction).
Here's what that looks like on real sales:
| Product price | Linktree fee (12%) | Processing fee (~3%) | You keep |
|---|---|---|---|
| $10 | $1.20 | $0.59 | $8.21 |
| $25 | $3.00 | $1.03 | $20.97 |
| $50 | $6.00 | $1.75 | $42.25 |
| $100 | $12.00 | $3.20 | $84.80 |
| $200 | $24.00 | $6.10 | $169.90 |
On a $50 digital product, you lose $7.75 per sale. Sell 20 of those in a month and you've given up $155. At that point, you're paying more than most subscription-based platforms charge.
Linktree Free vs. Paid Plans
Linktree offers three paid tiers that reduce the seller fee and add features:
| Free | Starter | Pro | Premium | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly price | $0 | $8 | $15 | $35 |
| Annual price | $0 | ~$6/mo | ~$12/mo | ~$28/mo |
| Seller fee | 12% | 9% | 9% | 0% |
| Custom themes | Basic | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Remove branding | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Email collection | No | Basic | Yes | Yes |
| Advanced analytics | No | Location + device | Full | Full + export |
| Link scheduling | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Priority support | 48hr | 24hr | 24hr | 4hr |
The jump from Free to Starter cuts your seller fee from 12% to 9%, which saves 3% on every sale. But you're also paying $8/month. The math only works if you're selling enough to offset that subscription cost.
When Each Plan Makes Sense
- Free: You only use Linktree for links. You don't sell products through it.
- Starter ($8/month): You sell products and make more than ~$267/month in sales (where the 3% savings exceed $8).
- Pro ($15/month): You want Linktree branding removed and need full analytics. Seller fee is still 9%.
- Premium ($35/month): You sell more than ~$389/month consistently and want 0% seller fees.
What the Free Plan Doesn't Include
Beyond the transaction fee, the free plan has real functional limitations that matter for creators building a business:
No email or phone collection. You can't capture visitor contact info on the free plan. Every visitor who leaves your Linktree page without following a link is gone forever. This is a huge limitation for creators trying to build an audience they own.
No custom branding. Your page shows the Linktree logo and is limited to basic color themes. You can't upload custom backgrounds, use stock images, or make your page match your brand.
No link scheduling. You can't schedule links to appear or disappear at specific times. For creators promoting limited-time offers or launches, this means manual work.
No advanced analytics. The free plan shows total lifetime clicks and views, but no device data, no location data, no referrer tracking. You can't see which platforms drive the most traffic.
No video calls or workshops. This applies to all Linktree plans, not just free. Linktree is a link-in-bio tool, not a platform for selling live services. If you want to offer paid video calls, coaching sessions, or workshops, you need a separate platform entirely.
No scheduling or booking. Linktree can link to a Calendly or other booking tool, but it doesn't handle scheduling natively. You can't let someone book and pay for a session directly from your Linktree page.
The Real Cost of "Free" for Creators Who Sell
Here's the scenario most creators find themselves in: you start with the free plan for links, then you start selling digital products or services. Suddenly "free" doesn't look so free.
A creator earning $500/month through Linktree Commerce on the free plan pays:
- Linktree seller fee (12%): $60/month
- Payment processing (~3%): $15/month
- Total fees: $75/month
That's $900 per year in fees on the "free" plan.
Compare that to the Premium plan:
- Subscription: $35/month ($420/year)
- Payment processing (~3%): $15/month ($180/year)
- Total fees: $600/year
Or compare to a platform with no monthly fee and a 10% transaction rate:
- Platform fee (10%): $50/month ($600/year)
- Processing: Included
- Total fees: $600/year
At $500/month in revenue, the free plan is actually the most expensive option. This is the hidden cost most creators miss.
Linktree Free vs. Alternatives That Include More
Linktree's free plan is great at one thing: organizing links. But most creators need more than links. They need payments, scheduling, and a way to sell their time or expertise.
Here's how Linktree's free plan compares to other options:
| Linktree Free | Talkspresso | Beacons Free | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly fee | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Transaction fee | 12% | 10% | 9% |
| Link-in-bio | Yes | Yes (profile page) | Yes |
| Video calls | No | Built-in HD | No |
| Workshops/webinars | No | Yes (500+ people) | No |
| Scheduling | No | Built-in | No |
| Digital products | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Session recording | No | Automatic + AI notes | No |
| Email collection | No (paid only) | Yes | Yes |
| Custom domain | No | Yes | No |
If you just need links, Linktree free works. If you plan to sell anything, especially live services like coaching calls, workshops, or consulting, a platform that includes video, scheduling, and payments will save you money and complexity.
For a deeper comparison, see our full Linktree pricing breakdown and Linktree vs. Talkspresso for bookings.
When Linktree's Free Plan Is the Right Choice
Linktree's free plan makes sense if:
- You only need links. You want a clean page that points to your social profiles, website, and content. No selling, no booking.
- You're testing the waters. You want to see if a link-in-bio tool helps your workflow before committing to anything.
- You don't sell digital products. If you never use Commerce, the 12% fee never applies. The plan is truly free.
- Your traffic is low. Under a few hundred visitors/month, the analytics limitations don't matter much.
When You Should Skip Linktree's Free Plan
Don't use Linktree's free plan if:
- You sell digital products. The 12% fee is one of the highest in the market. Even Gumroad's 10% fee is lower.
- You offer paid sessions. Linktree doesn't support video calls, scheduling, or payments for live services. You'd need to add Calendly plus Zoom plus Stripe, each with their own costs.
- You want to build an email list. Email collection requires a paid plan. If growing a list is a priority, the free plan works against you.
- You want your brand, not Linktree's. The free plan keeps Linktree branding on your page. For creators building a professional brand, that's a compromise.
A Smarter Approach for Creators
Instead of starting free on Linktree and then stacking paid tools as you grow, consider starting on a platform that includes everything from day one.
Talkspresso has no monthly fee. You pay 10% when you earn, which is less than Linktree's 12% free-plan fee. And it includes:
- Built-in HD video calls for 1:1 sessions and group calls
- Workshops and webinars for up to 500+ attendees
- Scheduling and booking with automatic availability
- Payments through Stripe with no extra setup
- Digital product sales for downloads, recordings, and courses
- Session recordings with automatic AI summaries and notes
- Professional booking page that works like a link-in-bio but does more
No monthly fees. No stacking subscriptions. One platform that grows with you.
If you want to sell 1:1 video calls to your audience, run paid masterclasses, or monetize with workshops, starting on the right platform from day one saves you time, money, and the headache of migrating later.
The Bottom Line
Linktree is free to use as a link-in-bio tool. But the moment you sell anything through it, the 12% transaction fee makes it one of the more expensive options available. Paid plans reduce that fee but add $8 to $35 in monthly costs.
For creators who just need organized links, the free plan is fine. For creators who want to build a business, sell products, or offer paid services, platforms with lower fees and more built-in tools will serve you better from the start.
Start free on Talkspresso (no monthly fee, 10% only when you earn) →