Beacons and Linktree are the two heavyweights of the link-in-bio space—but they've evolved in completely different directions.
The core difference: Linktree is a link aggregator that added creator features. Beacons is a creator business platform that happens to include links.
Quick verdict: Beacons wins for creators selling products or building email lists. Linktree wins for simplicity. But neither offers the best value—Shelfy gives you professional features free forever that both charge for.
This comprehensive comparison breaks down every feature, cost, and use case to help you choose the right platform for your creator business.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | Beacons | Linktree |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Focus | Creator monetization | Link aggregation |
| Free Plan | Yes (with limitations) | Yes (limited) |
| Email Marketing | Built-in (500/mo free) | Integration only |
| Digital Products | Built-in store | Via integrations |
| Media Kit | AI-generated | Not available |
| Custom Domain | $10/mo | $9/mo |
| Remove Branding | $10/mo | $5/mo |
| Transaction Fees (Free) | 9% | N/A |
| Analytics | Advanced | Basic (free) / Advanced (paid) |
| Best For | Monetizing creators | Simple link pages |
Platform Philosophy: The Fundamental Difference
Linktree: The Link Pioneer
Linktree invented the link-in-bio category in 2016. Their philosophy is straightforward: one link, many destinations.
Core DNA:
- Simplicity above all else
- Links first, features second
- Broad market appeal
- Integration-heavy approach
Evolution: Linktree started as just links and slowly added features (commerce, scheduling, analytics) through integrations and paid tiers.
Strength: Dead simple. Anyone can set up a Linktree page in 2 minutes.
Weakness: Basic feature set means you need multiple tools for a complete creator stack.
Beacons: The Creator Platform
Beacons launched in 2020 with a different vision: an all-in-one creator business platform.
Core DNA:
- Built for monetization
- Native features over integrations
- Creator-centric design
- AI-powered optimization
Evolution: Beacons started feature-rich and keeps adding creator tools: media kits, email marketing, digital products, invoicing.
Strength: Everything in one place—links, email, products, media kit.
Weakness: Steeper learning curve. Can feel overwhelming for users who just want links.
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
Link Management
Linktree
Link features:
- Unlimited links
- Link thumbnails
- Priority links (pin to top)
- Link scheduling
- Sensitive content warnings
- Archive links
Display options:
- Classic vertical list
- Spotlight links
- Social icons
- Video embeds (paid)
Organization:
- Single page only
- No folders or categories
- Drag-and-drop reordering
Beacons
Link features:
- Unlimited links
- Link blocks with icons
- Scheduling
- Link groups/sections
- Header dividers
Display options:
- Multiple block types
- Embed content (YouTube, Spotify, etc.)
- Custom backgrounds
- Animated elements
Organization:
- Sections for grouping
- Multiple page types
- Content blocks beyond links
Winner: Beacons for flexibility. Linktree for simplicity. If you just want links in a clean list, Linktree is easier. If you want a rich landing page with sections and embeds, Beacons wins.
Email Marketing
This is where Beacons pulls dramatically ahead.
Linktree
Email capabilities:
- Email capture form (paid)
- Integration with Mailchimp
- Integration with ConvertKit
- No native email sending
The reality: Linktree collects emails but doesn't send them. You need a separate email tool.
Cost:
- Email form: Requires Pro ($9/mo)
- Email tool: Additional $10-30/mo
Beacons
Email capabilities:
- Built-in email marketing
- 500 emails/month free
- Unlimited subscribers
- Templates and automation
- Newsletter blocks
Features included:
- Drag-and-drop email builder
- Signup forms on your page
- Audience segmentation
- Email analytics
- Automated welcome sequences
Cost:
- Basic: Free (500 sends/month)
- Creator Pro: $10/mo (2,000 sends)
- Store Pro: $30/mo (unlimited)
Winner: Beacons decisively. Native email marketing is a massive advantage. Linktree requires a separate tool that costs $10-30/month extra.
The math: Beacons free + email = $0. Linktree Pro + Mailchimp = $9 + $13 = $22/month.
Monetization & Commerce
Both platforms want to help you make money—but their approaches differ dramatically.
Linktree
Commerce features:
- Tip jar (collect donations)
- Commerce links (link to external stores)
- Payment request links
- Shopify integration
- Spring (merch) integration
Limitations:
- No native store
- Links to external checkout
- No digital product delivery
- Tip jar only (no products)
Fees:
- Tip jar: Payment processor fees only
- Commerce features: Requires paid plan
Beacons
Commerce features:
- Native digital product store
- Tip jar / donations
- Memberships and subscriptions
- Invoicing for services
- Brand deals marketplace
- Wishlist / gift registry
Digital products you can sell:
- PDFs, ebooks, guides
- Video content / courses
- Digital downloads
- Exclusive content
Fees:
- Free plan: 9% transaction fee
- Creator Pro: 5% fee
- Store Pro: 0% fee (just payment processing)
Winner: Beacons for serious monetization. Native store, digital products, memberships, and invoicing make it a complete commerce solution. Linktree just links to external stores.
Important consideration: Beacons' 9% free-plan fee adds up fast:
- Sell $500/month = $45/month lost = $540/year
- Sell $1,000/month = $90/month lost = $1,080/year
If you're selling significantly, the $30/month Store Pro plan (0% fee) pays for itself quickly.
Media Kit (Creator-Specific)
Linktree
Media kit: Not available
You'll need a separate tool (Notion, Canva, or dedicated media kit services).
Beacons
Media kit features:
- AI-generated media kit
- Auto-pulls your stats
- Professional templates
- One-click PDF export
- Always up-to-date metrics
What's included:
- Audience demographics
- Engagement rates
- Platform statistics
- Rate card
- Brand collaboration history
Winner: Beacons (Linktree has nothing comparable). For creators pitching brands, this alone could justify choosing Beacons.
Analytics & Insights
Linktree
Free analytics:
- Total views
- Total clicks
- Click-through rate (CTR)
Pro analytics ($9/mo):
- Clicks per link
- Traffic sources
- Geographic data
- Device breakdown
- Click timestamps
Limitations:
- No conversion tracking
- No revenue analytics
- Basic compared to dedicated tools
Beacons
Free analytics:
- Views and clicks
- Traffic sources
- Geographic breakdown
- Device analytics
Paid analytics:
- Revenue tracking
- Email performance
- Product sales data
- Audience growth
- A/B testing (Creator Pro)
Winner: Beacons for comprehensive analytics. Revenue and email tracking integration gives you a complete picture. Linktree's analytics are functional but basic.
Customization & Design
Linktree
Free customization:
- Limited theme selection
- Basic button styles
- Profile photo
- Bio text
Pro customization ($9/mo):
- Custom colors
- Font selection
- Button styles
- Backgrounds
- Remove Linktree branding
Note: You can't even change colors on Linktree's free plan. This is a common frustration.
Beacons
Free customization:
- Custom colors
- Multiple fonts
- Backgrounds (solid, gradient, image)
- Custom CSS (advanced)
- Beacons branding displayed
Paid customization ($10/mo):
- Remove Beacons branding
- Full white-label
- Priority design support
Winner: Beacons for free customization. Being able to change colors without paying is basic—Linktree gates this behind Pro.
Integrations
Linktree
Native integrations:
- Shopify
- Spring (merch)
- Amazon
- Mailchimp
- Twitter/X
- YouTube
- Spotify
- SoundCloud
- PayPal (tip jar)
Third-party:
- Zapier support
- Google Analytics
- Facebook Pixel (paid)
Beacons
Native integrations:
- Google Analytics
- Facebook Pixel
- TikTok Pixel
- Mailchimp (export)
- Stripe (payments)
- PayPal (payments)
Built-in alternatives: Instead of integrations, Beacons builds features natively:
- Email marketing (no Mailchimp needed)
- Digital store (no Shopify needed)
- Media kit (no external tool needed)
Winner: Linktree for breadth of integrations. Beacons if you prefer native features over integrations. Different philosophies—neither is wrong.
Pricing Deep Dive
Linktree Pricing
| Plan | Price | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | Unlimited links, basic themes, basic analytics |
| Starter | $5/mo | Remove branding, custom colors, link scheduling |
| Pro | $9/mo | Custom domains, advanced analytics, email capture |
| Premium | $24/mo | Priority support, team features, all integrations |
What you're actually paying for:
- Custom colors: $5/mo
- Custom domain: $9/mo
- Advanced analytics: $9/mo
- Team collaboration: $24/mo
Beacons Pricing
| Plan | Price | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | All features, 9% transaction fee, Beacons branding |
| Creator Pro | $10/mo | 5% fee, no branding, 2,000 emails, A/B testing |
| Store Pro | $30/mo | 0% fee, unlimited emails, priority support |
| Business | $90/mo | Team features, API access, dedicated support |
What you're actually paying for:
- Remove branding: $10/mo
- Lower transaction fees: $10-30/mo
- More email sends: $10-30/mo
- Custom domain: $10/mo
True Cost Comparison
Scenario: Creator with basic needs (links + customization)
| Tool | Annual Cost |
|---|---|
| Linktree Free | $0 (but can't change colors!) |
| Linktree Starter | $60/year |
| Beacons Free | $0 (with branding) |
| Beacons Creator Pro | $120/year |
Scenario: Creator selling digital products ($500/month revenue)
| Tool | Setup | Transaction Fees | Annual Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Linktree + Gumroad | $9/mo + 10% | $600/year fees | $708/year |
| Beacons Free | $0 | 9% = $540/year | $540/year |
| Beacons Store Pro | $30/mo | 0% | $360/year |
Scenario: Creator building email list (5,000 subscribers)
| Tool | Email Tool | Annual Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Linktree Pro | + Mailchimp ($50/mo) | $708/year |
| Beacons Creator Pro | Built-in | $120/year |
Winner: Depends entirely on your use case. Beacons is more expensive at base level but cheaper when you factor in features that Linktree makes you buy separately.
The Third Option: Shelfy
Before deciding between Beacons and Linktree, consider Shelfy—which offers professional features free that both charge for.
| Feature | Beacons | Linktree | Shelfy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Custom Domain | $10/mo | $9/mo | Free |
| Remove Branding | $10/mo | $5/mo | Free |
| Advanced Analytics | Included | $9/mo | Free |
| Multiple Collections | Limited | No | Free (Unlimited) |
| Team Collaboration | $90/mo | $24/mo | Free |
| API Access | $90/mo | No | Free |
| Annual Cost | $120-360 | $60-288 | $0 |
What Shelfy doesn't have:
- Built-in email marketing (use Mailchimp free tier)
- Native digital product store (use Gumroad/Stripe links)
- Media kit builder
What Shelfy excels at:
- Multiple organized collections
- Team collaboration
- API automation
- Zero cost forever
When to choose Shelfy over both:
- You want custom domains and no branding free
- You need multiple collections (different pages for different audiences)
- You're on a team
- You want API access for automation
- You don't need built-in email/commerce
Use Case Recommendations
Choose Beacons If You...
1. Sell digital products Native store with delivery built-in beats linking to external platforms.
2. Need email marketing 500 free emails/month is enough for most creators starting out. Built-in beats integration.
3. Pitch brands frequently AI media kit is a killer feature no competitor matches.
4. Want all-in-one Email, commerce, links, media kit, analytics—one platform, one login.
5. Don't mind the learning curve More features = more complexity. Worth it for power users.
Ideal Beacons users:
- Influencers with brand deals
- Course creators
- Digital product sellers
- Newsletter-first creators
- Coaches selling services
Choose Linktree If You...
1. Want maximum simplicity Set up in 2 minutes, never think about it again.
2. Just need links No products, no email, just links. Linktree does this well.
3. Prefer integrations Already have Mailchimp, Shopify, etc.? Linktree connects to them.
4. Trust the brand 40 million users, established company, not going anywhere.
5. Have simple needs Single page of links, basic analytics, done.
Ideal Linktree users:
- Casual creators
- Personal brands
- Small businesses with existing tools
- Anyone wanting zero learning curve
Choose Shelfy If You...
1. Need professional features free Custom domains, analytics, no branding—all free forever.
2. Want multiple collections Different pages for different purposes (resources, portfolios, projects).
3. Collaborate with a team Unlimited team members without paying enterprise pricing.
4. Need API access Build automations without paying $90/month.
5. Have simple monetization Okay linking to external payment tools.
Ideal Shelfy users:
- Agencies sharing resources
- Educators with course materials
- Teams collaborating on collections
- Anyone avoiding subscription fatigue
- Developers wanting API access
Head-to-Head Scenarios
Scenario 1: Fitness Influencer Selling Workout Guides
Need: Sell PDF workout guides, collect emails, pitch fitness brands.
Beacons:
- Create digital products in native store
- Collect emails with built-in forms
- Generate media kit for brand pitches
- Track revenue and conversions
Linktree:
- Link to Gumroad for products
- Link to Mailchimp for emails
- Create media kit manually
- Basic click analytics only
Winner: Beacons (all-in-one wins here)
Scenario 2: Musician Promoting New Album
Need: Links to streaming platforms, tour dates, merch.
Beacons:
- Embed Spotify/Apple Music
- Product blocks for merch
- Email capture for fan list
- Complex page layout
Linktree:
- Clean list of streaming links
- Spring merch integration
- Simple, focused layout
- 2-minute setup
Winner: Tie—depends on desired complexity. Linktree for clean simplicity, Beacons for richer page.
Scenario 3: Marketing Agency Resource Page
Need: Share curated resources with clients, team collaboration, custom branding.
Beacons:
- Single page
- $10/mo for white-label
- Limited team features without Business plan
Linktree:
- Single page
- $24/mo for team features
- No multiple collections
Shelfy:
- Unlimited collections
- Free team collaboration
- Free custom domain
- Free white-label
Winner: Shelfy (purpose-built for this use case)
Scenario 4: Course Creator with Email-First Business
Need: Sell courses, grow email list, nurture subscribers.
Beacons:
- Sell courses through native store
- Built-in email marketing
- Landing page + email + sales in one
Linktree:
- Link to Teachable/Kajabi
- Capture emails (Pro required)
- Send to Mailchimp
Winner: Beacons (integrated email marketing is massive advantage)
Scenario 5: Personal Blog Simple Link Page
Need: Links to blog, social profiles, contact.
Beacons:
- Powerful but overkill
- Many features you won't use
- Learning curve
Linktree:
- Perfect simplicity
- 5 links in 2 minutes
- Set and forget
Winner: Linktree (simplicity wins for simple needs)
Migration Guide
From Linktree to Beacons
What transfers:
- Links (manually copy URLs)
- Bio text
- Profile image
What doesn't transfer:
- Analytics history
- Custom domain (reconfigure)
- Integrations (reconnect)
Steps:
- Create Beacons account
- Copy links from Linktree
- Set up email capture
- Configure appearance
- Update bio link in socials
- Keep Linktree active 30 days
Time required: 30-60 minutes
From Beacons to Linktree
What transfers:
- Links (manually copy)
- Basic content
What doesn't transfer:
- Email subscribers (export first!)
- Product sales history
- Media kit
- Revenue data
Steps:
- Export email list from Beacons
- Create Linktree account
- Add links manually
- Set up Mailchimp integration
- Configure payment links
- Update bio links
Time required: 45-90 minutes (plus email tool setup)
From Either to Shelfy
What transfers:
- Links (copy URLs)
- Basic structure
Steps:
- Create Shelfy account (free)
- Import links
- Set up collections
- Configure custom domain (free)
- Update bio links
Time required: 20-30 minutes
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better for beginners?
Linktree. Simpler interface, fewer decisions, 2-minute setup. Beacons has more features but steeper learning curve.
Which is better for monetization?
Beacons. Native digital products, email marketing, and media kits make it a complete monetization platform. Linktree requires external tools.
Is Beacons' 9% transaction fee worth it?
Depends on volume.
- Selling under $100/month? Free plan is fine.
- Selling $500+/month? Upgrade to reduce fees.
- Selling $1,000+/month? Store Pro ($30/mo, 0% fee) saves money.
Can I use both platforms?
Yes, but there's no practical reason to. Pick one and commit—managing two creates confusion.
Is Linktree dying?
No. With 40 million users and recent funding, Linktree is stable. It just hasn't innovated as aggressively as Beacons.
Why not just use Shelfy?
If you need built-in email marketing or digital product sales, Beacons is better. If you just want links with professional features free, Shelfy wins.
Which loads faster?
Both are fast. Beacons pages with many embeds may load slightly slower than minimal Linktree pages, but the difference is negligible.
Can I have multiple pages?
Linktree: No (one page per account) Beacons: Limited (one main page, some link grouping) Shelfy: Yes (unlimited collections)
The Verdict
Beacons Wins For:
- Monetizing creators (native store, 0% fees available)
- Email marketers (built-in email tool)
- Brand collaborations (AI media kit)
- All-in-one seekers (links + email + commerce)
- Course/digital product sellers
Linktree Wins For:
- Simplicity seekers (fastest setup)
- Link-only needs (no extra features)
- Integration lovers (connects to existing tools)
- Risk-averse users (established brand)
- Minimal maintenance (set and forget)
Shelfy Wins For:
- Budget-conscious users (truly free forever)
- Teams (free collaboration)
- Multiple collections (organized pages)
- API/automation (developer-friendly)
- Custom domains (free white-label)
Overall Recommendation
For most creators building a business: Start with Beacons. The free plan is generous, and you'll grow into the monetization features. Upgrade when transaction fees exceed plan cost.
For most casual users: Start with Linktree. It's simple, reliable, and sufficient for basic needs.
For teams, agencies, or budget-conscious power users: Start with Shelfy. Professional features free forever is unbeatable value.
Related Reading
Tool Comparisons:
- Best Link in Bio Tools 2025: Complete Guide — Compare all options
- Free Link in Bio Tools: What's Actually Free — Hidden costs exposed
- Shelfy vs Raindrop.io — Bookmark manager comparison
- How to Switch from Linktree — Migration guide
Niche Guides:
- Link in Bio for Coaches — Book more coaching clients
- Link in Bio for Musicians — Promote music and merch
- Link in Bio for E-commerce — Turn followers into customers
- Instagram Link in Bio Guide — Complete optimization guide
Last updated: March 2025. Features and pricing verified as of publication date.