Linktree solved a real problem: Instagram only gives you one link in your bio, and you need to send people to multiple places. But Linktree’s simplicity is also its ceiling. Once you outgrow a basic list of links — once you want to collect emails, sell products, write blog posts, or customize your page beyond their templates — you hit the limits fast.
The good news is that the Linktree alternative space has exploded. There are now dozens of link-in-bio tools, and the best ones do far more than Linktree while costing the same or less. The bad news is that most comparison articles list 15 tools without helping you figure out which one you actually need.
Here’s an honest breakdown of the best options, organized by what you’re actually trying to do.
Quick Verdict
- Want a blog + links page from one tool? Use Cloudpad — it’s the only option that lets you write in Google Docs and publish a blog alongside your links page.
- Want to sell digital products from your bio link? Use Stan Store or Beacons — they’re built for transactions.
- Want maximum design control on a single page? Use Carrd — it’s a full page builder, not just a links tool.
- Want a free upgrade from basic Linktree? Use Cloudpad (free plan) or Beacons (free plan with ads).
How We’re Comparing These Tools
Every link-in-bio tool does the basics: a page with your name, photo, and a list of clickable links. The differences that actually matter are:
- Customization — Can you make it look like your brand, not their template?
- Content beyond links — Blog posts, email collection, product sales, media embeds?
- Custom domain — Can you use yourdomain.com instead of tool.co/yourname?
- Pricing — What do you get for free, and is the paid plan worth it?
- Simplicity — How fast can you set it up and update it?
The Contenders
Linktree
The original. Linktree is still the most recognizable link-in-bio tool, and for basic use cases, it works fine. You get a page with your links, some analytics, and a handful of themes.
Free plan: Unlimited links, basic themes, basic analytics.
Pro plan ($5/month): Custom themes, link scheduling, priority links, email/phone collection, SEO settings.
What it does well: It’s dead simple. Add a link, reorder, publish. If all you need is a list of links, Linktree does it without friction.
Where it falls short: Limited customization on free — your page looks like every other Linktree page. No blogging, no product sales, no real content beyond links. The Pro plan adds useful features, but $5/month for what’s essentially a styled list of links feels steep compared to alternatives that offer more for the same price.
Cloudpad
Cloudpad is unique because it’s a blogging platform first and a links page second. You write blog posts in Google Docs — literally just write in a Google Doc and click publish. The same platform gives you a links page that works as your link-in-bio.
Free plan: Blog + links page on a cloudpad.io subdomain, 3 themes.
Pro plan ($9/month): Custom domain, all themes, priority support.
What it does well: If you’re a creator who writes — newsletters, articles, guides, tutorials — Cloudpad is the only link-in-bio tool that also gives you a full blog, and the writing experience is Google Docs (which you’re already using). The links page and blog live on the same domain, so your link-in-bio isn’t just a list of links — it’s a home for your content.
Where it falls short: It’s not designed for selling digital products directly. If you need checkout and payment processing on your link page, look at Stan Store or Beacons instead. Cloudpad is for creators who want to publish content, not run a storefront.
Best for: Writers, bloggers, newsletter creators, educators, and anyone who wants their link-in-bio to be more than a list of links.
Beacons
Beacons is the most feature-rich option on this list. It tries to be everything — link-in-bio, email collection, digital product store, media kit, and more — all in one platform.
Free plan: Links page with ads, email collection, basic analytics.
Paid plans: Creator ($10/month) and Creator Pro ($25/month) with more themes, no ads, advanced analytics, and a full store.
What it does well: The free plan is genuinely usable, which is rare. You get email signup forms, link analytics, and a decent set of themes without paying. The paid plans add a product store with payment processing, which makes Beacons a legitimate all-in-one platform for creators who sell digital goods.
Where it falls short: The “everything platform” approach means nothing is best-in-class. The store is okay but not as good as Gumroad or Shopify. The email collection works but isn’t as powerful as ConvertKit or Mailchimp. And the page editor can feel overwhelming — there are a lot of options, and the design output doesn’t always look polished.
Best for: Creators who want one platform for everything and don’t mind trading depth for breadth.
Stan Store
Stan Store is built specifically for creators who sell — courses, coaching, digital downloads, bookings. The link-in-bio is the storefront.
Pricing: $29/month (Creator) or $99/month (Creator Pro). No free plan.
What it does well: The buying experience is seamless. A follower clicks your bio link, sees your products, and can purchase without leaving the page. For creators whose primary goal is revenue from digital products, Stan Store removes more friction than any other tool on this list.
Where it falls short: It’s expensive. $29/month is a significant cost for creators who are just starting out or who don’t sell products regularly. There’s no free plan to test with. If you’re not actively selling, Stan Store doesn’t make sense — you’re paying for a storefront you don’t need.
Best for: Coaches, course creators, and consultants who sell digital products and want the highest-converting link-in-bio checkout.
Carrd
Carrd is technically a one-page website builder, not a link-in-bio tool. But a lot of creators use it as one because it gives you complete design control over a single page.
Free plan: 3 sites, basic templates, carrd.co subdomain.
Pro plan ($19/year): Custom domains, forms, widgets, analytics, unlimited sites.
What it does well: Design freedom. Carrd gives you a blank canvas with drag-and-drop sections, custom fonts, colors, backgrounds, and layouts. If you want your link page to look exactly like your brand — not like a template — Carrd is the closest you’ll get without coding.
Where it falls short: It’s a page builder, which means there’s a learning curve. Setting up a Carrd page takes 30-60 minutes, not the 5 minutes a tool like Linktree or Cloudpad requires. There’s no built-in blog, no product store, and no email marketing — you’d need to embed third-party widgets for those.
Best for: Designers, freelancers, and brand-conscious creators who want full visual control.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Linktree | Cloudpad | Beacons | Stan Store | Carrd |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Links page | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Blog / content | No | Yes (Google Docs) | No | No | No |
| Product sales | No | No | Yes | Yes | Via embeds |
| Email collection | Pro only | No | Yes (free) | Yes | Pro only |
| Custom domain | Pro ($5/mo) | Pro ($9/mo) | Paid | Included | Pro ($19/yr) |
| Design customization | Limited | Theme-based | Moderate | Limited | Full control |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes | Yes (with ads) | No | Yes |
| Cheapest paid plan | $5/mo | $9/mo | $10/mo | $29/mo | $19/yr |
| Setup time | 5 min | 5 min | 15 min | 15 min | 30-60 min |
Which One Should You Pick?
Pick Linktree if you literally just need a list of links and don’t want to think about it. It’s the simplest option and the free plan covers basic needs.
Pick Cloudpad if you’re a writer or content creator who wants a blog alongside your link-in-bio — and you want to write in Google Docs instead of learning a new CMS. The fact that you can publish a blog post by writing in a Google Doc and clicking one button is a genuine differentiator.
Pick Beacons if you want the most features for free and you’re okay with ads on the free plan. It’s a solid middle ground between simplicity and capability.
Pick Stan Store if your primary goal is selling digital products. The conversion rates justify the price if you’re making consistent sales.
Pick Carrd if design matters more than anything else to you, and you’re willing to spend time building a custom page.
What About Koji, Milkshake, Later, and Others?
There are dozens of smaller link-in-bio tools. Most of them occupy the same space as Linktree’s free plan — a list of links with basic themes. Unless they do something specific that the tools above don’t, they’re not worth the switching cost. The tools above cover the four main use cases: simple links (Linktree), content + links (Cloudpad), links + commerce (Beacons/Stan Store), and full design control (Carrd).
The Bottom Line
The “best” Linktree alternative depends entirely on what you need beyond a list of links. If the answer is “nothing,” stick with Linktree. If you want to publish content, sell products, or control your design, one of the alternatives above will serve you better — and in most cases, the free plan is enough to get started.
Don’t overthink this. Pick the one that matches your primary use case, set it up this weekend, and move on. Your link-in-bio page is a tool, not a project. The content you create matters more than the page it lives on.