Your link-in-bio is the most important link on social media. It’s where followers go to find your content, buy your products, and join your email list. The tool you choose matters.
Linktree, Stan Store, and Beacons are the three most popular options — but they’re built for very different use cases. Here’s how they compare.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | Linktree | Stan Store | Beacons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | No | Yes |
| Paid price | $5-24/mo | $29/mo | $30/mo (annual) |
| Link page | Excellent | Good | Excellent |
| Digital product sales | Basic | Excellent | Good |
| Email collection | Basic | Built-in | Built-in |
| Course hosting | No | Yes | No |
| Booking/scheduling | No | Yes | No |
| Media kit | No | No | Yes (auto-generated) |
| Analytics | Good | Good | Good |
| Custom domain | Paid only | Yes | Paid only |
| Transaction fee | 0% (paid) | 0% | 9% (free) / 0% (paid) |
Linktree — Best for Simplicity
Linktree essentially invented the link-in-bio category. It does one thing well: give you a clean page of links.
Strengths
- Dead simple — Set up in 5 minutes, no learning curve
- Clean, fast-loading pages — No bloat
- Good integrations — Connect to Shopify, Mailchimp, social platforms
- Trusted brand — Widely recognized by audiences
- Free plan is genuinely usable
Weaknesses
- Limited commerce — You can accept tips and sell basic products, but it’s not a full storefront
- No email sequences — You can collect emails but can’t send automated emails
- No booking — Can’t schedule calls or appointments
- Design customization is limited compared to Beacons
Pricing
| Plan | Price | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | Unlimited links, basic analytics |
| Starter | $5/mo | Custom backgrounds, link scheduling |
| Pro | $9/mo | Analytics, custom domains, integrations |
| Premium | $24/mo | Priority support, advanced analytics |
Best For
Creators who just want a simple, reliable link page. If you’re not selling products or collecting emails, Linktree’s free plan is perfect.
Stan Store — Best for Selling
Stan Store isn’t really a link-in-bio tool — it’s a storefront disguised as one. It combines your link page with a full digital product store, course hosting, and booking system.
Strengths
- Full storefront — Sell digital products, courses, memberships, and 1:1 calls from your link page
- Built-in checkout — No third-party payment processor needed
- Email collection + automation — Collect emails and send automated sequences
- Course hosting — Host and sell courses directly (no Teachable/Kajabi needed)
- Booking integration — Fans can book calls directly from your page
- 0% transaction fee — You keep everything (minus Stripe processing)
Weaknesses
- No free plan — $29/month minimum
- Link page design is less customizable than Beacons or Linktree
- Learning curve — More features = more setup time
- Overkill if you’re not selling anything
Pricing
| Plan | Price | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| Creator | $29/mo | Full storefront, email, funnels |
| Creator Pro | $99/mo | Affiliate programs, advanced analytics, priority support |
Best For
Creators actively selling digital products, courses, coaching, or services. Stan Store replaces your link-in-bio tool + Gumroad + Calendly + basic email tool — making the $29/month a bargain if you use it all.
Beacons — Best Free All-in-One
Beacons is the most feature-packed option, especially on the free plan. It combines a link-in-bio page with a storefront, email collection, and an auto-generated media kit.
Strengths
- Generous free plan — Storefront, email collection, media kit, link page — all free
- Auto-generated media kit — Pulls your follower stats automatically for brand deals
- Beautiful design options — Most customizable link page of the three
- Digital product sales — Sell products directly from your page
- Email marketing — Built-in email sequences (basic, but functional)
- SEO-friendly — Your Beacons page is indexable
Weaknesses
- 9% transaction fee on free plan — Adds up quickly if you’re selling volume
- No course hosting — You’ll still need a separate platform for courses
- No booking/scheduling — Can’t book calls through Beacons
- Some features feel half-baked — Jack of all trades but master of none
Pricing
| Plan | Price | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | Full link page, storefront (9% fee), email, media kit |
| Creator Pro | $30/mo (annual) | 0% fees, custom domain, advanced analytics |
| VIP | $50/mo (annual) | Priority support, advanced email, all features |
Best For
Creators who want the most features without paying. The free plan is incredibly competitive. If you’re selling enough that the 9% fee hurts, upgrade to Pro.
Head-to-Head: Key Scenarios
“I just want a simple link page”
Winner: Linktree Free — Cleanest, fastest setup. Done in 5 minutes.
“I sell digital products”
Winner: Stan Store — Full storefront with 0% fees, built-in checkout, and email automation. Beacons is a strong runner-up if you want to start free.
“I want to land brand deals”
Winner: Beacons — Auto-generated media kit with real follower data pulls. Neither Linktree nor Stan Store offers this.
“I’m on a tight budget”
Winner: Beacons Free — More features than Linktree Free, including a storefront and email collection. The 9% fee only matters if you’re selling.
“I sell courses or coaching”
Winner: Stan Store — Built-in course hosting and booking/scheduling. The others can’t do this.
“I want analytics and conversion tracking”
Winner: Tie (all three) — All offer link click analytics on paid plans. Stan Store has the best sales analytics. Linktree Pro has good engagement data.
The Bottom Line
| Creator Type | Best Choice |
|---|---|
| Keeping it simple | Linktree Free |
| Selling products/courses | Stan Store ($29/mo) |
| Best free all-in-one | Beacons Free |
| Growing + selling (budget) | Beacons Pro ($30/mo) |
| Professional creator selling at volume | Stan Store Creator Pro ($99/mo) |
Linktree if you just need links. Stan Store if you’re selling. Beacons if you want the best free option.
