Free Linktree Alternatives That Don't Paywall Your Features (2026)

1 The paywall problem

You sign up for Linktree. It takes about five minutes to set up. Your page looks decent. You share it. Then you think, "I want to remove that Linktree logo at the bottom." That will be $9/month, please.

OK, fine. You also want to see which links people are actually clicking. Not just total views, but real data. That is also behind the paywall. Want to change the font? Paywall. Want to collect emails? Paywall. Want priority support? You guessed it.

Look, I am not saying Linktree is bad. It is the default for a reason. It is simple, it works, and basically everyone knows what it is. But the free tier is basically a demo. You get a handful of themes, Linktree branding stamped on your page, and analytics that tell you almost nothing useful.

The moment you need something real, you are reaching for your credit card. And for creators who are just starting out, $9/month adds up fast when you are also paying for editing software, maybe a domain, a scheduling tool, and whatever else keeps the lights on.

The thing is, Linktree's freemium model means you are always one feature away from an upgrade prompt. That is by design. They want you on a paid plan. And if you can afford it and you like the product, great. But a lot of creators cannot, and they should not have to settle for a stripped-down page because of it.

2 What you actually need (for free)

Before I get into the alternatives, let me be honest about what most creators actually need from a link-in-bio tool. It is not 50 integrations. It is not a Zapier connection on day one. It is not AI-powered anything.

You need a clean page with your links. Some way to see who is clicking what. The ability to add products or a booking link if you sell stuff. Email collection so you own your audience. And ideally, something that does not look like every other page on the internet.

Here is what I would consider non-negotiable for a free link-in-bio tool:

• Custom colours and branding - no platform logo on YOUR page
• Click analytics - at minimum, which links get clicked and how often
• Mobile-friendly - obviously, since most of your traffic comes from phones
• Fast loading - your visitors will not wait around for a slow page
• More than just links - products, forms, booking, something beyond a list of URLs

That is the baseline. If a "free" tool cannot give you at least that, it is not really free. It is a trial.

3 The free alternatives worth trying

I tested a bunch of these. Some are genuinely good. Some are "free" with asterisks. Here is what I found, and I will be honest about all of them, including my own.

MinglyLink

Full disclosure: I built this. So take what I say with that context. But here is why I built it in the first place.

MinglyLink is 100% free. Not "free tier" free. Every single feature is included from the moment you sign up. Built-in shop with cart and checkout. Booking system. Email collection. Analytics. Custom colours, fonts, the works.

Here is the part that is different from everything else on this list: you actually earn money. We run brand offers on your page and you keep 60% of the ad revenue. No minimum followers. No application process. You sign up, you set up your page, and you start earning.

The trade-off? We are newer. We do not have the brand recognition of Linktree yet. You will not find us in every "top tools" listicle (yet). But every feature is free, and you get paid instead of paying. If you want the full breakdown, I wrote a head-to-head comparison with Linktree.

Beacons

Beacons has a decent free tier. You get a bio page, basic analytics, and their creator store. They also have email marketing built in, which is a nice touch if you want everything in one place.

The catch is they take a 9% cut on your sales on the free plan. That adds up quickly if you are selling anything with volume. And they upsell pretty aggressively to their paid plans. Every time you try to do something slightly advanced, there is a prompt nudging you to upgrade. Good tool overall, but go in knowing you will see a lot of "upgrade to Pro" buttons.

Lnk.bio

Simple and cheap. The free tier gives you unlimited links and basic customisation. If you literally just need a page with links and nothing else, Lnk.bio does the job.

Their paid plan is only $4.99/month, which is fair. But the analytics are basic, there are no monetisation features, and the design options feel a bit dated compared to newer tools. Good for the "I just need links" crowd. Not great if you want to do anything beyond that.

Koji

Koji is interesting. Instead of traditional links, it focuses on mini-apps and interactive content. Think polls, games, tip jars, and custom widgets. It is free and genuinely creative.

The downside is that if you just want a clean link page, Koji feels like overkill. It is better suited for gaming creators or anyone who wants something more experimental. Less useful if you want a straightforward "here are my links" page.

Carrd

Technically a website builder, not a link-in-bio tool. But a lot of creators use it as one. The free tier is very limited: 3 sites, no forms, no custom domains.

Pro is $19/year, which is actually one of the best deals out there. But there is no monetisation, no analytics beyond what you add yourself with third-party scripts, and you need to know at least a little HTML to get the most out of it. Good if you want full design control. Not great if you want something quick and easy.

Taplink

Taplink has a free tier and it is decent for basic use. It is popular in some regions, especially Russia and Eastern Europe. You get a bio page with links, basic customisation, and a few extras like messaging app buttons.

The interface feels a bit dated compared to newer tools. Paid plans start around $3/month, which is reasonable. But the free version is limited enough that you will probably want to upgrade eventually. It works, it is just not exciting.

4 Where MinglyLink fits

So where does MinglyLink sit in all of this? Honestly, it is the best option if you want everything free with no catches AND you want to earn from your page. That is the positioning, and I will explain why.

The built-in shop means you can sell products without paying for Shopify ($39/month). The booking system means you do not need Calendly ($10/month). The gift offers from brands are something no other link-in-bio platform has. You are not just saving money on the tool itself. You are saving money on three or four other subscriptions you would need otherwise.

You get a ming.ly short domain included. Your page is SEO-optimised so it can actually rank in Google. Check our pricing page if you want to see how this compares to paid alternatives. Spoiler: it is free.

I will be upfront about the downsides too. MinglyLink is built by a small team (me). You will not get the massive template library that Linktree has. We do not have a mobile app yet. And because we are newer, there are fewer tutorials and community resources out there.

But you get features that Linktree charges $24/month for, completely free. And you earn money on top of that. For most creators, especially those just starting out, that trade-off makes sense.

5 Which tool for which creator

I know that was a lot of information. So here is the quick version. Pick the tool that matches your situation:

If you want the full breakdown of every tool with scores and detailed comparisons, check out our best link-in-bio tools for 2026 roundup.

❓ Common questions