Bio.site (Bio Sites by Squarespace) and Linktree both put a link page behind your social bio, but they come from opposite directions. Bio Sites is a free, well-designed funnel into the Squarespace ecosystem. Linktree is the standalone category original that charges for its best features. Which one fits depends less on the page itself and more on where you want to end up.
This compares them honestly: where Bio Sites genuinely wins (it is free and polished), where it quietly nudges you toward Squarespace, and the monetization limit that catches sellers off guard.
TL;DR
- Bio Sites by Squarespace is fully free: unlimited links, polished templates, and basic monetization, no subscription required to start.
- Linktree is the recognized standard, with more granular design controls but most useful features gated behind $8 to $35/month tiers.
- Bio Sites' catch: it is built to pull you into the Squarespace ecosystem, and its monetization is limited to one digital product block and one appointment block.
- Linktree's catch: the free plan brands your page, charges a 12% commerce fee, and locks custom domains behind the $15/month Pro tier.
- If you want free and polished without an ecosystem pull, Shelfy gives unlimited links, custom domains, and analytics free, with no account in a bigger platform required.
Quick comparison
| Feature | Bio Sites (Squarespace) | Linktree |
|---|---|---|
| Price to start | Free | Free (with branding) |
| Unlimited links | Yes | Yes |
| Templates | 14 templates, 21 themes | No templates, 26 themes |
| Design control | Simpler, polished | More granular settings |
| Commerce fee | 8% flat | 12% free / 9% / 0% Premium |
| Digital products | 1 product block | Unlimited |
| Custom domain | Via Squarespace | $15/mo (Pro) |
| Ecosystem | Pulls toward Squarespace | Standalone |
| Best for | Squarespace users, design | Brand recognition, simplicity |
Where Bio Sites genuinely wins
Credit where due: Bio Sites is one of the strongest free link-in-bio tools, and it beats Linktree's free plan on real points.
- It is actually free. Unlimited links, customization, and basic monetization with no subscription. Linktree's free plan gates analytics, branding removal, and custom domains.
- Better free design. Bio Sites ships 14 templates and 21 themes that look professional out of the box. Linktree has 26 themes but no templates, so you start from a blank-ish page.
- Lower flat commerce fee. Bio Sites takes 8% on transactions. Linktree's free plan takes 12%, dropping to 0% only on the $35/month Premium tier.
- Backed by Squarespace. A large, stable company behind the tool.
If your priority is a free, good-looking page and you do not need deep features, Bio Sites is a legitimately strong pick.
Where Linktree still wins
Linktree did not become the default by accident:
- Brand recognition. Everyone knows a
linktr.ee/link. For some audiences that familiarity matters. - More design granularity. Linktree exposes finer controls: button style, rounding, shadow, animation, text size. Bio Sites keeps design simpler.
- Unlimited products. Linktree lets you add unlimited product and service blocks. Bio Sites caps you at one digital product block and one appointment block, which is the limit sellers hit first.
- Standalone. Linktree does not try to pull you into a larger platform. What you sign up for is what you get.
The Squarespace catch
Here is the Information Gain that the surface comparisons skip: Bio Sites is free because it is a funnel.
Squarespace offers Bio Sites at no cost because it is the top of a wider journey. The tool is designed to introduce you to Squarespace, and its limits (one product block, one appointment block, design kept simple) nudge you toward upgrading into a full Squarespace site or plan once you outgrow it. Squarespace plans start around $16/month billed annually.
That is not a criticism so much as a model. If you are already a Squarespace customer, Bio Sites is a free bonus that fits your stack perfectly. If you are not, you are adopting a tool whose growth path leads into a subscription you may not want. The free page is real; the gravity toward the ecosystem is also real.
Custom domains, clarified
You may see comparisons claiming Linktree has no custom domains. That is outdated. As of 2026:
- Linktree supports custom domains on its Pro plan ($15/month).
- Bio Sites supports custom domains through Squarespace (a domain runs roughly $14 to $16/year, and the feature lives inside the Squarespace ecosystem).
So both can do custom domains, but both attach a cost or an ecosystem to it. Neither gives you a custom domain free and standalone.
The third option: free and polished, no ecosystem
The honest tension in "Bio.site vs Linktree" is that Bio Sites is free but pulls you toward Squarespace, while Linktree is standalone but charges for its good features. The option that sidesteps both is a tool that is free, polished, standalone, and includes a custom domain.
Shelfy is built that way:
| Feature | Bio Sites | Linktree | Shelfy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free to use | Yes | Yes (branded) | Yes |
| Custom domain | Via Squarespace | $15/mo (Pro) | Free |
| Unlimited links | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Multiple pages | No | No | Yes |
| Ecosystem lock-in | Squarespace | None | None |
| Advanced analytics | Basic | $15/mo (Pro) | Free |
You get the free, good-looking page Bio Sites offers, plus the custom domain and analytics that usually cost money, without signing into a larger platform. See Shelfy vs Linktree, free link in bio tools, and the best Linktree alternatives.
Try a free, standalone link page on Shelfy →
Which should you choose?
- Already on Squarespace: Bio Sites. It is free and fits your stack.
- Want maximum brand recognition: Linktree, accepting the paid tiers for its best features.
- Want a free, polished page without joining an ecosystem: a standalone free tool with custom domains.
- Sell more than one digital product: avoid Bio Sites' one-product-block limit; use Linktree (unlimited products) or a dedicated commerce tool.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bio.site better than Linktree?
It depends. Bio Sites by Squarespace is genuinely free with polished templates and a lower 8% commerce fee, beating Linktree's free plan on design and cost. Linktree wins on brand recognition, finer design controls, and unlimited product blocks. Bio Sites also pulls you toward the Squarespace ecosystem.
Is Bio Sites really free?
Yes, Bio Sites is free to use with unlimited links and basic monetization. The catch is that it is designed as an entry point to Squarespace, with limits (one digital product block, simpler design) that encourage upgrading into a paid Squarespace plan over time.
Does Bio Sites or Linktree have a custom domain?
Both. Linktree offers custom domains on its $15/month Pro plan. Bio Sites supports custom domains through Squarespace. Claims that Linktree has no custom domain are outdated. Neither offers a free standalone custom domain the way some alternatives do.
What is the commerce fee on Bio Sites vs Linktree?
Bio Sites charges a flat 8% on transactions. Linktree charges 12% on the free plan, 9% on Starter and Pro, and 0% on the $35/month Premium tier. For low-volume sellers, Bio Sites' flat 8% is simpler and often cheaper.
Can I sell products on Bio Sites?
Yes, but with limits. Bio Sites allows one digital product block and one appointment block. Linktree allows unlimited products and services. If you sell more than one digital product, Bio Sites' cap is the first thing you will hit.
Related Reading
- Shelfy vs Linktree
- Free Link in Bio Tools: What's Actually Free
- The Best Linktree Alternatives (2026)
- Linktree vs Carrd
- The Best Link in Bio Tool (2026)
- Link in Bio vs Linktree
Last updated: June 2026. Bio Sites: free, 8% commerce fee, one product block, custom domain via Squarespace. Linktree: free with 12% fee, paid tiers $8 to $35/mo, custom domain on Pro. Squarespace plans start around $16/month annually.