"Link in bio vs Linktree" is one of those searches where the comparison itself is a bit of a trick question. They are not two competing products. Link in bio is the category. Linktree is one brand inside it, the same way Kleenex is one brand of tissue.
That distinction matters more than it sounds, because treating "link in bio" and "Linktree" as the same thing is how people end up paying for the most expensive option in a category with 60-plus tools, many of them cheaper or free. This guide clears up the difference and shows you how to actually choose.
TL;DR
- Link in bio is the category of tools that put one clickable page behind the single link social platforms allow in your bio.
- Linktree is the original and most recognized tool in that category (launched 2016, 50M+ users), but it is one option among many.
- There are 60-plus link-in-bio tools. Linktree is not the only choice, and after its November 2025 price hike (Pro $9 to $15), it is no longer the cheapest.
- Choose by need, not by brand: simplicity, monetization, design control, or free professional features all point to different tools.
- Shelfy is a link-in-bio tool that gives you custom domains, analytics, and no branding free forever, the features Linktree charges for.
What "link in bio" actually means
Instagram allows one clickable link in your bio. TikTok allows one. Most social platforms restrict links in posts entirely. That single-link limit is the whole reason the category exists.
A link in bio tool solves it: you put one URL in your bio, and that URL opens a page listing all the destinations you actually want to share (your shop, your latest video, your newsletter, your other socials). One link in, many links out.
So "link in bio" is not a product. It is a job to be done, and a whole category of tools that do it. Linktree, Beacons, Carrd, Stan Store, Bio Sites, Shelfy, and dozens more are all "link in bio" tools.
Where Linktree fits in the category
Linktree invented the category in 2016 and still defines it for most people. Its position has real advantages:
- Near-universal recognition. Everyone knows what a
linktr.ee/link is. - Polished onboarding. The fastest, simplest first-time setup in the category.
- Broad integrations. Connects to most of the tools creators already use.
It also has real limits, especially on the free plan:
- Linktree branding you cannot remove without paying.
- No custom domain unless you reach the $15/month Pro tier.
- Basic analytics on free, with the useful data gated behind Pro.