How to Switch from Linktree: Complete Migration Guide 2025

Linktree pioneered the link-in-bio space, but in 2025, many creators are discovering they've outgrown it. With 40+ million users, Linktree remains popular—but that doesn't mean it's the best fit for you anymore.

The question isn't whether alternatives exist (they do—many better options). The question is: should YOU switch, and how do you do it without breaking your links?

This guide covers everything: signs you need to switch, which alternative fits your needs, and step-by-step migration instructions.

Quick Answer: Should You Switch?

Switch from Linktree if:

• You're paying $9-24/month but could get features free elsewhere
• You need multiple organized collections (Linktree only offers one page)
• You want custom domains without paying Pro prices
• You're tired of limited free plan restrictions

Stay with Linktree if:

• You're happy with current features and cost
• Brand recognition matters more than features
• You prioritize stability over innovation

Best Alternative: Shelfy – Everything Linktree Pro offers, free forever

Signs You've Outgrown Linktree

1. You're Frustrated by Free Plan Limits

Linktree Free restrictions:

• ❌ Can't customize colors (yes, really)
• ❌ Basic analytics only (click counts)
• ❌ Linktree branding displayed
• ❌ No custom domain
• ❌ Limited link scheduling

If you've thought: "I just want to change the button colors..." you've outgrown Linktree Free.

2. You're Paying for Features That Should Be Free

Linktree charges:

• $5/month to remove branding
• $9/month for custom domains
• $9/month for advanced analytics
• $24/month for team features

Reality check: These are basic features in 2025. Shelfy offers all of them free forever.

Annual cost of Linktree Pro: $108 Annual cost of Shelfy: $0

3. You Need Multiple Collections/Pages

The Problem: Linktree gives you ONE page. Period.

If you have:

• Different content types (podcast, courses, social)
• Multiple brands or projects
• Content you want to organize separately

Linktree forces you to cram everything onto one page—or create multiple accounts.

The Solution: Tools like Shelfy let you create unlimited collections, each with its own URL and organization.

4. Your Links Look Generic

Every Linktree page looks... like a Linktree page. The same layout, similar themes, predictable structure.

Signs your page looks generic:

• Visitors can instantly tell it's Linktree
• Your branding feels diluted
• Page looks identical to competitors

5. You Need API Access or Automation

Building custom integrations? Automating link updates? Connecting to other tools?

Linktree: No API access at any tier Shelfy: 1,000 API requests/hour, free

6. You're Collaborating with a Team

Managing links with multiple people?

Linktree: Team features require Premium ($24/month) Shelfy: Team collaboration included free

What You'll Gain by Switching

Switching to Shelfy (Free Forever)

Immediate Gains:

Annual Savings: $108-288/year

Unique Features You'll Get:

• Multiple organized collections (separate pages for different purposes)
• Community voting (let audience vote on favorites)
• Collection redirects (dynamic URLs that change destination)
• Follow notifications (followers get updates)
• Smart organization (categories, tags, search)

Try Shelfy Free →

Switching to Beacons (Freemium)

Best for: Creators needing email marketing

What You'll Gain:

• Built-in email marketing (500/month free)
• Media kit builder
• AI-powered features
• Digital product sales

Trade-offs:

• Beacons branding on free plan
• 9% transaction fee on sales (free plan)
• Learning curve (more complex)

Switching to Campsite (Paid)

Best for: Visual portfolios

What You'll Gain:

• Pinterest-style grid layouts
• Beautiful visual templates
• Instagram feed integration

Trade-offs:

• Still need Pro ($7/month) for custom domain
• Branding on free plan
• Less feature-rich than Shelfy

What You Might Lose

Brand Recognition

Linktree is the "Kleenex" of link-in-bio tools. Some users/clients recognize and trust it.

Mitigation: This matters less than you think. Most visitors care about YOUR brand, not which tool you use.

Simplicity

Linktree is dead simple. Some alternatives have more features = more decisions.

Mitigation: Shelfy is nearly as simple as Linktree, just with more features unlocked.

Integrations

Linktree has extensive integrations (Mailchimp, Zapier, etc.).

Mitigation:

• Shelfy's API lets you build custom integrations
• Most alternatives have core integrations covered

Analytics History

You'll lose historical data when you switch.

Mitigation:

• Export Linktree data before switching
• Screenshot important analytics
• Most users don't reference old data anyway

Step-by-Step Migration Guide

Phase 1: Preparation (30 minutes)

Step 1: Export Your Linktree Data

1. Log into Linktree
2. Go to Settings > Account
3. Click "Export data" (if available)
4. Download CSV with all your links

If export isn't available: Manually copy each link URL and title into a spreadsheet.

Step 2: Screenshot Your Analytics

Before switching, capture:

• Total clicks (all time)
• Top performing links
• Click-through rates
• Traffic sources

You'll want this baseline for comparison.

Step 3: Document Your Current Setup

Note:

• Current Linktree URL
• Custom domain (if using)
• Any integrations connected
• Current link order and organization

Phase 2: Set Up New Tool (20-60 minutes)

For Shelfy (Recommended)

1. Create account at shelfy.today

   • No credit card required
   • Takes 2 minutes

2. Import your links

   • Add each link manually OR
   • Use the bulk import feature
   • Organize into collections by category

3. Customize appearance

   • Set brand colors
   • Upload profile image
   • Write bio
   • Choose layout

4. Set up custom domain (optional, free)

   • Go to Settings > Custom Domain
   • Add your domain (e.g., links.yourbrand.com)
   • Update DNS records as instructed

5. Configure analytics

   • Enable tracking
   • Connect Google Analytics (optional)
   • Set up any integrations

Time required: 20-30 minutes

For Other Alternatives

General process:

1. Create account
2. Add links manually
3. Customize design
4. Set up domain (if available/paid)
5. Configure analytics

Time required: 30-60 minutes

Phase 3: Testing (15 minutes)

Before going live:

• [ ] Test every link (click each one)
• [ ] Check mobile display
• [ ] Verify custom domain works
• [ ] Test analytics tracking
• [ ] Preview as visitor
• [ ] Check loading speed

Phase 4: Go Live (5 minutes)

Update Your Bio Links

Update in each platform:

• Instagram: Edit profile > Website
• TikTok: Edit profile > Website
• Twitter/X: Edit profile > Website
• YouTube: Channel customization > Links
• LinkedIn: Contact info > Website
• Facebook: About > Website

Pro tip: Update all platforms within the same hour to minimize broken link exposure.

Keep Old Linktree Active (30 days)

Don't delete your Linktree immediately.

Why:

• Some old links may be cached
• Posts/stories with old link still circulating
• Gives buffer for redirect setup

Keep Linktree active for 30 days, then:

• Set up redirect to new page, OR
• Delete account

Phase 5: Monitor (Ongoing)

After switching, monitor for 2 weeks:

• Click-through rates: Compare to Linktree baseline
• User feedback: Any complaints about finding links?
• Broken links: Test periodically
• Analytics accuracy: Ensure tracking works

Custom Domain Migration

If you're using a custom domain with Linktree, migration requires extra steps:

Scenario 1: Moving Domain to New Tool

1. In Linktree: Remove custom domain
2. Wait: 24-48 hours for DNS propagation
3. In new tool: Add custom domain
4. Update DNS: Point to new tool's servers
5. Wait: 24-48 hours for propagation
6. Test: Verify domain works

Downtime: Up to 96 hours total (plan accordingly)

Scenario 2: Using New Domain

1. Keep old: links.yourbrand.com → Linktree
2. Add new: bio.yourbrand.com → Shelfy
3. Test: Ensure new domain works
4. Update bios: Switch to new domain
5. Later: Redirect old domain to new

Downtime: Zero (parallel setup)

DNS Record Examples

For Shelfy custom domain:

Type: CNAME
Name: links (or @ for root)
Value: custom.shelfy.today
TTL: 3600

Common Migration Mistakes

Mistake 1: Deleting Linktree Too Soon

Problem: Old links break, losing traffic

Solution: Keep Linktree active 30+ days. Set up redirect when ready.

Mistake 2: Forgetting to Update All Platforms

Problem: Some bios still point to old link

Solution: Make a checklist of everywhere your link appears:

• All social media profiles
• Email signatures
• Business cards
• Printed materials
• Other websites linking to you

Mistake 3: Not Testing Mobile

Problem: Page looks broken on phones

Solution: 90% of bio link traffic is mobile. Test thoroughly on actual phones, not just browser simulators.

Mistake 4: Losing Analytics Baseline

Problem: Can't compare performance

Solution: Screenshot Linktree analytics before switching. Export any available data.

Mistake 5: Over-Organizing

Problem: Too many collections confuse visitors

Solution: Start simple. You can always add collections later. Don't create 10 collections on day one.

Migration Timeline

Quick Migration (Same Day)

If you're switching to free features without custom domain:

Standard Migration (1-2 Days)

If using custom domain:

Careful Migration (1 Week)

For high-traffic creators:

SEO Considerations

Will Switching Hurt SEO?

Short answer: Minimal impact for most users.

Why it doesn't matter much:

• Link-in-bio pages rarely rank in Google
• Traffic comes from social media, not search
• Your content SEO is separate from bio tool

Custom Domain SEO

If you've built SEO value on a custom domain:

1. Set up 301 redirects from old URLs to new
2. Keep URL structure similar if possible
3. Update any backlinks you control

When SEO Matters

Only worry about SEO if:

• Your bio page actually ranks for keywords
• You have significant backlinks to bio page
• You're using bio page as main website

For 99% of users, SEO is not a factor in switching.

Which Alternative Is Right for You?

Based on why you're leaving Linktree:

"I want everything free forever"

→ Shelfy (no paid tiers exist)

"I need multiple collections/pages"

→ Shelfy (unlimited collections free)

"I want to build an email list"

→ Beacons (500 emails/month free) or Shelfy + Mailchimp

"I need beautiful visual layouts"

→ Campsite (paid) or Shelfy (free)

"I'm selling digital products"

→ Stan Store (paid, but 1.9% fees) or Shelfy + Gumroad

"I need API/automation"

→ Shelfy (1,000 requests/hour free)

"I just want something simpler/cheaper"

→ Shelfy (simple like Linktree, but free)

Frequently Asked Questions

"Will my links break during migration?"

Not if you follow the guide. Keep old tool active, update bios quickly, test everything.

"Can I import my Linktree directly?"

Most tools require manual setup. It takes 15-30 minutes—not a major burden.

"What if I don't like the new tool?"

Switch again. Your links are just URLs. Nothing is permanent. Try Shelfy free with no commitment.

"Will my followers notice the switch?"

They'll notice if your new page looks better and works better. They won't care which tool powers it.

"Should I tell my audience I'm switching?"

Only if it benefits them (e.g., "New link page with easier navigation!"). Otherwise, just switch.

"How long before I can delete Linktree?"

Wait at least 30 days. Then either:

• Delete account entirely, OR
• Downgrade to free and set up redirect

Recommended Migration Path

For Most Users

1. Try Shelfy (free, 10 minutes to test)
2. If you like it: Follow migration guide above
3. If not: Try Beacons or Campsite
4. Keep Linktree active 30 days
5. Monitor results 2 weeks
6. Delete old tool when confident

For High-Traffic Creators

1. Set up Shelfy in parallel (don't touch Linktree yet)
2. Test thoroughly with direct URL
3. Soft launch on one platform (e.g., TikTok only)
4. Monitor metrics 1 week
5. Full launch across all platforms
6. Keep Linktree as backup 60 days

The Bottom Line

Linktree isn't bad—it's just no longer the best option for most users.

If you're:

• Paying for features that are free elsewhere
• Frustrated by limitations
• Wanting better organization or features

...then switching makes sense.

Shelfy is the easiest migration: Everything Linktree Pro offers, free forever, with bonus features like multiple collections and API access.

Migration takes under 2 hours. The annual savings ($108+) and better features are worth the effort.

Ready to switch? Create your free Shelfy account →

Related Reading

Tool Comparisons:

• Best Link in Bio Tools 2025: Complete Comparison — Compare all options
• What's Actually Free: Hidden Costs Exposed — Understand true costs
• Shelfy vs Raindrop.io — Detailed comparison

Niche Guides:

• Link in Bio for Coaches — Book more clients from Instagram
• Link in Bio for Musicians — Promote your music and merch
• Link in Bio for E-commerce — Turn followers into customers
• Instagram Link in Bio Guide — Complete Instagram optimization

Last updated: March 2025. Migration steps verified as of publication date.