Linktree vs ConvertKit is a comparison between a link page and an email platform. ConvertKit (now called Kit) is an email-first operating system for creators that happens to include a Linktree-style link page. Linktree is a link page that includes only light email capture. They overlap in one small spot and diverge everywhere else.
The deciding question is not "which link-in-bio tool" but "do you need to build and email a list, or just share links?" This breaks down what each is actually for, Kit's generous free email plan, and why many creators run both.
TL;DR
- Kit (ConvertKit) is an email marketing platform: list building, automations, sequences, and selling digital products, plus a built-in link page as a bonus.
- Linktree is a link-in-bio hub with basic email capture but no real email sending or automation.
- Kit's free plan is generous for email: up to 10,000 subscribers with unlimited sends, plus a basic link page.
- The real decision: email-first business (Kit) versus a polished link page (Linktree or a free tool).
- They are complementary. For a free, polished link page that feeds your Kit newsletter, Shelfy works well.
Quick comparison
| Kit (ConvertKit) | Linktree | |
|---|---|---|
| Core job | Email marketing | Link-in-bio page |
| Link page | Yes (basic, bonus feature) | Yes (the whole product) |
| Email sending | Yes (full platform) | No (capture only) |
| Automations | Yes | No |
| Free plan | 10,000 subscribers, unlimited sends | Unlimited links, branded |
| Paid pricing | $33 to $79/mo | $8 to $35/mo |
| QR codes | No | Yes |
| Best for | Email-first creators | Sharing links |
What Kit actually is
Kit is an email platform first and foremost. Its feature set is built around owning and emailing an audience:
- Email marketing. Unlimited sends, landing pages, and signup forms.
- Automations and sequences. Build automated customer journeys, welcome series, and drip campaigns. Linktree has nothing like this.
- A link page (Link Pages). A Linktree-style single page showing affiliate links, latest posts, and a newsletter signup in one clean URL, plus a creator profile mini-site.
- Built-in commerce. Sell digital products (ebooks, templates, courses) directly, with zero transaction fees on paid plans.
The link page is a convenience on top of an email platform, not the main event.
What Linktree is
Linktree is the opposite in focus:
- A dedicated link page. Its whole product is the bio link, with more design control over links than Kit's page.
- Light email capture only. It can collect emails on paid tiers, but it does not send them. You still need an email tool for that.
- QR codes and broad recognition. Things Kit does not prioritize.
So Linktree gives you a better link page but no email engine. Kit gives you a full email engine with a serviceable link page.
Kit's free plan is the real hook
Here is the Information Gain that reframes the comparison. Kit's free plan is unusually generous, but for email, not for the link page: up to 10,000 subscribers with unlimited sends, plus unlimited landing pages and forms, and a basic link page.
That changes the calculation for a specific creator:
- If you want to build and email a list and also need a basic link page, Kit's free plan gives you both at once, and the email side alone is worth more than most link tools.
- If you only want a polished link page and do not care about email, Kit is overkill and its link page is more basic than a dedicated tool. Linktree or a free link tool fits better.
The free email allowance is why so many creators start on Kit. The link page is a bonus they get along the way.
They are complementary, not rivals
Most serious creators end up using both kinds of tool: an email platform to own and nurture their audience, and a link-in-bio page to route social traffic. The link page sends followers to the newsletter signup; the email platform turns those signups into a relationship.
So "Linktree vs ConvertKit" is often not a real choice. You pick an email tool (Kit is a strong one) and a link page (Linktree, or a free alternative), and you wire them together. The only standalone question is which link page, and whether to pay for it. Our link in bio for newsletter operators guide covers that pairing.
The free link page that feeds your newsletter
Since the link page is the part you choose freely, and its main job here is to drive newsletter signups, a free, polished link page is the efficient pick.
Shelfy is that free link page:
| Feature | Kit | Linktree | Shelfy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full email platform | Yes | No | No |
| Polished link page | Basic | Yes | Yes |
| Custom domain | Paid tiers | $15/mo | Free |
| Advanced analytics | Email-focused | $15/mo | Free |
| Multiple pages | No | No | Free |
| Price | $0 to $79/mo | $0 to $35/mo | $0 |
Be clear on the trade: Shelfy is not an email platform. It does not send emails or run automations, so it does not replace Kit for your newsletter. What it gives you is a free, custom-domain link page that points followers straight to your Kit signup form and the rest of your links. See Shelfy vs Linktree, Beacons vs Linktree for a tool with built-in email, and the best Linktree alternatives.
Build a free link page that grows your list →
Which should you choose?
- You want to build and email a list: Kit. Its email platform is the point, and the free plan is generous.
- You want a polished link page only: Linktree or a free link tool. Kit's page is too basic to be the reason you sign up.
- You want email and a link page: use both, Kit for email and a dedicated link page for your bio.
- Email plus a built-in store and link page in one tool: look at Beacons, which bundles them differently.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is ConvertKit (Kit) better than Linktree?
They do different jobs. Kit is an email platform with a bonus link page; Linktree is a dedicated link page with only light email capture. If you want to build and email a list, Kit is far more capable. If you only want a polished bio link, Linktree or a free link tool is the better fit.
Does Kit (ConvertKit) have a link in bio page?
Yes. Kit includes Link Pages, a Linktree-style single page with affiliate links, latest posts, and a newsletter signup, plus a creator profile mini-site. It is a convenience feature on top of the email platform, more basic than a dedicated link-in-bio tool.
Is Kit's free plan good?
For email, yes, it is generous: up to 10,000 subscribers with unlimited sends, landing pages, and forms, plus a basic link page. The limits (Kit branding on emails, one user, basic analytics, no A/B testing) are on the email side, not the link page.
Should I use Linktree or ConvertKit?
Use Kit if your priority is building and emailing an audience; its free email plan alone justifies it. Use Linktree or a free link tool if you only need a bio link. Many creators use both: Kit for email and a link page that drives newsletter signups.
Is there a free link page to use with Kit?
Yes. A free tool like Shelfy gives you a polished link page with a custom domain at no cost that points followers to your Kit signup form. It is not an email platform, so it complements Kit rather than replacing it.
Related Reading
- Link in Bio for Newsletter Operators
- Shelfy vs Linktree
- Beacons vs Linktree
- The Best Linktree Alternatives (2026)
- Free Link in Bio Tools: What's Actually Free
- How Much Does Linktree Cost?
Last updated: June 2026. Kit (formerly ConvertKit): free for up to 10,000 subscribers, Creator $33/mo and Pro $66/mo billed annually, with a built-in link page. Linktree pricing reflects the November 2025 increase ($8 to $35/mo).