Introduction
Linktree is the default link-in-bio tool for a reason: 70M+ users, a free tier that actually works, and a UI simple enough that your least technical friend can set one up in five minutes. But the pricing has quietly climbed a ladder over the years — from a single paid tier to four, with the top plan now running $24/month.
If you're deciding between the free plan and one of the paid tiers, this is the guide. We'll walk through what each tier gets you, the costs Linktree doesn't advertise upfront, and where competitors like Dub and Bitly undercut them.
Pricing Tiers Table
| Plan | Price | Best For | Key Unlocks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0/mo | New creators, casual use | Unlimited links, basic analytics, QR code |
| Starter | $5/mo | Creators who want to remove branding | Custom branding, email capture, link scheduling |
| Pro | $9/mo | Active creators and small businesses | Advanced analytics, social scheduling, IG auto-reply, AI captions |
| Premium | $24/mo | Sellers running a real storefront | Custom domain, Linktree Shop, digital products, CRM |
What Each Tier Gets You
Free — $0/mo
The free tier is generous by 2026 standards. You get unlimited links, basic click analytics, a QR code, and a linktr.ee/yourname subdomain. For most creators just publishing an Instagram bio link, this is enough. The catch: Linktree branding stays on your page, and you can't use a custom domain.
Starter — $5/mo
The cheapest paid tier is mostly a cosmetics upgrade. You can remove the Linktree logo, add custom branding, capture emails, and schedule when links go live. Worth it if the branding bothers you or you're building an email list from your bio.
Pro — $9/mo
This is where Linktree becomes a real toolkit rather than a link page. You get advanced analytics (referrers, geography, click paths), social post scheduling, Instagram auto-reply triggered by keywords in comments, an AI caption generator, and contact forms. The auto-reply is the standout — for creators using Instagram as a funnel, replying to "link" comments with a DM automatically is genuinely useful.
Premium — $24/mo
Premium is aimed at creators actually selling. You get a custom domain (finally), the Linktree Shop for digital products and courses, and a lightweight audience CRM. If you're using Linktree as your primary storefront, the price is defensible. If you already have Shopify, Gumroad, or Stan, most of Premium is redundant.
Hidden Costs
- Custom domain requires the top tier. Every competitor in the space offers custom domains starting at $5-9/mo. Locking it behind the $24 plan is aggressive.
- Payment processing fees. Linktree Shop takes a cut on transactions in addition to your monthly fee. Check current rates before assuming Premium is all-inclusive.
- Annual billing framing. The prices above are month-to-month equivalents; the marketed prices assume annual prepay. Monthly billing runs ~20% higher.
- Analytics limits on lower tiers. The "basic analytics" on Free and Starter show aggregate clicks but not referrers or click paths — you need Pro for anything actionable.
- No CSV export on lower tiers. Getting your click data out for external analysis effectively requires Pro or above.
How It Compares to Competitors
Linktree is priced as a bundled creator suite, not a pure link tool. That's the frame to compare it in.
- Dub — Built for marketers and developers, not creators. Free tier includes custom domains, which Linktree charges $24 for. If you care about link analytics, UTM management, and API access, Dub wins on price and depth.
- Bitly — Enterprise link shortener with a link-in-bio feature bolted on. Better if you're already tracking a large volume of short links; overkill for a creator with one bio page.
- Rebrandly — Custom-domain focused, cheaper than Linktree Premium if custom domain is your only requirement.
- Short.io — Cheap and technical. Best for developers who want a link tool that gets out of the way.
The pattern: if you want the polished bio page and social features, Linktree is fine. If you care about link analytics, custom domains, or per-link tracking depth, dedicated tools cost less and do more.
Which Plan Should You Pick
Stay on Free if…
You're using this as an Instagram bio link, you don't mind the Linktree branding, and you don't need a custom domain. Free covers 80% of creators indefinitely.
Pick Starter ($5) if…
The branding is a dealbreaker or you're actively collecting emails from your bio page. Otherwise skip it — it's a narrow slice of value.
Pick Pro ($9) if…
You're actively growing on Instagram and want auto-reply DMs, or you need analytics that tell you where clicks come from. This is the tier that pays for itself if you use the features.
Pick Premium ($24) if…
You're selling digital products through your bio and don't already have Shopify/Gumroad/Stan. If you do have those, stay on Pro and keep sales on your existing storefront.
Skip Linktree entirely if…
You're a marketer, not a creator. Grab Dub for real link analytics and custom domains at a lower price.
Verdict
Linktree's pricing in 2026 is honest but not aggressive on value. The free tier is genuinely useful and the $9 Pro plan is where the product earns its keep — Instagram auto-reply alone justifies it for active creators. Premium at $24 is only worth it if you're using Linktree Shop as your actual storefront.
The weakest part of the pricing structure is locking custom domains behind the top tier. Competitors like Dub include them for free. If custom domain is the only reason you're eyeing Premium, switch tools instead of paying $24/mo.
Bottom line: Free for most, Pro for creators who work Instagram, Premium only for sellers. Don't pay for Starter — it's a checkbox tier.