Links vs Linktree: the honest head-to-head
Linktree is the name everyone knows. But for creators who care about click-through, the differences in speed, deep links, and what you get for free add up fast. Here is the unfiltered comparison.
Feature comparison
An honest look at how Links and Linktree stack up.
Free plan
Smart deep links
Analytics
Page load speed
Shield protection
Email subscribers
Tracked story links
Custom domains
Ecosystem & integrations
| Feature | Links | Linktree |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Unlimited links, full analytics, no watermark | Unlimited links, basic analytics, Linktree logo |
| Smart deep links | Yes, opens the real browser from Instagram | No, opens in the in-app webview |
| Analytics | Full click tracking, free | Basic free, advanced on $9/mo Starter |
| Page load speed | Under 1 second | 2-3 seconds average |
| Shield protection | Built-in, blocks risky crawlers | Not available |
| Email subscribers | Built-in capture, free — own your audience | Email signup on paid plans only |
| Tracked story links | Yes, short links with per-story click tracking | No |
| Custom domains | Coming soon | Yes, on the $24/mo Pro plan |
| Ecosystem & integrations | Focused, growing | Large, very mature |
Links wins for click-through; Linktree wins on maturity
If your goal is to get fans from Instagram to your content without losing them to a slow webview, Links is the better tool: smart deep links, full analytics, free email capture so you own your audience, tracked story links, and a clean no-watermark page, all free. Linktree still leads on breadth, custom domains (which Links is adding soon), and a decade of integrations. For most creators whose link in bio just needs to be fast, clean, and actually open correctly, Links is the upgrade, and it costs nothing.
No credit card required
Common questions
For click-through and conversions, yes. Links opens the real browser from Instagram (so checkouts and pages don't break in the webview), includes full analytics free, and loads in under a second with no watermark. Linktree is more mature and offers custom domains on its paid plans. If you mainly need a fast, reliable, free bio link, Links wins.
Yes. Links gives you unlimited links, smart deep links, shield protection, and full analytics at no cost. Linktree's free plan shows a Linktree logo and limits analytics; you need the $9/month Starter for basic analytics and the $24/month Pro for custom domains.
Yes, in about two minutes. Create a free Links account, copy your URLs over, and update your Instagram bio. You can keep both pages live during the switch to compare click-through before committing.
“I used Linktree for three years. When I switched to Links, my click-through rate doubled in the first week. The webview was killing my conversions and I didn't even know.”
Sarah M.
Fashion blogger, 85K followers
“Switched in two minutes. Faster page, no branding, free.”
Mia P.
Lifestyle creator, 42K followers