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.
| 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 | None free, basic on Starter $6/mo, advanced on Pro $12/mo |
| Page weight | 83 KB of HTML | 285 KB of HTML |
| 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 $30/mo Premium plan |
| Multiple pages from one login | Free. Create pages, invite creators, switch accounts | Agency / Enterprise tier, custom pricing on request |
| 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 stays at 83 KB of HTML 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 has no analytics at all; you need the $6/month Starter for basic analytics, the $12/month Pro for the advanced ones, and the $30/month Premium 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.