Linktree Raised Prices Again — Here's What Freelancers Are Actually Switching To

Linktree raised its prices again in late 2025 — Starter went from $5 to $8/month, Pro from $9 to $15. If you're a freelancer or indie creator paying for a "link in bio" page, that's a meaningful jump for something that's fundamentally a list of links.

I went looking for what freelancers are actually switching to, and it comes down to three real options depending on what you need.

If you just need links (no frills)

Linktree is still fine if you're on the free tier or don't mind the new pricing. It's the most recognized brand, so if your audience already expects the linktr.ee look, switching has a cost too (broken muscle memory, re-sharing links everywhere).

Beacons is the closest like-for-like alternative — same link-list format, competitive pricing, decent free tier. Good if all you want is a drop-in replacement.

If you want something that reads as a real page, not a link list

This is where it gets more interesting. A plain link list looks fine on Instagram but falls apart the moment someone clicks through expecting a portfolio, case studies, or a way to actually contact you.

Tools built for this niche typically bundle:

• A proper one-page layout (not just stacked buttons) with templates
• A digital business card (vCard) so people can save your contact info in one tap — genuinely underrated for in-person networking, conferences, client meetings
• Short links / QR codes for the same profile, useful for print materials or presentations
• Basic visit analytics so you know if anyone's actually looking

I've been building one of these (Nameplate) — free for one page, $5/month if you need more, roughly the pre-hike Linktree pricing. Disclosure since I'm biased: it's mine. I'm not going to pretend it's the only option, but it's representative of this second category (Carrd is the other well-known one here, more design-flexible but with a steeper learning curve for non-designers).

What actually matters when picking one

• Custom domain support — if you're serious about a personal brand, a yourname.com you control beats a linktr.ee/yourname URL you're renting.
• Whether the free tier is usable long-term, not just a trial. A lot of "free" tiers here are 14-day trials in disguise.
• Export / portability — can you get your data out if the company pivots or shuts down? Worth checking before you invest hours customizing anything.
• Actual page load speed — some of these tools ship a lot of JS for what's essentially a static page. Worth a quick Lighthouse check before committing.

If you're just annoyed about the price increase and want a quick swap, Beacons is the least-friction move. If you've been wanting an excuse to build something that actually represents your work instead of a stack of buttons, this is a good time to look at the portfolio-style options.