Linktree Review 2024: Is It Still Worth Using or Should You Switch?

If you've spent any time on Instagram, TikTok, or other social media platforms in the past few years, you've probably encountered Linktree. That simple landing page with multiple links has become synonymous with the "link in bio" phenomenon. But as we head into 2025, many creators and businesses are questioning whether Linktree is still the best option for managing their online presence.

In this comprehensive review, we'll dive deep into what Linktree actually offers, explore its strengths and weaknesses, and help you decide if it's the right tool for your needs in today's evolving digital landscape.

What Exactly Is Linktree and Why Do People Use It?

Linktree is a digital tool that solves a common social media problem: the single link limitation. Most social platforms only allow you to share one clickable link in your profile bio. For creators, businesses, and influencers who want to direct their audience to multiple destinations—whether that's a YouTube channel, online store, latest blog post, or podcast—this restriction is incredibly frustrating.

Linktree addresses this by providing a simple landing page where you can add unlimited links. When someone clicks your Linktree URL in your bio, they're taken to a mobile-optimized page displaying all your important links in one convenient location. It's essentially a digital hub that centralizes your online presence.

The platform launched in 2016 and quickly became the go-to solution for influencers and content creators. What made it so popular was its simplicity—you could set up a functional Linktree page in under five minutes without any technical knowledge or coding skills.

The Free Version: What You Actually Get

One of the most common questions people ask is whether Linktree is actually free. The answer is yes, but with significant limitations. The free tier provides basic functionality that might be sufficient if you're just starting out or have minimal needs.

With the free version, you can create unlimited links, customize your profile with basic branding options, and access fundamental analytics showing total link clicks and views. You'll also get a QR code for your Linktree page, which can be useful for offline marketing materials.

However, the free version comes with notable restrictions. You're stuck with Linktree branding on your page, limited customization options, and basic analytics that don't provide deep insights into audience behavior. You also can't remove the Linktree logo, schedule links to appear at specific times, or integrate email collection tools.

Premium Plans: Are They Worth the Investment?

Linktree offers several paid tiers, starting with the Starter plan at approximately five dollars monthly, the Pro plan at around nine dollars monthly, and Premium options for larger teams and enterprises. Each tier unlocks additional features and customization capabilities.

The Starter plan removes Linktree branding, adds basic customization options including custom backgrounds and button styles, and provides slightly more detailed analytics. The Pro plan includes priority links that can be pinned to the top, link scheduling, animation effects, advanced analytics with demographic data, and integration capabilities with platforms like Mailchimp and Google Analytics.

Premium and Enterprise plans cater to agencies and larger organizations, offering team collaboration features, multiple users, advanced permissions, and white-label options.

Whether these paid plans are worth it depends entirely on your goals. If you're a serious content creator or business relying on social media traffic for revenue, the enhanced analytics and professional appearance might justify the cost. However, for casual users or those just starting their online journey, the free version may suffice.

The Growing Concerns: Why Some Creators Are Moving Away

Despite its popularity, Linktree has faced increasing criticism from various corners of the creator economy. Understanding these concerns is crucial before committing to the platform long-term.

Lack of True Ownership

When you use Linktree, you don't own your landing page or control the underlying infrastructure. You're essentially renting space on someone else's platform. If Linktree changes its policies, increases prices significantly, or even shuts down, your carefully crafted link hub could disappear or become unusable overnight.

This concern isn't purely theoretical. The digital landscape is littered with platforms that were once essential tools but eventually changed direction or ceased operations, leaving users scrambling for alternatives.

SEO and Branding Limitations

From a search engine optimization perspective, Linktree creates a middleman between your audience and your actual content. Instead of driving traffic directly to your website where you control the experience and can implement SEO strategies, you're funneling people through a third-party page.

Additionally, your Linktree URL includes the Linktree domain name (unless you're on a premium plan with custom domain options). This means you're building brand recognition for Linktree rather than strengthening your own brand identity.

Privacy and Data Considerations

Linktree collects data about your visitors and their behavior. While this provides you with analytics, it also means a third party has access to information about your audience. For creators who prioritize privacy or want complete control over user data, this represents a significant drawback.

Limited Customization and Personality

Even with paid plans, Linktree pages tend to look fairly similar. The customization options, while improved over the years, still constrain your ability to create a truly unique experience that perfectly matches your brand aesthetic. For businesses and creators who've invested heavily in building a distinctive visual identity, this generic appearance can feel like a step backward.

Security Concerns: Is Linktree Actually Safe?

The question "Is Linktree dodgy?" comes up surprisingly often in online discussions. This concern stems from several factors worth examining objectively.

From a technical standpoint, Linktree itself is a legitimate, venture-backed company with millions of users. It's not a scam or malicious platform. However, the nature of how Linktree is used can create security vulnerabilities.

Because Linktree pages are so easy to create and modify, scammers have occasionally used them to create fake pages impersonating legitimate creators or brands. A fraudulent Linktree might look superficially similar to the real thing but contain malicious links designed to phish for personal information or spread malware.

This isn't a flaw in Linktree itself but rather a consequence of its accessibility. The same ease-of-use that makes it attractive to legitimate users also makes it attractive to bad actors. Users need to verify they're clicking on authentic Linktree pages by checking the creator's verified social media account rather than clicking random Linktree links from unknown sources.

Linktree has implemented verification badges for notable accounts and takes down reported fraudulent pages, but vigilance remains important. The platform uses HTTPS encryption for all pages, which provides a baseline level of security for data transmission.

Analytics and Tracking: Who Can See What?

Understanding Linktree's analytics capabilities helps clarify what information is available and who can access it. This is particularly relevant given common questions about visibility and tracking.

As a Linktree account owner, you can see total page views, total link clicks, and which specific links receive the most engagement. Paid plans provide more granular data including geographic location of visitors, referral sources, device types, and time-based trends.

However, Linktree does not show you the identities of individual visitors. You cannot see that "John Smith from Toronto" viewed your page at 3:47 PM. The analytics are aggregated and anonymized, focusing on patterns rather than personal identification.

This same privacy protection extends to social media platforms more broadly. You cannot tell if someone specific is searching for you on Instagram or viewing your profile unless they interact with your content in a trackable way like liking a post or viewing a story.

If you want to track individual link clicks with more precision, you'd need to implement your own tracking parameters using UTM codes or similar tools that work with Google Analytics or other analytics platforms. This requires technical knowledge and typically works better with a custom landing page rather than Linktree.

The Advantages: What Linktree Does Well

Alternatives Worth Considering in 2024

The link-in-bio space has become increasingly competitive, with numerous alternatives offering different features and philosophies. Understanding your options helps you make an informed decision.

Beacons offers similar functionality to Linktree but includes built-in monetization tools like an email marketing platform, media kit creator, and online store capabilities. It's designed specifically for creators who want to turn their audience into income.

Later offers a link-in-bio tool specifically optimized for Instagram marketing, with features designed to showcase visual content and drive e-commerce sales. It integrates seamlessly with Instagram scheduling and analytics tools.

Carrd allows you to build simple, one-page websites with extensive customization options. While it requires slightly more effort to set up than Linktree, it gives you significantly more control over design and functionality.

For those willing to invest more time and money, creating a custom landing page on your own domain using WordPress, Squarespace, or similar platforms provides maximum control, ownership, and branding opportunities. This approach requires technical skills or budget for a designer but eliminates dependency on third-party platforms.

Making the Decision: Is Linktree Right for You?

Determining whether Linktree suits your needs requires honest assessment of your goals, technical abilities, and long-term vision.

Linktree makes sense if you need a quick, simple solution and aren't concerned about owning your landing page infrastructure. It's ideal for beginners who want to consolidate links immediately without learning web development or investing in custom solutions. The free version serves casual users adequately, while content creators generating revenue from social media traffic might find the paid plans worthwhile.

However, if you're building a serious business, prioritize brand control, or want to implement sophisticated marketing strategies, alternatives deserve strong consideration. The lack of ownership and SEO limitations become more significant as your online presence grows and matures.

Consider also your audience's sophistication and expectations. Some professional audiences might perceive Linktree as less polished compared to a custom landing page on your own domain. Meanwhile, social media-savvy audiences are completely comfortable with Linktree and expect to see it used by creators they follow.