Beacons vs Linktree: The Best Link-in-Bio Tool for Digital Creators
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TL;DR (Quick Summary)
If you are building a faceless digital business and plan to sell digital products, offer freebies, grow an email list, or earn affiliate income, Beacons offers more built-in functionality and long-term scalability than Linktree.
Linktree works well for simple link sharing. Beacons functions as a centralized creator business platform, which can reduce tool-stacking and ongoing setup as your business grows.
Why This Comparison Matters (Especially for Faceless Creators)
Many online tools are built with high-visibility creators in mind. Those who rely on video content, personal branding, and frequent real-time engagement.
For faceless and privacy-focused creators, priorities tend to be different:
- Clear information without personal exposure
- Systems that work without constant interaction
- Fewer tools to manage and maintain
- Simple monetization paths that do not require complex funnels
In this context, a link-in-bio tool is not just a list of links. It often becomes the primary entry point to your business. Taking the time up front to decide what features you’ll need for your link-in-bio can save you time and stress down the road.
What a Link-in-Bio Tool Actually Does for a Digital Business
For many creators, the link-in-bio page functions as:
- A landing page for free resources
- A storefront for digital products
- A hub for affiliate recommendations
- A gateway to an email list
Because it is often the first page a visitor sees, the structure and capabilities of this tool can directly influence:
- Whether visitors understand your offer
- How many steps it takes to take action (join your email list, purchase a product)
- How easily your traffic can be monetized
- Whether you need to rebuild systems later
Beacons vs Linktree: High-Level Overview
Both tools allow you to place one link in your social media bio that leads to multiple destinations. The difference lies in how much of your business they support on their platform.
Linktree: Link Collection First
Linktree is designed primarily to redirect visitors to other platforms. This could include affiliate offers, your Amazon shop, LTK page or something similar.
It is best suited for creators who:
- Only need to share external links
- Are not yet selling products
- Want the fastest possible setup
As monetization needs grow, creators typically add separate tools for email marketing, checkout, and analytics.
Beacons: Creator Business Setup
Beacons combines several core creator tools into one system, including:
- Native digital product sales
- Email capture
- Affiliate link organization
- Analytics tied to links and products
- Tools for managing brand deals
This allows creators to manage more of their workflow in a single dashboard rather than across multiple platforms. This can save you a lot of time if you’re planning to use these features down the road. One of the great things about Beacons is that all of these features are available on their free plan.
Beacons vs Linktree: Feature Comparison Table
| Feature | Linktree | Beacons |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Function | Link redirection | Creator business hub |
| Digital Product Sales | External tools required | Built-in checkout |
| Affiliate Links | Supported (basic list) | Supported with sections & descriptions |
| Email Capture | Limited / integrations needed | Built-in opt-in blocks & email sequences |
| Discounts & Bundles | No native support | Supported |
| Customization | Minimal | Brand-friendly templates |
| Analytics | Basic click tracking | Click + product performance data |
| Scalability | Best for early stage | Designed for growth |
Detailed Feature Breakdown
1. Setup and Ongoing Management
Linktree
- Extremely fast to set up
- Few configuration options
- Often requires additional tools as needs expand
Beacons
- Slightly more setup options, still beginner-friendly
- Features can be added gradually
- Reduces reliance on multiple external platforms
From a workflow perspective, fewer tools generally means fewer updates, logins, and integrations to maintain. Having fewer tools can also make it easier and less stressful to manage your business as you continue to scale.
2. Monetization Capabilities
This is where you’ll see the most significant functional differences between the two.
Linktree
- Redirects users to third-party checkout tools
- Selling requires additional platforms
- Monetization is spread across multiple services
Beacons
- Native digital product sales
- Supports discount codes and simple bundles
- Allows upsells
- Optional third-party checkout integrations
For creators selling guides, templates, or starter courses, Beacons reduces the number of tools required to accept payments. It can also help increase how much you earn per customer bu offering upsells at checkout.
3. Affiliate Marketing Structure
If you’re looking to add affiliate offers to your link-in-bio there isn’t a huge difference between the two, but you can offer a bit more context to your audience with Beacons.
Linktree
- Affiliate links supported
- Presented as a simple list
Beacons
- Links can be grouped and labelled
- Descriptions provide context
- Featured sections guide visitor attention
This structure supports recommendation-based marketing rather than volume-based promotion. In this case, if all you’re offering are affiliate links, you have a few related products you’re promoting, and you have a strong social media presence, Linktree is likely all you need. If you’re looking to offer more than that, I’d highly recommend Beacons.
4. Email List Growth
Many beginners delay email marketing because it feels overwhelming to set up, they don’t know where to start, or they think it’s not necessary because they don’t have customers yet. However, an email list is a powerful asset that allows you to stay in touch with your audience. Think of it this way: if your social media account(s) get hacked or banned tomorrow, how would you contact your followers? This happens all the time because you don’t “own” your social media profile, and the platforms you’re using can revoke your access at any time if they so choose. You do, however, own your email list, which makes it one of the most valuable assets you can have.
So, with that in mind, here is how Linktree and Beacons compare in terms of managing your email list.
Linktree
- Limited native email capture
- Commonly redirects to external opt-in pages
Beacons
- Built-in email opt-ins
- Simple lead magnet delivery
- No requirement to immediately run frequent campaigns
You can make either one of these platforms work for you; however, Beacons makes it easier for the customer to sign up right on your page, which can improve your conversion.
5. Customization and Branding
Linktree
- Minimal customization
- Pages often look similar across users
Beacons
- Clean templates with branding options
- Professional appearance without heavy design work
If you’re looking to let your content do all of the talking and just want a simple place to share links on your profile, Linktree can be good enough. If you want to be able to offer more insights into the products or create a more unique landing page to better represent your personal brand, then Beacons is probably the better choice for you.
6. Analytics and Decision-Making
Analytics are important because they can help show you what is working and what isn’t, so you can adjust your strategy accordingly.
Linktree
- Basic click data
Beacons
- Link clicks plus product performance insights
- Clear visibility into which offers perform best
Having access to this data reduces reliance on guesswork when refining your offers. If you’re already making sales and know what works for you, then analytics from your link-in-bio might not be as important to you. If you’re just starting out, however, they can really help to point you in the right direction.
A Simple Beginner Setup (Pinterest-Friendly)
If you are starting with Beacons, this phased approach keeps things manageable:
Step 1: Choose One Focus
One free resource or one entry-level product. This will help drive traffic to your page and encourage customers to sign up for your email list.
Step 2: Build a Clear Page
- Short introduction
- One primary call to action
- Optional secondary links
Step 3: Add Monetization Gradually
- Affiliate links you personally use
- One beginner digital product
Step 4: Maintain, Don’t Overbuild
Let the system work in the background while you focus on content creation.
Common Beginner Questions and Concerns
“I don’t have much to link to yet.”
You only need one clear next step. One freebie, one product, or even just your email list signup form to get started.
“What if my business changes?”
You can easily remove sections and replace them with new offers, or temporarily hide offers and highlight new ones if you’re trying out something new. With Beacon, you can add multiple pages so you can expand your business or offer something new on an additional page instead of changing your entire landing page.
“I don’t want to sell aggressively.”
Creating a simple landing page with clear information and structured offers can help replace high-pressure tactics. You simply have the offers there, and the customer can choose what’s best for them without pressure.
Which Tool Is the Better Long-Term Choice?
Linktree is effective for basic redirection.
If your goals include:
- Digital product sales
- Affiliate income
- Email list growth
- Operating without constant personal visibility
Beacons provides a more scalable foundation with fewer external dependencies, meaning you can manage most of your business with just this one tool.
Still Feeling Overwhelmed About Getting Started?
I have a free guide to help you get started with digital marketing that you can download here
If you’re really looking to dive deep into the ins and outs of digital marketing, I highly recommend taking the Digital Wealth Academy Course.
At the end of the day, tools alone do not create results; systems do.
Inside Digital Wealth Academy, creators learn:
- How to choose tools based on business stage
- How to structure faceless funnels
- How to connect and build trust with their audience
- How to automate your business to gain back time.
With DWA, your link-in-bio tool becomes one integrated part of a larger strategy.
Final Takeaway
Building a digital business does not require constant visibility or complex tech stacks.
Choosing platforms that consolidate essential functions—link hosting, monetization, email capture, and analytics—can reduce setup time and ongoing maintenance while supporting long-term growth.
For faceless and privacy-focused creators, that distinction matters.
Let me know in the comments which tool you decided to go with and why?
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