Why this comparison?

Linktree has become synonymous with "link in bio" — much like Kleenex for tissues. But that dominant position comes with a price: a product that has barely evolved since 2018, daily analytics (vs real-time elsewhere), and a free plan deliberately throttled to push the $9/month upgrade.

LinkForge launched in 2024 with a simple promise: everything Linktree does, better and cheaper. Let's see if the promise holds.

Feature comparison (TL;DR)

Feature	Linktree Free	Linktree Pro ($9/mo)	LinkForge Free	LinkForge Pro (€7/mo)
Unlimited links	❌	✅	❌ (5)	✅ (50)
Real-time analytics	❌	❌	✅	✅
Geolocation data	❌	Limited	✅	✅
AI insights	❌	❌	❌	✅
Custom CSS	❌	❌	❌	✅
Custom domain	❌	✅	❌	✅
Remove branding	❌	✅	❌	✅
Multiple pages	❌	✅	❌	✅ (5)

Pricing

Linktree Free is usable to get started but their branding is everywhere, analytics are nearly non-existent, and any real visual customization is locked.

Linktree Pro at $9/month unlocks the essentials but stays limited on analytics. Linktree Premium at $24/month adds features that LinkForge ships at €7/month on Pro.

Pricing verdict: LinkForge Pro is ~30% cheaper while offering more features.

Analytics

This is where the gap really widens.

Linktree: link clicks, daily aggregation, country-level geolocation only (Premium plan).
LinkForge: real-time tracking, GPS-level geolocation on Pro, AI demographic profiling (age, gender, interests), click heatmaps, conversion funnels, automated A/B tests.

For a creator who wants to understand who clicks what and why, Linktree shows a chart. LinkForge ships a dashboard worthy of Hotjar/Mixpanel.

Design and customization

Linktree has 100+ themes but they all look the same (rounded buttons on solid color). No custom CSS, even on Premium.

LinkForge ships fewer "out of the box" themes but unlocks custom CSS starting at the Pro plan (€7). Practically, you can make your page look exactly like your website, which is impossible on Linktree.

Performance and SEO

Linktree ships heavy JavaScript and has known Core Web Vitals issues. Your pages load in 2-3 seconds on 4G mobile.

LinkForge is built on Next.js 15 with server rendering, automatic image optimization (AVIF/WebP), and edge caching. Pages typically load under 1 second.

For SEO this matters: since 2024, Google has been actively demoting slow pages in mobile ranking.

Use cases: who should choose what?

Choose Linktree if:

You want the most recognized brand and don't need granular analytics.
You're okay paying $9/month for a standard experience.

Choose LinkForge if:

You want a product that ships fast with modern features (AI, A/B testing).
You want to save ~30% on the subscription.
You need real-time analytics and actual visual customization.

FAQ

Can I migrate my Linktree links to LinkForge?

Yes. LinkForge offers a 1-click import from your public Linktree URL: we pull your links, bio, and avatar.

Is LinkForge really free?

Yes, no credit card required. The Free plan lets you publish a full page with 5 links, 3 socials, and basic analytics.

What happens if LinkForge shuts down?

You can export all your data (links, stats, media) as JSON or CSV anytime from your dashboard.

Conclusion

Linktree remains a viable option if you have zero requirements and the brand reassures you. But in 2026, paying $9/month for a product with daily analytics and frozen design is increasingly hard to defend. LinkForge ships the essentials at $0 and the full creator arsenal at €7/month.

Create your free LinkForge page →