Best Free Linktree Alternative in 2026: Why Creators Are Switching to eltree
Updated for October 2026: eltree now pays you
Since this guide was first written, eltree has added the things creators asked Linktree for. Every page can take tips and run a free shop for physical products, digital downloads and services, with checkout, delivery addresses and order emails built in.
eltree Pro is now £2.99 a month and adds your own domain (Linktree does not offer custom domains on any plan), a song under your bio, a weekly email report and half the fee on tips and sales. Comparing every option? See our ranked guide to the best link in bio tools in 2026 at eltree.app/link-in-bio/best-link-in-bio-2026.
Why Creators Are Leaving Linktree
Linktree was revolutionary when it launched in 2016. A simple page with all your links — brilliant. But it is 2026, and the internet has moved on. Creators post across 5-10 platforms, and a plain text list of buttons is not enough anymore.
The biggest complaints about Linktree? The free plan is too limited. Custom themes cost $5/month. Analytics cost $5/month. Custom colors cost $5/month. Before you know it, you are paying $24/month for a page of links. That is $288 per year.
What Makes eltree the Best Free Alternative
eltree takes a completely different approach. Instead of a text list, your content appears in a visual 3x3 grid with auto-extracted thumbnails. Paste a YouTube link and the video thumbnail appears. Paste a blog post and the featured image shows up. Your page looks like a curated portfolio.
And the best part? Every page feature is free. Themes, custom colors, custom fonts, emoji reactions, stories, highlights, fan tips, creator directory — all included at no cost. The only paid option, Pro, just lowers the fee on tips.
Features You Get Free on eltree (That Linktree Charges For)
Custom themes: eltree includes 7 premium themes (Midnight, Neon, Cream, Ocean, Minimal, Sunset, Dusk). Linktree charges $5/month for custom themes.
Tips: fans can tip you by card from your page, and you can cash out to a debit card within minutes. eltree takes 10% of each tip; Linktree takes 12% on its free plan.
Custom colors: eltree has a full color picker for primary, background, and text colors. Linktree charges $5/month for custom colors.
Custom fonts: eltree offers 30 Google Fonts. Linktree has limited font options even on paid plans.
Features Only eltree Has
Visual content grid with auto-extracted thumbnails — no other link-in-bio tool does this. Fan tips by card, with instant payouts to your debit card. Emoji reactions on individual content tiles — visitors can react without logging in. Stories and highlights like Instagram — ephemeral and permanent content on your bio page. Creator directory at eltree.app/explore — free discoverability ranked by community reactions.
These are not premium add-ons. They are free for every eltree user from day one.
How to Switch from Linktree to eltree
Switching takes less than 5 minutes. Sign up at eltree.app (no credit card needed), choose your slug (eltree.app/yourname), pick a theme, and paste your links. eltree auto-extracts thumbnails for each one. Then update your Instagram bio, TikTok profile, and Twitter/X bio with your new eltree link. Done.