How to Make a Linktree in 2026 (Plus 7 Better Free Alternatives)

Why You Should Know How to Make a Linktree (And When to Choose an Alternative)

Learning how to make a Linktree is a common first step for creators and businesses looking to organize their online presence. It provides a simple way to share multiple links from a single URL, which is perfect for social media bios on platforms like Instagram and TikTok. For many, it’s the go-to solution for directing followers to different content streams. This guide will walk you through the entire process, ensuring you have a functional page up and running quickly.

However, the link-in-bio landscape of 2026 is more advanced than ever. While understanding the basics of a Linktree setup is valuable, creators now have access to more powerful, feature-rich, and completely free alternatives. These newer platforms offer better analytics, deeper customization, and crucial features like smart deep linking without a subscription fee. We will not only show you how to make a Linktree but also introduce you to superior options that can help you grow faster. Ready to get started? Let’s dive in.

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How to Make a Linktree: A Step-by-Step Tutorial for 2026

Getting started is straightforward. The platform is designed for simplicity, making the initial setup process accessible to everyone, regardless of technical skill. Follow these steps to create your first link-in-bio page.

Step 1: Sign Up for an Account

First, navigate to the Linktree website and click the ‘Sign up free’ button. You will be prompted to choose a username, which will become part of your unique URL (e.g., linktr.ee/yourname). Choose this carefully, as it’s a key part of your brand identity. After that, you will need to enter your email address and create a password. This initial part of learning how to make a Linktree is quick and only takes a minute.

Step 2: Tell Them About Yourself

Next, you will be asked for your name and to select up to three categories that best describe your content or business. This helps the platform tailor its suggestions for you. For example, you might choose ‘Creator’, ‘Music’, or ‘Business’. This information is for their internal use and helps them understand their user base better.

Step 3: Pick a Plan (Free vs. Paid)

You will then see the plan selection screen. Linktree offers a free plan with basic functionality, which is a great starting point. They also have several paid tiers (Starter, Pro, and Premium) that unlock more features like advanced customization, better analytics, and integrations. For this tutorial, we will proceed with the free plan. You can always upgrade later if you feel the need for premium features.

Step 4: Add Your First Links

After choosing your plan, you will land on your admin dashboard. This is the control center for your page. Click the ‘Add link’ button to get started. A modal will appear where you can paste the destination URL and give it a title. The title is the text that will appear on the button on your public page. You can add links to your blog, online store, latest YouTube video, or any other web page. This is the core of the how to make a Linktree process.

Customizing Your Linktree Profile

Once your links are in place, the next step is to customize the appearance of your page to match your brand. A visually appealing page can encourage more clicks and create a more professional impression. Here’s what you can do.

Choosing a Theme and Background

Navigate to the ‘Appearance’ tab in your admin dashboard. Here, you will find a selection of pre-made themes. On the free plan, your options are limited to a handful of basic color schemes and styles. Paid plans unlock a much wider variety of themes, including the ability to use custom colors, gradients, and background images or videos. This is a key area where free alternatives often provide more value.

Uploading a Profile Picture

Your profile picture is a crucial element of your page. It helps your audience recognize you instantly. Under the ‘Appearance’ tab, you can upload an image from your device. Most creators use the same profile picture they use on their other social media platforms for brand consistency. Make sure it’s a clear, high-quality image.

Customizing Fonts and Buttons

With a free Linktree account, your ability to customize fonts and button styles is very restricted. You can typically choose from a few pre-set options that are tied to the theme you select. If you want full control over fonts, button colors, and button shapes, you will need to upgrade to a paid plan. This is an important consideration when you’re deciding if learning how to make a Linktree is enough for your brand’s needs.

Beyond the Basics: Advanced Linktree Features

After you’ve mastered the setup and customization, you might want to explore some of the more advanced features. These can help you integrate your social presence and understand your audience better.

Adding Social Icons

You can add small, clickable icons for your other social media profiles. These typically appear at the bottom of your page. In the ‘Settings’ tab, you can find the ‘Social Icons’ section. Here, you can add links to your Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, YouTube, and other profiles. This is a great way to cross-promote your channels and encourage followers to connect with you on multiple platforms.

Using Analytics to Track Performance

Understanding how your links are performing is key to optimizing your strategy. The free Linktree plan offers very basic analytics, such as the total number of views and clicks your page has received. For more detailed insights, like click-through rates for individual links or location data, you’ll need a paid subscription. This is a significant limitation, as many free alternatives now offer robust analytics at no cost. Knowing how to make a Linktree is one thing, but knowing how to measure its success is another.

The Limitations of a Basic Linktree Setup

While a free Linktree is a functional tool, it comes with several limitations that can hinder a growing creator’s progress. The most noticeable is the prominent Linktree branding at the bottom of your page, which you cannot remove without paying. Customization options are minimal, making it difficult to create a page that truly reflects your unique brand identity.

Furthermore, the analytics are surface-level, providing little actionable insight. Perhaps most critically, it lacks advanced features like smart deep linking. This means when a user clicks a link to your YouTube or Spotify from within the Instagram app, it opens in Instagram’s limited web browser instead of the native app. This prevents them from liking, subscribing, or saving, creating a major barrier to conversion. These limitations are why so many creators who know how to make a Linktree actively seek out better alternatives.

7 Better Free Alternatives for Creators in 2026

The good news is that the market is filled with powerful alternatives that solve these problems. Many offer premium features for free, giving you a more professional and effective link-in-bio tool without the cost. Here are seven of the best options available today.

1. Links.fans (The Best Overall Alternative)

Links.fans stands out as the top choice for creators in 2026. It’s built on a ‘free forever’ model that includes features other platforms put behind a paywall. With Links.fans, you get advanced analytics, extensive customization options, and most importantly, smart deep links that automatically open apps like Spotify and YouTube directly. This simple feature, called Shield Protection, dramatically improves conversion rates. You get all this power without any ‘Links.fans’ branding on your page, making it the clear winner for serious creators.

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2. Beacons

Beacons is another popular tool, particularly among TikTok creators. It offers a user-friendly interface and allows you to build a mini-website with blocks for videos, music, and even a digital storefront. While it has a free tier, some of its more advanced customization and e-commerce features require a paid plan.

3. Carrd

Carrd is a versatile one-page website builder that can be used as a link-in-bio tool. It offers incredible design flexibility, allowing you to create a truly unique page. Its free plan is quite generous but includes Carrd branding. To use a custom domain and access more advanced features, you’ll need to subscribe to one of its affordable paid plans. We have a great guide on Carrd alternatives if you want to explore similar tools.

4. Shorby

Shorby is a premium tool focused on agencies and businesses. It offers features like a ‘SmartPage’ builder with dynamic content feeds and a direct messenger link for WhatsApp or Telegram. It doesn’t have a free plan, making it a more significant investment compared to other options on this list.

5. Campsite.bio

Campsite.bio presents your links in a clean, visually appealing grid. It’s easy to use and offers a decent free plan that includes unlimited links and basic customization. However, features like custom branding, integrations, and detailed analytics are reserved for its Pro plan. For more details, check out our list of Campsite alternatives.

6. PUSH.fm

PUSH.fm is geared towards musicians and podcasters. It allows you to create smart links for music releases that direct fans to their preferred streaming service. While it serves a specific niche very well, it may be less suitable for general-purpose creators compared to more flexible platforms.

7. Lnk.Bio

Lnk.Bio is a straightforward and easy-to-use option. It offers a simple, clean interface and has a free plan with unlimited links. The free version is quite basic, and like many others, it reserves advanced features like custom layouts and detailed analytics for its paid subscribers.

Comparison Table: Linktree vs. Top Alternatives

To make the choice clearer, here’s a quick comparison of the free plans offered by Linktree, Links.fans, and Beacons. This table highlights why understanding how to make a Linktree is just the beginning.

The Final Verdict: Should You Make a Linktree in 2026?

Learning how to make a Linktree is a useful skill and provides a basic solution for managing your links. It’s a well-known name and its free plan is functional for absolute beginners. However, for any creator focused on growth, conversion, and building a professional brand, the limitations of the free plan quickly become a roadblock. The lack of deep linking, minimal analytics, and forced branding are significant disadvantages in today’s competitive environment.

In 2026, free tools like Links.fans have redefined the standard. By offering premium features like smart deep links, comprehensive analytics, and a completely unbranded experience at no cost, they provide a demonstrably better platform for creators. While the process of how to make a Linktree is simple, the process of setting up a superior Links.fans page is just as easy and yields far better results. The choice is clear for those who want to maximize every click.

Don’t settle for basic. Give your audience the best experience and get the data you need to grow. Create your free, professional Links.fans page today.

Frequently Asked Questions About How to Make a Linktree