Honest comparison · updated July 2026
Beacons vs Linktree — and what neither does well
Linktree is the standard everyone recognizes. Beacons gives you more for free — store, email, AI tools. But if the point of your bio link is getting paid for content, both route you through a page builder first.
No subscription. No monthly fee. 10% only when you sell.
The short answer
For a pure link hub, Linktree wins on simplicity and recognition (free–$24/month). For built-in monetization on a budget, Beacons wins: its free tier includes a store (~9% transaction fee) plus email and AI tools, as of July 2026. But both monetize through a page you must build and maintain. If you want to charge for a specific video, PDF, or guide right now, HushLink is the shorter path: upload it, set a price, share the link — inside your Beacons or Linktree page, or anywhere else. No subscription; 10% only when you sell.
HushLink in under a minute
Sell digital content with a simple link.
How HushLink works
The entire flow. There is no step four.
STEP 1
Upload content
A file, video, image, audio, or written piece. That is the whole product setup.
STEP 2
Set a price
Or a password, if you just want it gated. No store, no theme, no product page builder.
STEP 3
Share the link
One short link, anywhere — bio, DMs, stories. Buyers pay and unlock instantly.
Beacons vs Linktree vs HushLink
| Feature | Beacons / Linktree | HushLink |
|---|---|---|
| Free tier | Both — Beacons is more generous | Everything is free until you sell |
| Paid plans | Linktree $5–$24/mo · Beacons ~$10–$30/mo | None — no subscription exists |
| Sell digital content | Beacons: yes (~9% fee) · Linktree: limited | Yes — 10% per sale, no page needed |
| Email marketing | Beacons: yes · Linktree: limited | No |
| Setup before first sale | Build page → add store → add product | Upload → price → share |
| Password-gated content | No | Yes, free |
| Best at | Being your bio page | Getting one piece of content paid for |
Pricing as of July 2026; check each provider for current plans. Card processing (~2.9% + $0.30) is charged by the payment processor on most platforms, including HushLink.
Pick Beacons / Linktree if…
- Linktree: you want the recognized standard and mostly share free links
- Beacons: you want a free store, email capture and AI tools in your bio
- You enjoy customizing a landing page for your audience
Pick HushLink if…
- You want followers to pay for specific content, not browse a page
- You need checkout live in minutes, straight from a DM or story
- You want zero monthly cost and zero page maintenance
- You already have a bio tool — and just need paid links inside it
Frequently asked questions
Get paid for your content today
Upload → set price → share. Keep 90% of every sale. No subscription, ever.