Best link-in-bio tools in 2026: craving, Linktree, Beacons, Stan Store and Carrd compared
The best link-in-bio tools compared: craving, Linktree, Beacons, Stan Store and Carrd. Prices, fees, custom domains and who each one is best for.
By the craving team · Updated · 6 min read
Short answer
The best link-in-bio tool depends on what your bio link has to do. craving is best if you want a personal website that chats with Visitors, answers through an AI called Alter and takes Tips, Bookings and Memberships, with a free plan to start. Linktree is best for a simple list of links, Beacons for a creator store with a media kit and email, Stan Store for selling courses and coaching, and Carrd for a cheap one-page site.
- craving includes Alter, a personal AI that chats with visitors and can complete a sale, on every plan including Free.
- Linktree, Beacons and craving have free plans; Stan Store has a free trial instead of a free plan.
- Linktree's help center says it does not support custom domains; craving, Beacons (Creator plan) and Carrd (Pro Standard) do.
- Beacons charges a 9% transaction fee on its Free and Creator plans, Stan Store charges 0%, and craving charges 20% on Free, down to 5% on Pro.
What should the best link-in-bio tool do in 2026?
A link-in-bio tool is a single page you put in your social profiles that sends people to everything else you do. The simplest ones list buttons. Newer ones add a store, bookings or a whole personal website.
We compared five popular link-in-bio tools on the things that change your results: what a visitor can do on the page, how you get paid, what it costs, and whether you can use your own domain. Prices and fees are as listed in November 2026; check each official page before you decide.
How do the best link-in-bio tools compare?
| craving | Linktree | Beacons | Stan Store | Carrd | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | Bio link that chats and earns | Simple list of links | Store, media kit and email | Courses and coaching sales | Cheap one-page site |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes | Yes | Free trial only | Yes (Basic) |
| Paid plans | $9.95 to $99.95 a month | Up to $35 a month | $10 to $100 a month | $29 or $99 a month | $9 to $49 a year |
| Fee on sales | 20% on Free, down to 5% | Changed in 2026; check pricing | 9% on Free and Creator, 0% from Creator Plus | 0% Stan fee | No built-in store |
| Custom domain | On a supported paid plan | Not supported, per its help center | From Creator | Check its plans | From Pro Standard |
| AI that chats with visitors | Yes: Alter, every plan | No | Not in the plans we checked | AutoDM for Instagram | No |
| Paid calls | Bookings, from Go | Through linked tools | Check its plans | Yes | No |
| Memberships | From Go | No | From Creator Plus | Yes | No |
1. craving: best for a bio link that chats, books and gets paid
craving is a personal website with built-in chat and AI. Your craving Home lives at craving.com/@yourname and holds your links, social profiles, photos, videos, files and embedded music, like any link in bio. On top of that, a Visitor can message you, ask your AI a question, book a call, tip you or buy something without leaving your Home.
Alter, your personal AI, answers Visitors when you are unavailable, helps them find the right offer and can complete a sale. It speaks as your Assistant or as your Digital Twin, and you can read every chat and take over at any time. Ways to earn include Tips and Library sales on Free, plus Bookings, Personal Requests and Memberships from Go.
The Free plan has no monthly fee and a 20% platform fee on sales. Paid plans run from $9.95 to $99.95 a month with lower fees, down to 5% on Pro and Team; when Alter itself makes a sale, an extra 15% applies. craving has no course builder or email newsletter tool, so pick another tool if those are central to your business.
2. Linktree: best for a simple list of links
Linktree is a link-in-bio tool that gives you a page at linktr.ee/yourname with buttons to your profiles, shops and content. It is quick to set up and familiar to most audiences.
Linktree has a free plan and paid plans up to Premium at $35 a month, as listed in November 2026. Its seller fees and plan features for digital products changed more than once in 2026, so check its pricing page. Its help center says it does not support custom domains. Read the full craving vs Linktree comparison.
3. Beacons: best for a creator store with a media kit and email
Beacons is a link-in-bio tool with a store, media kit and email tools. It suits creators who want brand deal materials and an email list next to their links.
As listed in November 2026, Beacons Free costs $0 with a 9% transaction fee on sales, Creator costs $10 a month ($100 a year) with the same 9% fee and a custom domain, Creator Plus costs $30 a month with a 0% fee plus memberships and courses, and Creator Max costs $100 a month. Stripe or PayPal processing comes on top. See craving vs Beacons.
4. Stan Store: best for selling courses and coaching from your bio
Stan Store is a creator storefront in your bio for digital products, courses, coaching calls, memberships and communities, with email capture and AutoDM for Instagram. It is built around selling.
As listed in November 2026, the Creator plan costs $29 a month ($300 a year) and Creator Pro costs $99 a month ($948 a year). Stan charges a 0% transaction fee, while Stripe or PayPal fees still apply. There is no free plan, only a free trial. See craving vs Stan Store.
5. Carrd: best for a cheap, simple one-page website
Carrd is a simple one-page website builder. It is a good fit if you want full control of a small static page and are happy to build it yourself.
As listed in November 2026, Carrd has a free Basic plan, Pro Lite at $9 a year (3 sites), Pro Standard at $19 a year (10 sites, custom domains, forms) and Pro Plus at $49 a year (25 sites, payment forms through Stripe Checkout). It has no built-in chat, AI, bookings, memberships or tips. See craving vs Carrd.
How do you choose the best link-in-bio tool for you?
- You only need links: Linktree or the Carrd free plan is enough.
- You sell courses or digital downloads at volume: Stan Store or Beacons Creator Plus fit, since both list courses and 0% platform fees on those plans.
- You want a cheap site on your own domain and will build it yourself: Carrd Pro Standard is hard to beat on price.
- You want people to talk to you, book you and pay you from one link: craving, because chat, Alter and Bookings are built into the Home.
Count the whole stack, not just the bio tool. A free list of links that sends buyers to a scheduler, a membership site and a payment app still costs you those subscriptions and the visitors lost between them. Our guide to an all-in-one creator platform runs through that math.
How do you get started with a craving Home?
- Choose your username and set up your Home on the Free plan, with no card required.
- Add your links, social profiles, photos, videos and contact details.
- Tell Alter about you and your offers, and choose Assistant or Digital Twin.
- Connect Stripe and turn on Tips, then add Bookings or Memberships when you are ready.
- Put your Home in every bio and Build your Home.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best free link-in-bio tool?
craving, Linktree, Beacons and Carrd all have free plans. The craving Free plan stands out because it includes chat, the Alter AI, Tips and Library sales with no monthly fee.
Which link-in-bio tool supports a custom domain?
craving supports a custom domain on a supported paid plan, Beacons from its Creator plan and Carrd from Pro Standard. Linktree's help center says Linktree does not support custom domains.
Which link-in-bio tool has no transaction fee?
Stan Store charges a 0% transaction fee, and Beacons charges 0% from Creator Plus, as listed in November 2026; payment processing still applies. craving charges a platform fee that drops from 20% on Free to 5% on Pro and Team.
Which link in bio lets visitors book a paid call?
craving includes Bookings for paid phone or video calls from the Go plan, and Stan Store includes coaching calls. Linktree and Carrd rely on linked tools for paid calls.
Is there a link-in-bio tool with AI that answers visitors?
Yes. craving includes Alter, a personal AI that chats with visitors on your Home, answers questions about your offers and can complete a sale, on every plan including Free.
Sources
Facts about other products were checked on their official pages in November 2026. Prices and features change, so confirm on their sites before you decide.