Every link-in-bio tool says it has a "free plan." Almost none of them tell you what that free plan actually includes — until you've already built your page and hit a paywall on the one feature you needed.
If you're a freelancer working on a tight budget, here's an honest look at what's genuinely free across the popular options, and what's a free trial in disguise.
Why "Free" Rarely Means Free
Most link-in-bio tools follow the same playbook: a generous-sounding free tier that quietly caps out once you need something practical — a custom domain, more than a handful of links, or basic analytics. The free plan exists to get you comfortable before the upsell.
That's not necessarily a bad business model. But it helps to know exactly where each tool draws that line before you invest time building your page there.
Linktree — Free Plan Breakdown
Linktree's free plan covers unlimited links and basic customization, which is genuinely useful for most people starting out.
What's locked behind Pro: custom domains, detailed analytics, and priority support. For a simple personal page this is often enough — but the moment you want your own domain instead of a linktr.ee URL, you're paying.
Beacons — Free Plan Breakdown
Beacons' free tier leans toward creators — you get a link page plus basic tools for media kits and email collection.
What's locked behind Pro: advanced analytics, more storage for digital products, and removing Beacons branding. If you're a freelancer rather than a content creator, a lot of what Beacons offers on paid tiers won't be relevant to you anyway.
Bio.fm — Free Plan Breakdown
Bio.fm keeps things minimal — the free plan is lightweight and does the basics without much friction.
What's locked behind Pro: custom domains and some theme options. It's a reasonable choice if you want something simple and don't need much beyond a clean list of links.
linkduk — Free Plan Breakdown
linkduk's free plan currently includes what would normally be Pro-only elsewhere: WhatsApp-first link placement, a custom domain, and every theme — all without a paid tier gating the essentials.
Where it's still catching up: it's a newer product, so it doesn't have the years of integrations or the brand recognition that Linktree has built. If your priority is trying the most established name first, that's still a reasonable starting point.
So Which "Free" Plan Actually Fits You?
- Want the safest, most recognized free option? Linktree
- Selling digital products as a creator? Beacons
- Want something minimal with no extra features to ignore? Bio.fm
- Want a custom domain and WhatsApp-first design without hitting a paywall? linkduk
The honest answer is that "free" only matters in the context of what you actually need. A free plan that doesn't include the one feature you care about isn't really free for your use case — it's a trial with a specific gate ahead of it.
Want a free plan that doesn't gate the essentials? You can create your free linkduk page in a couple of minutes.
Free plan details change often as these products update their pricing. Check each tool's current pricing page before deciding, since plans can shift after this was written.
Related reading: Best Link in Bio Tools for Freelancers in Pakistan (2026)