Linktree vs Beacons vs curious.page: Which Link in Bio Is Best?
Linktree vs Beacons vs curious.page: Which Link in Bio Is Best?
You've got one link in your Instagram bio. One shot to send people somewhere useful. So where do you send them?
For years, Linktree was the default answer. Then Beacons came along with more features and a slick creator-focused pitch. And now tools like curious.page are blurring the line between "link in bio" and "personal website" entirely.
If you're trying to decide between Linktree, Beacons, and curious.page in 2026, this honest comparison will help you figure out which one actually fits what you're building.
What Each Tool Does (Quick Overview)
Before we dive into the details, here's a bird's-eye view of what each platform is designed for.
Linktree is the original link in bio tool. It gives you a simple page with a stack of links. It's fast to set up, widely recognized, and straightforward.
Beacons positions itself as an all-in-one creator platform. Beyond links, it offers a built-in store, email collection, media kits, and more — all packed into your link in bio page.
curious.page takes a different approach. Instead of just a link page, it gives you a full personal website — with sections for your bio, links, projects, content, and more — all from one clean, customizable page.
Design and Customization
Let's start with how each tool looks and how much control you get over your page's design.
Linktree
Linktree keeps things minimal. You pick a theme, choose some colors, maybe add an avatar, and you're done. The free plan gives you basic themes, while the paid plans unlock more visual options, custom backgrounds, and button styles.
It looks clean, but it also looks like... Linktree. Most Linktree pages are recognizable at a glance, which can be a downside if you're trying to build a distinct personal brand.
Beacons
Beacons offers more customization than Linktree out of the box. You can rearrange blocks, add different content types (videos, images, stores), and tweak colors and fonts. The layout is more flexible, and the pages generally feel more "designed."
That said, the tradeoff is complexity. With so many block types and options, it's easy to end up with a cluttered page if you're not careful.
curious.page
curious.page gives you a full personal website with structured sections — not just a list of links. You can showcase a bio, social links, projects, blog posts, images, and more in a layout that looks like an actual website rather than a link list.
The design system is cohesive and modern. You get customization without needing to make a hundred micro-decisions. If you care about looking professional and polished, this is where curious.page shines.
Winner: curious.page — for creators who want a personal brand presence, not just a link list.
Features Comparison
Here's where things get interesting. Each tool has a different philosophy about what a "link in bio" should do.
Linktree Features
- Link list with icons and thumbnails
- Basic analytics (clicks per link)
- Email/SMS collection (paid)
- Scheduling links (paid)
- Integrations with Shopify, Mailchimp, and more (paid)
- Custom domains (paid)
- SEO settings (paid)
Linktree does links well. If all you need is a clean page of clickable links, it delivers. But it stays firmly in "link page" territory.
Beacons Features
- Link blocks plus media embeds
- Built-in digital store
- Email marketing tools
- Media kit generator
- Audience analytics
- Request forms and tipping
- Custom domains (paid)
Beacons tries to be your entire creator business stack. The store and email tools are genuinely useful for creators selling digital products. But the "everything in one place" approach can feel overwhelming.
curious.page Features
- Full personal website with multiple sections
- Bio, links, projects, content showcase
- Social media integration
- Clean, responsive design
- Custom domain support
- Fast page loads
- SEO-friendly structure
curious.page focuses on giving you a real web presence. Instead of cramming e-commerce and email marketing into your link page, it gives you a proper website that represents who you are and what you do.
Winner: Depends on your needs. Beacons wins if you want built-in selling tools. curious.page wins if you want a professional web presence. Linktree wins if you just want links and nothing else.
Pricing
Let's talk money — because this matters, especially if you're just starting out.
Linktree Pricing
- Free: Basic themes, unlimited links, basic analytics
- Starter ($5/month): More themes, scheduling, email collection
- Pro ($9/month): Custom domains, advanced analytics, SEO
- Premium ($24/month): Priority support, advanced integrations
Beacons Pricing
- Free: Most features available with Beacons branding
- Creator Pro ($10/month): Remove branding, custom domain, priority support
- Store Pro ($30/month): Advanced store features, 0% transaction fee
- Business ($50/month): Everything plus team features
curious.page Pricing
- Free: Full personal website with all core features
- Pro (affordable monthly plan): Custom domain, advanced features, no branding
curious.page's free tier is notably generous — you get a full website, not a stripped-down link list. For many creators, the free plan is genuinely enough.
Winner: curious.page — the free plan gives you more out of the box than either competitor.
Ease of Use
Nobody wants to spend hours setting up a link in bio page. Here's how the setup experience compares.
Linktree
Dead simple. Sign up, add links, pick a theme, done. You can have a working page in under two minutes. This is Linktree's superpower — zero friction.
Beacons
More setup required because there are more features. The onboarding is solid, but you'll spend time deciding which blocks to add, configuring your store, and tweaking the layout. Budget 15-30 minutes for a polished page.
curious.page
Quick setup that feels more like building a website than configuring a link list. The guided flow helps you add your bio, links, and content sections without feeling overwhelmed. You can have a professional-looking personal website ready in about five minutes.
Winner: Linktree for raw speed. curious.page for best balance of speed and quality.
SEO and Discoverability
Here's something most people don't think about: can people find your page through Google?
Linktree
Linktree pages do get indexed by Google, but they don't rank well for much. The pages are thin on content — they're just links, after all. Paid plans let you add meta titles and descriptions, but there's not much for search engines to work with.
Beacons
Similar to Linktree. Beacons pages have more content (media embeds, store listings), which gives search engines slightly more to index. But it's still fundamentally a link page, not a content-rich website.
curious.page
This is where the "personal website" approach pays off. Because curious.page gives you a real website with structured content — your bio, project descriptions, and more — search engines have meaningful content to index and rank.
When someone Googles your name, a curious.page site is more likely to show up than a Linktree or Beacons page. That's a real advantage for personal branding.
Winner: curious.page — by a significant margin. A real website beats a link list for SEO every time.
Analytics
Understanding who visits your page and what they click matters for growing your audience.
Linktree
Free plan gives you basic lifetime click counts. Paid plans add click-through rates, traffic sources, location data, and time-based analytics. Functional but not deep.
Beacons
Solid analytics included even on the free plan. You get views, clicks, audience demographics, and store analytics. The data is presented clearly and is more actionable than Linktree's free tier.
curious.page
Clean analytics that show you what matters — who's visiting, what they're looking at, and where they're coming from. No data overload, just the insights you need to understand your audience.
Winner: Beacons for depth on the free plan. All three are adequate for most creators.
Who Should Use What?
After comparing all the factors, here's the straightforward recommendation:
Choose Linktree if...
- You literally just need a list of links
- You want the fastest possible setup
- You don't care about standing out visually
- You're already paying for Linktree Pro and it works fine
Choose Beacons if...
- You sell digital products and want a built-in store
- You need email marketing tools in your link page
- You want an all-in-one creator business platform
- You don't mind a busier, more complex page
Choose curious.page if...
- You want a real personal website, not just a link list
- Personal branding matters to you
- You want to be found on Google
- You're a creator, freelancer, developer, or professional who needs a web presence
- You want something that looks polished without hours of setup
- You want the most value on a free plan
The Bigger Picture: Link Page vs. Personal Website
Here's what it really comes down to. Linktree and Beacons are link in bio tools that have been adding features to stay relevant. They started as link lists and they're still fundamentally link lists — just with more bells and whistles.
curious.page started from a different premise: everyone deserves a personal website, and it should be as easy to create as a link in bio page.
That philosophical difference matters. When you share a Linktree, people see a list of links. When you share a curious.page site, people see you — your story, your work, your brand. It's a fundamentally different first impression.
In 2026, attention is everything. The tool you choose for your bio link isn't just a utility — it's the front door to your personal brand. Choose the one that makes the best first impression.
Ready to Level Up Your Link in Bio?
If you've been using a basic link list and feel like it doesn't represent you well enough, give curious.page a try. Build a personal website that actually looks and feels like yours — in minutes, not hours.
Your link in bio deserves to be more than a list. Make it your personal website.