TL;DR
- Fastest setup: Linktree or Campsite (publishable in minutes, plenty of templates).
- Best for talking-head creators who iterate a lot: Beacons (solid analytics; easy to duplicate pages for manual A/B).
- Most brand-customizable: Carrd (sites look unique; supports custom code/pixels on paid plans).
- Best for selling directly from bio: Stan Store (offers, checkout, upsells baked in).
- Best if you already use Shopify: Linkpop (simple bio page; commerce tracks through Shopify).
What actually matters (and how to judge it)
- Speed to first publish
- Can you go from zero → live, on-brand page in under 15 minutes?
- A/B capability
- Native split tests are rare; the practical path is manual A/B: clone pages, rotate links, compare UTMs and conversions.
- Pixel & tracking support
- Look for Meta/TikTok/Google pixels or custom code injection on paid plans. That unlocks ads retargeting and proper funnel measurement.
- Fees & limits
- Monthly plan cost matters, but so do transaction fees if you sell (platform cuts vs. processor-only).
- Extras that add up: link limits, page count, custom domains, team seats.
Quick comparison (practical, creator-focused)
| Tool | Speed to Publish | A/B Testing Reality | Pixels / Custom Code | Commerce Fit | Typical Monthly Cost Tier* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Linktree | Very fast (templates, presets) | Manual A/B via page duplicates & UTMs | Yes on paid plans | Tipping/links; light selling | Free → Mid |
| Beacons | Fast | Manual A/B; strong analytics for comparisons | Yes on paid plans | Decent creator selling options | Free → Mid |
| Campsite | Very fast | Manual A/B; easy cloning | Yes on paid plans | Basic commerce linking | Free → Low |
| Carrd | Fast (more design time) | Manual A/B via cloned pages | Yes on Pro plans (custom code) | You’ll embed or link out | Low |
| Stan Store | Fast (offer-first) | Manual A/B via separate funnels | Yes on paid plans | Strong: digital offers, bookings, upsells | Mid → High |
| Linkpop (Shopify) | Fastest if you’re on Shopify | Manual A/B with duplicate pages & UTMs | Limited on the page; Shopify handles store pixels | Strong for Shopify products | Free → Low |
*“Typical Monthly Cost Tier” is a rough guide: Free, Low ($5–$10), Mid ($12–$29), High ($30+). Exact pricing changes over time.
Best picks by use case
- I need a page live in 10 minutes that looks good: Linktree or Campsite.
- I iterate hooks weekly and want clearer analytics: Beacons (duplicate pages; compare UTMs).
- I care about unique design and deep branding: Carrd (treat it like a micro-site).
- My bio is a storefront: Stan Store (sell PDFs, templates, coaching, bundles).
- I’m already on Shopify: Linkpop (lean on Shopify’s product tracking and checkout).
How to run a 7-day bake-off (no fluff, real answer)
Goal: Pick the tool that gives you the most conversions per 1,000 bio visits without slowing you down.
Setup (Day 0)
- Choose two tools to test.
- Create two near-identical pages (same hero, same top 3 CTAs, same offer).
- Add UTM tags to every outbound link (e.g.,
?utm_source=bio&utm_medium=linktree&utm_campaign=may2025). - Install pixels where the tool allows (Meta, TikTok, Google).
- Set a single success metric (email signup, checkout, booking).
Run (Days 1–7)
- Alternate your bio link daily (Mon/Wed/Fri/Sun Tool A, Tue/Thu/Sat Tool B).
- Post normally. Avoid special promos that could skew the test.
Measure (Day 8)
Track for each tool:
- Bio clicks → primary conversion rate (newsletter, sale, booking).
- Conversions per 1,000 profile visits.
- Time to update (how long it took to make changes during the week).
- Ad set match rate (if retargeting fired properly via pixel).
Decision rule
- If Tool A delivers ≥20% more conversions/1k and isn’t slower to update by more than a few minutes, keep A.
- If results tie, pick the cheaper or the one with cleaner pixel support.
Speed recipes (copyable checklists)
Linktree / Campsite (5–10 minutes)
- Pick a template → switch to 9:16-friendly cover image.
- Add 3 CTA buttons only (above-the-fold declutters clicks).
- Turn on auto-thumbnails for featured links.
- Save a brand style (font, colors) as default.
- Add pixel IDs (paid plans) and publish.
Beacons (10–15 minutes)
- Import branding (logo, colors, fonts).
- Create Page A and Page B (clone).
- Top section = single offer; second section = socials; third = “Start here” guide.
- Append UTMs to all buttons.
- Publish A, schedule B to rotate in for test days.
Carrd (15–25 minutes)
- Start from a single-screen template.
- Add a grid of 3 buttons (primary action first).
- Drop your email form or embed checkout.
- Pro plan: paste pixel scripts in Settings → Code.
- Duplicate the page for manual A/B.
Stan Store (10–20 minutes)
- Create one flagship offer (template bundle, coaching, workshop).
- Add a bump and a one-click upsell.
- Set your bio headline to the exact outcome.
- Enable pixel integrations.
- Clone funnel for A/B headline test.
Linkpop (5–10 minutes)
- Connect Shopify products.
- Keep two primary products only; move the rest below fold.
- Use short, benefit-led titles.
- Duplicate page for headline A/B; compare UTMs in Shopify reports.
Fees & monetization reality check
- Subscriptions: Expect Free → Low/Mid/High tiers. Pixels and custom domains usually unlock on paid tiers.
- Transaction fees: Some tools take a platform cut per sale in addition to payment processor fees; others rely on processor fees only. Read the plan details before committing your storefront to a bio tool.
- Hidden costs: Custom domains, extra pages, and team seats can bump the effective monthly cost.
Rule of thumb: If selling is core to your model, favor tools with clear fee disclosures, pixels, and 1-click upsells. If your bio routes to long-form or email, favor tools with fast editing and clean analytics over deep storefront features.
Design patterns that lift clicks (without slowing you down)
- One hero promise at the top; skip busy carousels.
- Three links max above the fold: Primary CTA, Start Here, Latest.
- Social proof band (logos, quick testimonial) just below fold.
- Sticky footer button for the primary action.
- Consistent UTM scheme across every link so reporting isn’t sludge.
Common pitfalls (and the fix)
- Too many links: Cull to three. Put the rest in a collapsible “More.”
- No pixels: You can’t retarget what you can’t measure. Upgrade if needed.
- Testing different offers on each tool: Keep the same offer when comparing platforms.
- Ignoring mobile load: Compress hero images; avoid heavy embeds above the fold.
Verdict (how to choose in under an hour)
- You want fast, pretty, and simple: start with Linktree or Campsite.
- You want analytics-driven iteration: try Beacons and run the 7-day bake-off.
- You want brand uniqueness + pixels: use Carrd (Pro).
- You want to sell now: Stan Store (offers/upsells) or Linkpop (Shopify stack).
Lock your winner, set up pixels, and keep your page ruthlessly simple. Your bio is not a library; it’s a turnstile.