Beacons is a capable creator platform — but that capability comes with a subscription ladder and, on the free plan, a 9% cut of everything you sell. If your link-in-bio page is mostly links, a store, and some analytics, you're paying platform economics for a page you could simply own.
LinkLeaf is the free, open-source alternative. Start on the hosted version at linkleaf.im in 60 seconds, or self-host the MIT-licensed code. No transaction cut, no gated analytics, no branding lock-in.
Why people leave Beacons
- The tiers add up. Beacons paid plans run $10/mo (Creator), $30/mo (Creator Plus), and $90/mo (Creator Max) in 2026.
- The free plan taxes your sales. Beacons' free store carries a 9% transaction fee — you only escape it by paying up.
- Custom domains and 0% fees are a paid unlock. The features that make it "yours" sit behind the Creator tier and up.
- Your analytics live on their platform, not in a database you control.
- Lock-in. Migrating off a creator platform later is friction by design.
How LinkLeaf is different
- Free hosted version — claim a handle at linkleaf.im in ~60 seconds, no credit card.
- Open source (MIT) and self-hostable — Docker-ready if you want to run it yourself.
- Zero transaction fees, always — LinkLeaf doesn't sit between you and your money.
- Drag-to-reorder block editor with a full catalog of block types.
- 6 polished themes plus custom styling.
- Analytics — views, clicks, CTR — in your own database, not a rented dashboard.
- Fast, mobile-first public pages with zero trackers.
- No branding lock-in; your subscriber data is always yours.
LinkLeaf vs Beacons
| Beacons | LinkLeaf | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free (with fees); paid $10–$90/mo | Free hosted, or self-host free |
| Transaction fee | 9% on the free plan | 0% — always |
| Open source | No | Yes (MIT) |
| Self-hostable | No | Yes (Docker-ready) |
| Custom domain | Paid tier | Yes |
| Analytics | Their platform | Your own database |
| Remove branding | Paid tiers | Always |
| Trackers on public page | Yes | Zero |
Keep your audience — and your revenue
There's no reason to hand a platform 9% of your sales or $90/mo for a page of links and a store. Claim your handle free at linkleaf.im, or self-host the open-source code and own the whole thing.
Related:
- LinkLeaf: The Free, Open-Source Linktree Alternative (No Monthly Fee) →
- Self-Hosted Linktree Alternative — LinkLeaf (Open Source, Docker-Ready) →
- See the LinkLeaf product page →
The whole suite works this way
58 pay-once apps that replace subscription SaaS — one price on the sticker, paid once. Browse the suite, or grab the 56-app catalog for $997.