Linktree vs a Maker Page: When a Link List Is Not Enough

Linktree is the default link-in-bio tool for a reason. It is quick to set up, widely recognised and has a long list of link types and integrations. For many people it is all they need. But if you are a maker, indie hacker or founder, your page has a different job, and a plain list of links can leave out the things visitors most want to know. This post compares Linktree vs a maker page fairly, so you can pick the one that fits.

What Linktree does well

Credit where it is due:

• Recognition. People know what a Linktree link is and are comfortable tapping it.
• Speed. You can have a page with a handful of buttons in a couple of minutes.
• Range of link types. Beyond simple links, it supports embeds, commerce features and many integrations with platforms creators use.
• Plans for different needs. As of 2026 it has a free plan and paid tiers (Starter, Pro and Premium), with prices that vary by region.
• Polish. It is a mature product with a large team behind it.

If you are a creator sending people to your latest video, podcast or shop, it is very good at that.

Where a plain link list falls short for makers

The problem is not quality. It is shape. A link list treats every item as a button with a label. For someone who builds products, that hides a lot.

No sense of status

A visitor sees five buttons. Which products are live? Which are still being built? Which did you sell? Which are dead? With a link list you either delete old projects (losing your track record) or leave them in place (confusing visitors).

No proof

"My SaaS" as a button tells nobody whether it has users. Founders often want to show some traction, and the usual workaround is a screenshot posted somewhere else.

No project context

A short description, tags like "open source" or "Chrome extension" and a logo help visitors pick what to click. A one-line button label does not carry much.

Stats aimed at a different question

Link-in-bio analytics are typically built to answer "which link got clicked?". Makers also want to know which project draws interest over time, which is close, but easier to read when the page is organised by project.

What a maker page adds

A maker page is a link in bio organised around projects instead of links. Typically:

• Projects as cards with name, logo, description, link and tags
• Status on each one: Active, Building, Acquired, On hold, Discontinued
• Revenue, ideally verified from Stripe or Shopify rather than typed in
• A featured card for your main product
• A short bio in Markdown, with location and socials
• Stats per project: clicks, click-through rate, referrers

The result reads more like a portfolio than a menu. For a closer look at what to include, see link in bio for founders.

Side by side

Choose Linktree if

• you are mainly a creator and your links point to content
• you want commerce features or integrations built for creators
• you need lots of link types and embeds
• recognition of the Linktree name matters to your audience

Choose a maker page if

• your links are mostly to products you built
• you want visitors to see which projects are live and which are past
• you want to show verified revenue without posting screenshots
• you want your history, including failures, visible in one place

You can use both

Nothing stops you. Some makers keep a Linktree for content and a maker page for products, and link one from the other. It is one extra click, which is fine if each page has a clear job.

Questions to ask before you pick

If you are still unsure, these questions usually settle it:

1. What do people do after they click? If they mostly watch, read or buy content, a link list fits. If they mostly check out products, a maker page fits.
2. How many of your links are products you built? If it is most of them, organising by project helps.
3. Do you have a history worth showing? Acquired or discontinued projects are part of a maker's story. A link list has no natural place for them.
4. Do you want to show traction? If yes, look for verified revenue instead of a typed number or a screenshot.
5. How much do you want to pay over a few years? Compare yearly totals, not just the monthly headline.

There is no wrong answer. The goal is a page that matches what your visitors are trying to find out.

A note on switching

If you move from any link-in-bio tool, update every profile that points to the old URL: X, Instagram, LinkedIn, GitHub, YouTube, your email signature and any old posts you can edit. A custom domain makes future moves easier, because you only change a DNS record instead of every bio. We cover that in custom domain for your link in bio.

Trying makerhandle

makerhandle is a maker page in the sense above: projects with status and tags, optional verified revenue from Stripe or Shopify, a public leaderboard, built-in stats and themes. It is free for up to five projects, and Pro is $20 a year. For a direct comparison, see makerhandle vs Linktree.