Does Linktree Allow Custom Domains? (Yes, But There's a Catch)

Yes, Linktree supports custom domains, but only on the Premium plan at $24 per month — not the Pro plan as many assume. That's nearly $290 per year for the feature. Alternatives like Carrd offer custom domains for $9 per year, and Lnk.Bio has a $49.99 lifetime option, making Linktree one of the most expensive choices.

Custom Domains on Linktree — The Full Picture

One of the most requested features for link-in-bio tools is the ability to use a custom domain. Instead of linktr.ee/yourname, you'd have something like links.yourbrand.com or even yourdomain.com. It looks more professional, builds brand equity, and gives you ownership over your URL — so if you ever switch platforms, your links don't break.

Linktree does support custom domains, but there's a significant catch: it's locked behind the Premium plan at $24 per month. That's nearly $290 per year just for the privilege of using your own domain name. Let's break down exactly how it works, what the limitations are, and whether there are better options.

Which Linktree Plan Includes Custom Domains?

Here's where confusion often arises. Linktree has four tiers:

Plan	Price	Custom Domain
Free	$0	No
Starter	$5/mo	No
Pro	$9/mo	No
Premium	$24/mo	Yes

Many people assume custom domains come with the Pro plan — they don't. You need the Premium plan, which costs $24/month billed monthly or around $19/month billed annually. This makes it one of the most expensive link-in-bio tools if a custom domain is your primary requirement.

How to Set Up a Custom Domain on Linktree

If you're on the Premium plan, here's the step-by-step process:

Step 1: Purchase a Domain

You'll need to own a domain through a registrar like Namecheap, Google Domains (now Squarespace Domains), GoDaddy, or Cloudflare Registrar. A .com domain typically costs $10-15 per year. You can use a subdomain (like links.yourbrand.com) or a root domain (yourbrand.com).

Step 2: Configure DNS Records

In your Linktree settings under "Custom Domain," you'll enter your desired domain. Linktree will provide you with DNS records to add at your registrar. Typically, this involves:

• A CNAME record pointing your domain to Linktree's servers (usually something like custom.linktr.ee)
• For root domains, you may need an A record pointing to a specific IP address

Step 3: Verify and Wait for SSL

After adding DNS records, Linktree verifies the configuration. DNS propagation can take anywhere from 15 minutes to 48 hours, though most changes take effect within 1-2 hours. Linktree automatically provisions an SSL certificate so your custom domain works over HTTPS.

Step 4: Test Your Domain

Once verified, visit your custom domain in a browser to confirm it loads your Linktree page. The old linktr.ee/username URL will still work as a redirect, so existing links won't break.

Limitations and Drawbacks

The setup process is straightforward enough, but there are several limitations worth noting:

• Price barrier — $24/month is steep when many competitors offer custom domains for free or on cheaper plans. Over two years, you'll spend nearly $576 on Linktree Premium, a significant portion of which is just for the domain feature.
• No email on domain — Your custom domain is only used for the Linktree page. You can't set up email addresses (like hello@yourdomain.com) through Linktree.
• Lock-in risk — If you downgrade from Premium, your custom domain stops working immediately. Anyone bookmarking or linking to your custom domain URL will hit a dead end. This creates a strong incentive to keep paying even if you want to leave.
• Limited DNS control — Linktree controls the hosting and SSL provisioning. You're essentially pointing your domain at their infrastructure with limited ability to add custom headers, redirects, or advanced configurations.
• One domain per account — You can only connect a single custom domain per Linktree account. If you manage multiple brands, you'll need separate Premium accounts.

Why Custom Domains Matter for Branding

Using a custom domain for your bio link isn't just vanity — it has real business benefits:

• Brand recognition — links.yourbrand.com is instantly recognizable and reinforces your brand every time someone sees or shares the URL.
• Trust signals — A custom domain conveys professionalism. Audiences are more likely to click a branded link than a generic linktr.ee URL, especially in business contexts.
• SEO value — While link-in-bio pages aren't major SEO plays, a custom domain means any backlinks or search traffic accrue to your domain, not Linktree's.
• Platform independence — If you configure your domain as a redirect or use it with a platform that supports domain portability, you can switch tools without losing your URL.

Alternatives with Custom Domain Support

If custom domains are important to you but $24/month feels excessive, several alternatives offer the feature at a lower price point — or even free:

Platform	Custom Domain	Price for Custom Domain
Linktree	Yes	$24/mo (Premium plan)
Biotree	Yes (Pro)	Coming soon — Pro tier
Carrd	Yes	$9/yr (Pro Lite)
Beacons	Yes	$10/mo (Creator Pro)
Stan Store	Yes	$29/mo (Creator plan)
Lnk.Bio	Yes	$24.99/yr (one-time option available)

Carrd stands out as the cheapest option at just $9/year, though it's more of a general single-page website builder than a dedicated link-in-bio tool. Lnk.Bio offers a unique one-time payment option ($49.99 lifetime) that includes custom domains — far cheaper than Linktree over time.

Biotree is building custom domain support into its upcoming Pro tier, designed to be significantly more affordable than Linktree Premium while offering the same professional-grade design that makes its free tier stand out.

The DIY Alternative: Build Your Own

If you're technically inclined, you can build a simple link-in-bio page yourself and host it on your own domain for nearly free. Services like Cloudflare Pages, Netlify, and Vercel offer free hosting for static sites. A basic HTML page with your links, styled with CSS, can be deployed in under an hour.

The downsides: you won't get built-in analytics, it requires some coding knowledge, and you'll need to manually update links. But you'll have complete control over your domain, design, and data — forever.

Should You Pay $24/Month for a Custom Domain?

For most individual creators, paying $24/month primarily for a custom domain is hard to justify. The math simply doesn't work when alternatives offer the same feature for a fraction of the price.

However, if you're already using Linktree extensively and need the other Premium features (advanced integrations, commerce tools, enhanced support), the custom domain is a nice bonus rather than the sole reason to upgrade.

Our recommendation: evaluate what you actually need. If it's primarily a custom domain plus a good-looking bio page, explore cheaper alternatives first. If you need Linktree's full ecosystem, the Premium plan is a reasonable business expense.

Not sure which platform is right for you? Our guide to choosing the best link in bio tool breaks down the key factors to consider.