Last month I faced a tough choice between Stan Store and Linktree.

Like many creators, I needed a better way to sell digital products and manage my links.

After testing both platforms extensively and helping other creators choose between them, I've learned exactly what each platform does best - and where they fall short.

Stan Store shines at helping creators sell digital products. It's built specifically for people who want to turn their expertise into income through courses, downloads, and coaching.

The platform handles everything from payments to delivery, but it comes with a $29 monthly price tag.

Linktree takes a different approach. It's perfect for creators who need a clean, simple way to share multiple links from one spot.

While it's not built for serious selling, its free plan and simple interface make it ideal for sharing content across platforms.

Let's break down what I've learned about both platforms so you can pick the right one for your needs.

I'll share real examples from creators using each platform, honest takes on their limitations, and specific tips to help you succeed with whichever one you choose.

Stan Store vs. Linktree: Key Differences at a Glance

Stan Store

• 💰 Starting Price: $29/month (Creator Plan)

• 🏆 Best For: Selling digital products (ebooks, courses), memberships, and services.

• ✅ Key Perks:

  • Zero transaction fees (only Stripe/PayPal fees apply).

  • Built-in email marketing and CRM tools.

  • 14-day free trial.

• 🚩 Limitations: No free plan; steeper learning curve.

Linktree

• 💰 Starting Price: Free (paid plans from $9/month).

• 🏆 Best For: Organizing social media links, simple donations, and driving traffic.

• ✅ Key Perks:

  • Instant setup (5-minute bio link fix).

  • Free plan with unlimited links.

  • Social media integrations (TikTok, Spotify).

• 🚩 Limitations: 5% transaction fee on donations/sales.

How to Choose Between Stan Store & Linktree

1. "I need to sell products or courses" → Stan Store.

   • Example: A fitness coach earns $6k/month selling workout guides on Stan Store.

2. "I just want a free bio link hub" → Linktree.

   • Example: A travel blogger uses Linktree to drive 15k+ monthly clicks to her blog and affiliate links.

Pro Tip:

• 72% of creators selling digital products prefer Stan Store for its sales tools.

• Linktree powers over 50 million user profiles, making it the go-to for casual creators (Source).

Still Stuck? Ask Yourself:

• "Do I need payment processing?"

  • YES → Stan Store.

  • NO → Linktree.

• "Is branding control worth $29/month?"

  • YES → Stan Store’s custom domains.

  • NO → Linktree’s free plan.

Getting Started: A Look at Both Platforms

When I first tested these platforms, I noticed something interesting - Stan Store takes about 15 minutes to set up properly, while Linktree can be ready in 5 minutes.

But there's a good reason for this difference. Let me walk you through what it's actually like to use each one.

Stan Store: First Steps

Setting up Stan Store feels like building a mini digital storefront. Here's what I learned from my experience:

The first thing you'll do is connect your social media accounts, especially Instagram and TikTok. I love that Stan Store builds everything around your existing social presence - it means your followers can move easily from your content to your store.

Next comes the fun part: customizing your store.

Stan Store gives you a color picker tool that helps match your brand colors exactly.

There's one trick I discovered: while you're picking colors, keep checking the mobile preview. Some colors that look great on desktop can be hard to read on phones.

The most important part is setting up your first product.

Let me share what works best based on helping other creators:

• Start with just one or two products (you can always add more later)

• Price your first digital product between $27-47 (I've seen this range convert well)

• Use the built-in preview tool to check how your product page looks on different devices

One thing that surprised me: Stan Store limits file sizes to 5GB, but I've found most digital products work best under 500MB anyway - they're easier for customers to download.

Linktree: Quick Setup

Linktree takes a simpler approach. After testing both free and paid accounts, here's what I think stands out the most.

The setup process is refreshingly straightforward. You pick a username, choose from their pre-made themes, and start adding links. I particularly like that you can arrange links by dragging and dropping - it makes organizing content super intuitive.

A tip that's helped my clients: Instead of just dumping in all your links, group them by purpose. Linktree lets you create sections like "Latest Videos," "Featured Products," or "Free Resources."

This organization makes a big difference in how many clicks each link gets.

The free plan gives you enough to get started:

• Basic analytics to see which links get clicked

• Simple customization options

• QR code generation for each link

But there's a catch with the free plan - your page will show Linktree branding. In my experience, this isn't a deal-breaker for most creators starting out, but it's something to consider as you grow.

Time Investment Comparison

Based on setting up both platforms multiple times:

Stan Store:

• Basic setup: 15-20 minutes

• Full store setup with products: 1-2 hours

• Time to first sale: Usually within 24-48 hours if you have an existing audience

Linktree:

• Basic setup: 5-10 minutes

• Complete profile with organized sections: 30 minutes

• Time to get first 100 clicks: Often same day if shared on social media

Making Money: What Each Platform Can Really Do

Let's talk about what matters most - how these platforms help you earn income. I've seen creators use both successfully, but in very different ways.

Here's the real deal on what works (and what doesn't) on each platform.

Stan Store's Money-Making Features

I've helped creators set up dozens of Stan Stores, and digital products is what absolutely work on this platform.

Stan Store just shines here.

One creator I worked with made $8,700 in her first month selling worksheets and templates. The platform handles everything: delivery, payment processing, and even upsells. You can sell:

• Online courses (with video, text, and downloads)

• Digital downloads (PDFs, templates, presets)

• Coaching packages

• Membership subscriptions

The magic happens in how it all works together. When someone buys your product, Stan Store automatically:

• Sends download links or course access

• Adds buyers to your email list

• Tracks everything in your analytics

And here's what you need to know about money matters on Stan Store:

• Zero platform fees (you only pay normal credit card processing fees)

• Connects with Stripe and PayPal

• Offers payment plans for higher-priced items

• Supports multiple currencies

A tip from experience: Start by accepting credit cards through Stripe. It's the smoothest option, and you can always add PayPal later if customers ask for it.

Linktree's Revenue Options

While Linktree isn't built for serious selling, it can still help you make money in clever ways, because the platform excels at directing traffic to:

• Your existing online store

• Course platforms like Teachable or Kajabi

• Membership sites

• Affiliate products

One creator I know uses Linktree brilliantly - she rotates her most profitable links to the top spot and changes them based on what she's promoting that week.

And when it comes to payment features, Linktree does offer some basic payment tools:

• "Support Me" buttons for donations

• Integration with payment apps like PayPal and Venmo

• Basic product showcase options

But here's the truth: If selling is your main goal, these features feel limited compared to Stan Store.

Real Numbers: What to Expect

Let me share some actual results I've seen:

Stan Store:

• New creators typically make their first sale within 2-3 days if they have at least 1,000 social media followers

• Average first-month sales: $500-2,000 (assuming you have an existing audience)

• Top performers: $10,000+ monthly (but these are usually established creators with large followings)

Linktree:

• Click-through rates average 12-15% on well-organized profiles

• Conversion rates to external stores: 2-4%

• Monthly earnings vary widely since Linktree is just the middle-man

Growing Your Business: Advanced Tools and Strategies

After helping creators scale their businesses on both platforms, I've learned which advanced features actually matter. Let's look at what each platform offers when you're ready to grow.

The email marketing tools in Stan Store have honestly surprised me with their power.

I've seen creators transform their businesses using just the built-in email features.

One course creator I worked with used these tools to nurture leads from a free PDF download into a $3,000 course launch.

The platform lets you:

• Send automatic purchase follow-ups

• Create nurture sequences for new subscribers

• Tag customers based on their purchases

• Track who's opening and clicking your emails.

Stan Store's analytics also go deeper than most creators expect.

Beyond basic sales numbers, you'll see exactly where your buyers come from, which products perform best, and even what times people typically make purchases.

I tell all my clients to check their analytics every Monday morning - look for your best-selling products and promote those more heavily on social media that week.

This simple habit has helped several creators double their weekly sales.

You also get the option to use your own domain name instead of stanstore.co/yourname.

While this might seem like a small detail, I've noticed it makes a big difference in how customers perceive your store.

Moving over to Linktree's advanced features, the Pro plan at $9/month offers several tools that make the upgrade worthwhile.

After testing both free and paid plans extensively, I've found the most valuable features are the scheduling options and detailed click analytics.

The platform plays well with other tools too. You can connect it with:

• Google Analytics for deeper visitor insights

• Facebook Pixel for ad tracking

• Mailchimp for growing your email list

• Zapier for automating tasks

Based on a year of using both platforms, I've developed a solid approach for scaling up.

With Stan Store, start with one main product and basic email automation.

Once you're comfortable, expand into product bundles and affiliate programs.

For Linktree, begin with well-organized core links and basic analytics, then gradually add custom branding and advanced tracking as your audience grows.

Common Challenges and Solutions For Stan Store and Linktree

Some challenges pop up regularly when using these platforms. Let's tackle the most frequent issues and their solutions.

Stan Store Solutions

The biggest hurdle new Stan Store users face is optimizing their product pages for sales.

The key is to focus on three main areas:

• Clear pricing

• Compelling product images

• Benefit-focused descriptions

Keep your product catalog focused - stores with 4-6 core offerings typically convert better than those with dozens of options.

Payment processing occasionally causes confusion.

Stan Store works with both Stripe and PayPal, but Stripe tends to provide a smoother experience.

For international sales, using Stripe's automatic currency conversion eliminates the need for multiple payment setups.

File delivery can be tricky with larger digital products.

While Stan Store supports files up to 5GB, breaking larger courses or products into smaller segments improves delivery reliability and student completion rates.

Linktree Solutions

Link organization becomes messy quickly without a clear strategy.

The most effective approach is grouping similar links together and keeping your most important content at the top. Rotate older content down or archive it completely to maintain a clean, focused page.

The free plan's limitations become apparent as you grow.

The platform's branding and basic analytics might hold you back once you reach about 1,000 monthly visitors.

At this point, upgrading to Pro makes sense for the improved tracking and customization options.

Mobile optimization matters more than most realize.

About 80% of Linktree visits come from mobile devices, so test your page regularly on phones to ensure buttons are easily clickable and text remains readable.

Platform-Specific Tips

Stan Store works best when you:

• Keep file sizes under 500MB when possible

• Test your checkout process monthly

• Update product descriptions seasonally

• Monitor analytics for abandoned carts

Linktree performs better when you:

• Update links weekly

• Remove outdated content promptly

• Use clear, action-focused link titles

• Track click-through rates consistently

Making Your Final Choice

The decision between Stan Store and Linktree comes down to your primary goals. Here's a practical breakdown to help you choose.

Pick Stan Store If:

You want to sell digital products. The platform works exceptionally well when you're offering:

• Online courses

• Digital downloads

• Coaching services

• Membership programs

The $29 monthly fee makes sense when you're ready to sell consistently. Most creators need around 100 store visits to make their first sale, so having an existing audience helps justify the investment.

Choose Linktree When:

Your main need is linking to your content across platforms. It's the right choice if you're:

• Managing multiple social media accounts

• Sharing content from different platforms

• Starting out with a limited budget

• Testing different content types

The free plan serves most creators well until they reach significant traffic levels.

Cost Considerations

Stan Store requires more upfront investment but includes:

• Zero transaction fees

• Full e-commerce features

• Email marketing tools

• Advanced analytics

Linktree offers flexible pricing:

• Free: Basic features and analytics

• $6/month: Added customization

• $9/month: Priority support and advanced features

• $24/month: Agency-level tools

Technical Requirements

Stan Store works best with:

• Stable internet for uploading products

• Basic understanding of e-commerce

• Organized digital product files

• Clear product descriptions

Linktree needs minimal technical knowledge:

• Basic link management skills

• Simple content organization

• Regular link updates

• Basic analytics monitoring

Final Thoughts

The choice between Stan Store and Linktree isn't about which platform is better - it's about which one matches your needs.

Stan Store shines as a digital storefront.

At $29 monthly, it's an investment that pays off when you're ready to sell courses, downloads, or services.

The platform handles everything from payments to delivery, making it easier to focus on creating and marketing your products.

Linktree excels at its core purpose: managing links effectively.

Starting with the free plan lets you test the waters, while paid options unlock more features as you grow. Its simplicity makes it perfect for content creators who need a clean, professional way to share their work.

Pick the platform that fits your current needs, not the one with the most features. Your success depends more on how you use these tools than which one you choose.