Websites and hosting decision
Linktree
The useful core is a fast static page, analytics, and a tiny editor. The hosted product mainly buys convenience, templates, and managed uptime.
Visit website↗Subscription$9/month ✓ verified
Initial build1.5 hours
Monthly upkeep0.25 hours + $0
EvidenceAn open-source build exists
Open-source builds that already do this
Every project below is open source and already does this job today. Fork one, self-host it, or take the parts you need — the build prompt further down assumes an empty file, and this is the shortcut past that. Licences differ; check the one on each card before you ship.
What a replacement has to do
- Responsive profile page
- Link ordering and visibility
- Basic click analytics
- Custom colors and type
What it still won’t have
- Template marketplace
- Built-in commerce integrations
- Managed deliverability and support
What remains hard
- Template quality
- Managed hosting
- Commerce integrations
First-year cost
Keep paying
Paying is—cheaper in year one.
On cash alone, building overtakes the subscription at 1 seat.
Paid seatsseats
Money you would actually spend
Time you would spend
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What you would spend
What we assumed
The verdict above measures whether you could build it. This one is only about money.
Runnable build prompt
Build a personal link-in-bio site called My Links. Use Astro, TypeScript, and plain CSS. No UI framework. Store profile and link data in one validated JSON file. Render a responsive public page with avatar, bio, social links, and ordered link buttons. Add an optional featured link with an image and description. Track privacy-friendly click counts in localStorage for the local demo. Include a high-contrast theme and reduced-motion support. Generate Open Graph metadata and a social sharing image. Keep the page below 100 KB before images and target a Lighthouse score above 95. Do not add accounts, payments, a database, or third-party analytics. Include a README with editing and deployment instructions.
