TL;DR: Linktree charges $9/month for custom domains. The free alternative: redirect your domain to your Linktree URL using Domain-Forward.com (free plan). You get HTTPS, 301 redirects, and it takes 5 minutes to set up.
You bought a domain. You want it to go to your Linktree. Seems simple enough — but when you try to connect it, Linktree tells you to upgrade to Pro at $9/month.
You don’t need to pay $9/month to use your own domain with your link-in-bio page. A domain redirect gets visitors from your custom URL to your Linktree page — for free, with HTTPS. The only difference: visitors see the Linktree URL in their browser bar after the redirect, rather than your domain. For most creators, this doesn’t matter at all.
If you’re sharing yourdomain.com on business cards, social bios, merch, or printed materials, all that matters is that people type it and land on your links page.
Why Linktree Custom Domains Cost Money (And Why You Might Not Need It)
Linktree’s custom domain feature (Pro plan, $9/month) does two things:
- Keeps your domain visible in the browser address bar
- Serves your Linktree page directly from your domain
A redirect does this:
- Visitor types your domain
- They’re instantly forwarded to your Linktree page
- Your Linktree URL shows in the address bar
For link-in-bio use cases — Instagram bios, TikTok bios, podcast descriptions, business cards — this difference is irrelevant. Your audience clicks the link and lands on your link page. They don’t inspect the address bar.
If all you need is for yourdomain.com to take people to your Linktree, a redirect is the free solution. Save $108/year.
The Fix: Redirect Your Domain to Linktree With Domain-Forward.com
Domain-Forward.com gives you:
- Automatic SSL certificates — works over HTTPS immediately
- 301 permanent redirects — fast and clean
- Both www and non-www handled
- Analytics — see how many clicks your domain gets
- Free plan — up to 5 domains, no credit card
Step 1: Get your Linktree URL
Your Linktree URL is:
https://linktr.ee/yournameFind this in your Linktree settings or just check your browser when viewing your page.
Step 2: Create your free account
Sign up at Domain-Forward.com. No credit card required.
Step 3: Add your redirect
Click “Add Redirect” and configure:
- Source domain:
yourdomain.com(add both root andwww) - Destination URL:
https://linktr.ee/yourname - Redirect type: 301 (permanent)
Step 4: Update your DNS records
At your domain registrar, update these DNS records:
| Record Type | Host | Value |
|---|---|---|
| A | @ (root) | 138.68.125.144 |
| CNAME | www | edge.domain-forward.com |
Your email stays working. Only A and CNAME records change — MX records are untouched.
For registrar-specific DNS instructions, see our guides for GoDaddy, Namecheap, Hostinger, Bluehost, and IONOS.
Step 5: Wait for DNS propagation
DNS propagation takes 1-4 hours. Once complete, your SSL certificate is provisioned automatically.
Step 6: Test your redirect
Visit your domain — both http:// and https:// versions should redirect to your Linktree page. Verify with our redirect tester tool.
This Works for Any Link-in-Bio Tool
The exact same process works for:
- Beacons — redirect to
https://beacons.ai/yourname - Stan Store — redirect to
https://stan.store/yourname - Carrd — redirect to your Carrd URL
- Koji — redirect to your Koji page
- Bio.link — redirect to
https://bio.link/yourname - Later (Linkin.bio) — redirect to your Later link page
Just use the relevant URL as your destination. The setup is identical.
Linktree Pro vs. Domain Redirect — Comparison
| Feature | Linktree Pro (Custom Domain) | Domain Redirect (Domain-Forward.com) |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | $9/month ($108/year) | Free |
| HTTPS | Yes | Yes (automatic SSL) |
| Domain in browser bar | Yes | No (shows Linktree URL) |
| Setup time | 10-15 minutes | 5 minutes |
| Analytics | Linktree analytics | Redirect analytics + Linktree analytics |
| Works with any link-in-bio tool | No (Linktree only) | Yes (any URL) |
| Switch tools later | Must reconfigure | Just change destination URL |
The redirect approach has a bonus: if you ever switch from Linktree to Beacons or Stan Store, you just change the destination URL in Domain-Forward.com. Your domain keeps working — no DNS changes needed.
Stop Paying for Something That Should Be Free
Linktree charges $9/month for custom domains because they can. You don’t need to pay it. A domain redirect gives your audience the same experience — they type your domain, they land on your links page.
The fix takes 5 minutes: create your free account, paste your Linktree URL, update two DNS records, and you’re done. Your email keeps working — only web traffic records change, not MX records.