Beacons vs eltree: Different Philosophies
Beacons positions itself as an all-in-one creator platform with email marketing, online stores, media kits, and more. It tries to do everything and charges for most of it. Their free plan includes Beacons branding and limited features.
eltree takes the opposite approach. It does one thing exceptionally well — a content-first link-in-bio page with a visual grid layout, emoji reactions, stories, and analytics. And it does it for free.
Visual Layout: Grid vs List
Both Beacons and eltree offer more than plain text links, but the approach differs. Beacons uses block-based layouts where you arrange different content blocks vertically. It is flexible but can look cluttered.
eltree uses a clean 3x3 content grid that auto-populates from your links. The result is a focused, Instagram-style page that looks polished without any design effort. Visitors immediately see your best content as visual tiles.
For creators who want a simple, beautiful page without spending time arranging blocks, eltree is the faster choice.
Feature Comparison
Custom Themes: eltree offers 6 themes plus full color customization for free. Beacons free includes limited templates with their branding visible.
Analytics: eltree provides free view and reaction tracking. Beacons locks detailed analytics behind paid plans starting at $10/month.
Emoji Reactions: Unique to eltree — visitors can react to individual content tiles without needing an account. Beacons has no equivalent.
Auto-Extract: Paste any URL into eltree and it pulls thumbnails, titles, and platform info automatically. Beacons requires more manual setup for link blocks.
Stories: eltree includes ephemeral stories and permanent highlights. Beacons does not offer a stories feature.
Monetization: Beacons wins here with built-in stores and tip jars, but these features require paid plans. If monetization is your priority, Beacons may be worth the cost. If you want a free, beautiful content page, eltree is the clear choice.
The Verdict
Choose Beacons if you need an all-in-one platform with monetization tools and are willing to pay for premium features. Choose eltree if you want a stunning content grid page with premium features for free.
Most creators just need a great-looking page that showcases their content. eltree delivers that without asking for your credit card. Try it at eltree.app.