Reviewed by the Linklay editorial team · Updated April 2026 · 5 min read
Shorby vs Linklay: Which is better for free plan in 2026?
Quick Answer
Shorby vs Linklay for free plan: Shorby starts at $15/mo with no selling features on sales, while Linklay is free with 0% commerce fees and Pro at $9.99/mo. On free plan, Linklay edge-renders every page and ships AI link reordering, retargeting pixels, and real-time analytics on the free tier.
Pricing verified May 2026. Last updated: May 19, 2026.
Who this guide is for
This guide is for free plan evaluating link-in-bio tools in 2026. If you are looking at choosing between Shorby and Linklay for free plan, this comparison covers the key differences in pricing, features, and tradeoffs so you can decide based on your needs.
How we evaluated these tools
Each tool was evaluated on pricing (monthly fees and transaction fees), free plan limits, customization options, analytics depth, SEO and AI crawlability, integrations, and specific features relevant to free plan. Pricing was verified as of May 2026. Where prices have changed recently, we note the previous price for context.
Shorby vs Linklay for Free Plan in 2026: which is stronger depends on your use case. This comparison covers pricing, features, and the specific tradeoffs between the two platforms so you can choose based on your needs rather than marketing claims.
Linklay's philosophy: the free plan should be complete, not a teaser. That means 0% commission on all sales, no expiring trials, and no artificial feature limits.
Key free features on Linklay that Shorby charges for: video backgrounds, retargeting pixels (Facebook, TikTok, Google), custom themes, email capture, QR codes, music/video embeds, and AI-powered link reordering. The gap between Linklay Free and Shorby Paid is enormous.
When Shorby may be the better choice
Shorby may be the better choice if your audience is primarily on WhatsApp, Messenger, or other messaging platforms and you want contact-first flows.
Free Plan Pricing: Shorby vs Linklay
Shorby charges $15/mo for premium free plan features. Linklay's free plan includes comparable capabilities with 0% commission. Pro at $9.99/month adds branding removal and video backgrounds.
Free Plan Feature Comparison
On free plan, Linklay offers edge-rendered pages (100/100 PageSpeed), AI link reordering, free retargeting pixels, and real-time analytics. Shorby's features require paid plans to unlock fully.
Limitations & Considerations
Shorby has a more mature marketplace of third-party integrations. If your free plan workflow depends on a Shorby-specific integration, verify Linklay supports an alternative.
Built for Speed. Designed for Creators.
Linklay is architected differently from Shorby and other link-in-bio tools. Every Linklay page is edge-rendered via Cloudflare's global CDN, meaning your visitors experience sub-100ms load times regardless of where they are in the world. This isn't a marketing claim — Linklay consistently scores a perfect 100/100 on Google PageSpeed Insights, which directly impacts your search rankings and visitor retention.
For creators, this matters because your audience clicks your bio link from social media where attention spans are measured in milliseconds. A slow-loading page loses visitors before they even see your content. Linklay's video-first architecture lets you embed TikTok, YouTube, Spotify, and other media natively — without the bloated JavaScript bundles that slow down competitors. Your visitors get rich, immersive content that loads instantly.
Unlike platforms that charge escalating monthly fees or take a percentage of your sales, Linklay offers a generous free tier and a straightforward $9.99/mo Pro plan with zero platform fees on any transactions. You keep 100% of your revenue from digital products, tips, and affiliate links.
Feature
Linklay
Shorby
PageSpeed Score
100/100 (Edge-Rendered)
Varies (Client-Side JS)
Pricing
Free + $9.99/mo Pro
Expensive Tiers
Video Embeds
Native & Unlimited (Free)
Limited or Paid
Feature Comparison: Linklay vs Shorby
Verified April 2026
Feature
Linklay
Shorby
Starting Price
Free forever
$15/mo
Transaction Fees
0% commission
no selling features
Unlimited Links
✓ Free
✓ Free
Custom Themes
✓ Free
Paid
Analytics
✓ Free
Paid
Retargeting Pixels
✓ Free
Paid or N/A
Video Backgrounds
✓ Free
Paid or N/A
AI Link Reordering
✓
✗
SEO / Search Indexing
✓ Edge-rendered
✗ Client-side only
Email Capture
✓ Free
Paid
Common questions
Which is cheaper for free plan: Shorby or Linklay?
Linklay is free with 0% transaction fees. Shorby charges $15/mo for premium free plan features.
Which has better free plan?
Linklay offers edge-rendered pages, AI link reordering, and free retargeting pixels. Shorby's free plan features require a paid plan.
Does Linklay have a free plan?
Yes — unlimited links, analytics, custom themes, retargeting pixels, email capture, QR codes, and AI link reordering. Pro is $9.99/mo.