Stan Store vs. Linktree: Converting TikTok Traffic into Course Sales

If I had to decide under time pressure, I would choose Stan Store for any scenario where I’m selling my own digital products directly, and default to Linktree’s free plan only if I’m aggregating links to content I host elsewhere.

Why Your “Link in Bio” Strategy Needs a Revenue Focus

Most creators lose money by treating their bio link as a menu instead of a funnel. When someone clicks from TikTok, they’re already interested—but if they land on a page with twelve links and no clear next step, they leave. The difference between a link aggregator and a digital storefront isn’t cosmetic; it’s structural. One shows options, the other closes sales.

Stan Store functions as a dedicated digital storefront for creators to sell products directly, with integrated email marketing and analytics to track conversion performance. Linktree, by contrast, creates a single customizable landing page with multiple links but does not natively support direct digital product hosting or sales. If your goal is monetization rather than traffic distribution, this distinction determines whether you’re building a business or just organizing links.

⛔ Dealbreaker: Skip link-in-bio tools entirely if you need advanced course drip scheduling, membership tiers, or community forums—you’ll need a dedicated LMS like Teachable or Kajabi instead.

Beyond the Bio Link: What These Platforms Truly Solve

Both platforms function as essential “link in bio” solutions for driving traffic from social media, but they solve different problems. Stan Store targets creators, coaches, and entrepreneurs focused on monetizing their content and expertise. It allows you to build a mini-website or funnel directly from your link in bio, host and sell online courses and digital downloads, and create lead magnets to collect email addresses. Linktree serves individuals, artists, and brands needing a simple hub for their diverse online presence—it facilitates linking directly to external e-commerce stores, streaming platforms, and social media profiles.

The trade-off: Stan Store requires you to actively manage product offerings and sales funnels (more control, more work). Linktree removes that burden but pushes the transaction to another platform (less friction to set up, more friction for buyers to complete a purchase).

• Stan Store includes payment processing, email capture, and booking—everything happens on one page
• Linktree offers various link types including music, video, and contact forms to engage visitors, but checkout happens elsewhere
• Choosing a platform without direct sales capabilities for monetization goals can lead to inefficient conversions

Stan Store: Ideal for Direct Digital Sales & Course Creators

Stan Store is built for creators who want to sell without redirecting buyers through multiple steps. You can host online courses, digital downloads, and booking services in one place. The platform provides analytics to track sales, traffic sources, and conversion performance, plus integrated email marketing to follow up with leads. It’s not a website builder—it’s a checkout page that happens to look like a storefront.

The downstream cost: You’re locked into Stan’s ecosystem. If you later want to migrate to Shopify or WordPress, you’ll need to rebuild your product catalog and redirect all your links. You’re also paying $29/month minimum, which matters if you’re pre-revenue.

⛔ Dealbreaker: Skip Stan Store if you need to sell physical products with inventory management or if you already have a Gumroad or Shopify store you’re happy with—adding Stan creates redundancy, not efficiency.

Linktree: Best for Simple Traffic Direction & Brand Hubs

Linktree allows users to create a single, customizable landing page with multiple links. It offers basic analytics to monitor link clicks and overall page views, and users can customize their page with themes, background images, and brand colors. It’s the default choice for musicians, podcasters, and influencers who need to point audiences toward content hosted on other platforms (Spotify, YouTube, Patreon).

Linktree is primarily a link aggregator and does not natively support direct digital product hosting or sales. If you’re selling a $97 course, a Linktree visitor clicks your link, lands on another checkout page, and has to trust a second domain. That’s two decision points instead of one—and every extra click costs you conversions.

⛔ Dealbreaker: Skip Linktree if your primary goal is selling digital products directly—you’ll spend more time managing external integrations than you save by avoiding a $29/month tool.

Stan Store vs. Linktree: When to Choose Each for Monetization

The decision comes down to whether you’re selling your own products or directing traffic to platforms that handle sales for you. If you’re a course creator, coach, or consultant who wants to own the transaction, Stan Store removes friction. If you’re aggregating links to a podcast, YouTube channel, and affiliate offers, Linktree does the job without monthly fees.

💡 Rapid Verdict: Best for solo creators selling courses or coaching, but SKIP THIS if you need a free option or already use Gumroad/Shopify for sales.

Bottom line: Default to Stan Store if the majority of your revenue comes from products you create and sell yourself; use Linktree if you’re monetizing through platforms that already have checkout (Patreon, Amazon, Spotify).

Navigating the Trade-offs: Key Risks and Limitations

Stan Store’s biggest risk is vendor lock-in. You’re building your storefront inside someone else’s platform, and if Stan raises prices or shuts down, you’re migrating under pressure. The tool also assumes you’re comfortable managing your own marketing—it won’t drive traffic for you. Linktree’s limitation is simpler: it’s not built for transactions. You can link to a Gumroad product or a Calendly booking, but every external redirect increases drop-off.

Both platforms require you to drive your own traffic. Neither will help you grow an audience—they only convert the audience you already have. If your TikTok isn’t generating consistent views, the problem isn’t your link-in-bio tool.

• Stan Store works best when you have at least one validated product and a clear funnel
• Linktree works best when you’re testing offers or don’t yet know what you’re selling
• Neither replaces email marketing, a real website, or a content strategy

How I’d Use It

Scenario: a one-person content creator managing everything alone
This is how I’d tackle this workflow.

I would start with Linktree’s free plan while testing content ideas and validating demand. Once I had a product (a mini-course, a template pack, a coaching offer), I’d switch to Stan Store and set up one product with a clear call-to-action. I’d use Stan’s email capture to build a list, then send a weekly email with one link back to my store. I’d track which TikTok videos drove the most sales using Stan’s analytics, then double down on that content format.

1. Week 1: Set up Stan Store with one product priced between $27–$97
2. Week 2: Create five TikToks pointing to that product, each testing a different hook
3. Week 3: Review Stan analytics to see which video drove conversions, not just clicks
4. Week 4: Build an email sequence for people who clicked but didn’t buy
5. Month 2: Add a second product (upsell or complementary offer) and test a lead magnet

The friction point: If my TikTok gets flagged or my account gets shadowbanned, my entire funnel stops. I’d mitigate this by collecting emails aggressively and posting the same content on Instagram Reels as a backup traffic source.

My Takeaway: I’d rather pay $29/month and own the checkout experience than save money and lose 30% of buyers to redirect friction.

Pricing Plans

Below is the current pricing overview for the main contenders. Pricing information is accurate as of April 2025 and subject to change.

Stan Store’s $29/month entry point makes sense only if you’re already making sales or have a validated offer. If you’re still testing, Linktree’s free plan lets you experiment without monthly overhead. The $99/month Stan Pro plan adds advanced analytics and priority support—worth it if you’re doing $1,000+ in monthly sales, wasteful if you’re not.

🚨 The Panic Test

You have 24 hours to set up a link-in-bio and start selling. Here’s what to do.

Forget customization. Just use Stan Store’s default template. Add one product. Write a three-sentence description. Set the price. Link it in your TikTok bio. Done.

Don’t overthink the page design—your TikTok content does the selling, not your bio link. The link just needs to not break the momentum.

If you don’t have a product yet, use Linktree’s free plan and link to a Calendly for discovery calls. You can sell before you build.

Skip email sequences for now. Get one sale first, then optimize.

Public Feedback Snapshot

Creators using Stan Store consistently mention faster setup compared to building a full website, but some report frustration with limited design flexibility—you’re working within Stan’s templates, not starting from scratch. Linktree users appreciate the free tier and ease of use, though those focused on monetization note that external redirects hurt conversion rates. Both platforms receive feedback about mobile performance, which matters since most TikTok traffic comes from phones.

Insights are based on publicly available documentation and reported user feedback across creator communities and platform reviews.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use both Stan Store and Linktree together?

Technically yes, but it’s redundant. If you’re paying for Stan Store, use it as your primary bio link. Adding Linktree in between just adds another click before checkout. The only exception: if you’re using Linktree to split traffic between a Stan Store (for products) and other platforms (like a podcast or YouTube channel).

Do I need a website if I have Stan Store?

Not immediately. Stan Store functions as a landing page and checkout system, which covers the basics for a solo creator. You’ll eventually want a real website for SEO, long-form content, and credibility—but you can start selling without one. Think of Stan as your storefront and a future website as your content hub.

Which platform is better for collecting emails?

Stan Store has native email capture and basic email marketing built in, so you can collect leads and send follow-ups without connecting a third-party tool. Linktree requires integration with an external email service (like Mailchimp or ConvertKit). If email is central to your strategy, Stan removes one integration point.

Can I sell physical products on Stan Store?

Stan Store is optimized for digital products, courses, and services. You can technically sell physical products, but you’ll lack inventory management, shipping integrations, and fulfillment tools. If physical goods are your primary business, use Shopify or Etsy and link to them from Linktree instead.

What happens if Stan Store raises its prices or shuts down?

You’d need to migrate your product catalog, customer list, and bio link to another platform under time pressure. This is the trade-off for using a hosted solution. Mitigate the risk by exporting your email list regularly and keeping product files backed up outside Stan’s system. If this risk feels too high, consider Gumroad or Shopify, which have longer track records.