theZio vs Linktree
Side by side
| Linktree | theZio | |
|---|---|---|
| Main job | Link-in-bio page: one link that opens a page of all your links, products and socials | Link in bio store, paid products and courses, run from the same tool as Instagram comment-to-DM |
| Link-in-bio page | Yes, on every plan, including Free | Yes, at thezio.co/yourname: themes and custom design, up to 50 blocks, a store block, product pages with FAQ and testimonials, tracked links and visit, tap and email analytics |
| Plan price | Reported at about $8 (Starter), $15 (Pro) and $35 (Premium) a month in US dollars, less on yearly billing; Linktree shows region-based prices, and we could not confirm the rupee price for India | Link in bio and selling on Max Pro, ₹899 a month; comment automation alone on Pro at ₹499 a month |
| Seller fee | Digital products and courses: 12% on Free, 9% on Starter and Pro, 0% on Premium, plus Stripe's 2.9% + $0.30 | 0% theZio fee until theZio gives notice (30 days' notice in the seller terms), and theZio pays Razorpay's charge meanwhile; after that, 5% all-in, with the gateway charge and GST on the fee inside it |
| How fans pay | Through Stripe | Fans pay through Razorpay's hosted checkout; theZio collects and pays you out |
| Payouts | Through Stripe, as reported | Every Monday by bank transfer, after a 7-day hold for refunds, once your balance is ₹500 or more (else it rolls over); one-time PAN and bank check |
| Courses | Run on Kajabi, according to Linktree's help centre | Course builder with modules, video, audio, text, file and live lessons, attachments, a sales page at thezio.co/yourname/c/course and a students view. Video hosted on Bunny Stream with signed playback links; students log in with an email code on up to 2 devices at once. No DRM |
| Free plan DMs | Instagram auto-reply reported at 1,000 DMs a month, on one chosen post or Reel at a time | Up to 1,000 auto DMs a month, on one post or all posts, no card needed |
| Paid plan DMs | Reported at 1,500 a month on Starter, 2,500 on Pro (with all-post triggering) and unlimited on Premium | No monthly DM cap on Pro, paced within Instagram's limits |
| What the DM can do | Reported as one preset message with a button and a link | Message plus link, file or product page, optional email capture, an optional follow invite and a different delivery per keyword |
| Email capture in the DM | Not reported for Linktree's auto-reply in the pages we checked | Every plan, including Free |
| Comments posted before setup | Not covered in the pages we checked | Last 24 hours on every plan; all old comments on Pro, with a public reply where a DM is no longer allowed |
| Instagram connection | Official Instagram connection for auto-reply, as reported | Official Instagram API with Instagram Login, no Facebook Page; theZio is not a Meta partner |
When Linktree is the better pick
- A free link-in-bio page. Linktree's page is on every plan, including Free. theZio's Link in bio page needs Max Pro at ₹899 a month.
- One page for every platform, with years behind it. A Linktree page works for your Instagram bio, YouTube description and X profile alike, and many fans already recognise it. theZio's page went live for everyone on 19 October 2026.
- 0% seller fee on Premium. Linktree Premium is reported to take no seller fee, with only Stripe's processing. theZio's 0% fee lasts until theZio gives notice, then becomes 5% all-in.
- Courses backed by Kajabi. Linktree's courses run on Kajabi, a dedicated course platform. theZio's course builder is new and has no quizzes, community or DRM.
- A free auto-reply if you only need the basics. Linktree's Free plan is reported to include Instagram auto-reply with 1,000 DMs a month on one post at a time.
When theZio fits better
- A lower fee on Free, Starter and Pro tiers. Linktree takes 9 to 12% of digital product and course sales below Premium, plus Stripe's fee. theZio takes 0% until notice and pays Razorpay's charge meanwhile.
- Rupee billing and Indian payouts. Fans pay through Razorpay, you get a sale invoice in your name for each order, and theZio pays you by bank transfer every Monday.
- The store and the DM in one tool. A Reel comment DMs the exact product page from your theZio store, with email capture and a follow invite if you want them.
- Launch checkout tools. Pay what you want, compare-at prices, coupons, one bump offer, stock caps, a sale end date and one abandoned-checkout email.
- Old comments and Pro tools. theZio can answer comments from before you set up an automation, catch keyword typos with Smart match and reply publicly with the Comment Agent.
- Product pages and tracked links. Each product gets its own page with FAQ and testimonials, and tracked links show visits, taps and emails per link.
How to switch without double DMs
- Decide what moves. If you need one page for many platforms on a free plan, keep Linktree. If you sell from Instagram, move the store to theZio.
- Create a theZio account and connect Instagram through Instagram Login, then upgrade to Max Pro.
- Rebuild your page at thezio.co/yourname: pick a theme, add your links and a store block, and recreate your products and courses.
- Finish the one-time PAN and bank check so Monday payouts can start.
- Turn off Linktree's auto-reply on any post theZio will handle. Meta allows one private reply per comment, so two tools on one post means a double DM or a failed send.
- Test with a coupon purchase, then swap your Instagram bio link.
Frequently asked questions
Is theZio a Linktree alternative?
Yes, for Instagram creators who sell. theZio's Link in bio page at thezio.co/yourname has themes, up to 50 blocks, a store, product pages and tracked links, on Max Pro at ₹899 a month. Linktree has a free plan and is built for traffic from every platform.
What fee does Linktree take on sales?
Linktree's help centre lists 12% on Free, 9% on Starter and Pro and 0% on Premium for digital products and courses, plus Stripe's 2.9% + $0.30, as of 19 October 2026. theZio takes 0% until it gives notice, then 5% all-in.
Does Linktree have Instagram auto DM?
Yes. Linktree's help centre describes an Instagram auto-reply that sends a DM with a link when someone comments a keyword on your post or Reel. It is reported at 1,000 DMs a month on Free, on one post at a time, with higher limits on paid plans.
How much does Linktree cost in India?
Linktree shows prices by region, and we could not confirm the rupee prices from India. In US dollars it is reported at about $8, $15 and $35 a month for Starter, Pro and Premium. Check linktr.ee from your own phone for the price you will pay.
Can I keep Linktree and use theZio?
Yes. Some creators keep Linktree as their main page and link to theZio product pages, or use theZio only for comment-to-DM. Just never run Linktree's auto-reply and theZio on the same post.
Sources
- Linktree Help Center - Use Instagram auto-reply to automatically share links with your audience (via search, checked 3 Oct 2026)
- Linktree Help Center - An overview of paid features available on Linktree (via search, checked 3 Oct 2026)
- Linktree Help Center - Seller fees for digital products and courses (checked 19 Oct 2026)
- InstantDM - InstantDM vs Linktree: Is Auto-DM Enough in 2026? (updated Aug 2026, checked 3 Oct 2026)
- Talkspresso - How Much Does Linktree Cost? $0 to $35/mo + 12% Sales Fee (via search, checked 3 Oct 2026)