Buffer Start Page vs Beacons
Which link in bio is right for you?
Quick verdict
Choose Beacons if you scored higher on features and value. Choose Buffer Start Page for the use cases below where it has an edge.
Use Buffer Start Page if:
- You already pay for Buffer and want a bio link page at no extra cost
- You want your latest social posts to appear as a live feed on your bio page
- You're a social media manager who lives in Buffer and wants everything in one place
- A simple, clean page with your links and social feed is all you need
Use Beacons if:
- You sell digital products (ebooks, presets, courses) and want a native store
- You accept brand partnerships and want a built-in media kit
- You want a tip jar or donation link built into your profile
- You want email marketing built into your link-in-bio
- You're comfortable with a steeper learning curve for more monetisation features
Comparison Score
General
|
3 Multi-Accounts |
1 Multi-Accounts |
|
5 signup integrations |
6 signup integrations |
|
Custom username |
Custom username |
|
2 URL Domain options |
2 URL Domain options |
|
10 letter-long Domain |
10 letter-long Domain |
Payments & Costs
|
Accept crypto |
Accept crypto |
|
N/A transaction fees |
9% (free plan) transaction fees |
|
Free plan |
Free plan |
|
One-time Plans |
One-time Plans |
|
$72 annual cost - Top plan |
$300 annual cost - Top plan |
|
$6/mo most cost-effective Pro plan |
$8.99/mo most cost-effective Pro plan |
|
Built-in Shop |
Built-in Shop Digital products & store |
Page Customisation
|
2 link layouts |
3 link layouts |
|
Flexible layout |
Flexible layout Block-based layout |
|
Mirror Instagram Grid |
Mirror Instagram Grid |
|
Background colors/images |
Background colors/images |
|
6 Social, Music & Contact icons |
6 Social, Music & Contact icons |
|
Icon colors |
Icon colors |
|
3 fonts |
8 fonts |
Link Features
|
Unlimited links |
Unlimited links |
|
Organise links under groups |
Organise links under groups Content blocks |
|
Schedule links |
Schedule links |
|
Vibrate/highlight links |
Vibrate/highlight links |
|
Analytics |
Analytics |
|
Data Export Buffer analytics export |
Data Export |
Page Features
|
Add a second page |
Add a second page |
|
Custom Social Causes page |
Custom Social Causes page |
|
Embed music |
Embed music Spotify, SoundCloud |
|
Embed video |
Embed video YouTube, TikTok |
|
 External pixels |
 External pixels Facebook Pixel, GA |
Pricing comparison
All prices in USD. Last verified March 2026.
Buffer Start Page
Free plan available
| Plan | Price | Billed |
|---|---|---|
| Free | Free | — |
| Essentials | $6.00 | month |
Beacons
Free plan available
| Plan | Price | Billed |
|---|---|---|
| Free | Free | — |
| Creator Pro | $8.99 | month |
| Store Pro | $25.00 | month |
Pros and cons
Buffer Start Page
Pros
- Free for Buffer users — no additional cost
- Live social post feed is unique among bio link tools
- Clean, minimal design that loads fast
- Unlimited links on the free plan
- Team access for agencies managing multiple clients
Cons
- Only useful if you're already a Buffer subscriber
- No ecommerce, digital products, or email capture
- Custom domain requires paid Buffer plan
- Feature set is minimal compared to dedicated tools
- No media embeds or rich content blocks
Beacons
Pros
- Best-in-class native ecommerce and digital product sales
- Built-in media kit for creator brand deals
- Tip jar and direct monetisation tools
- Email list building and basic email marketing included
- Generous free plan with all core features (transaction fee applies)
Cons
- 9% transaction fee on the free plan — cuts into revenue significantly
- No link scheduling
- More complex than a basic link-in-bio — steeper learning curve
- No QR code generator
- Interface feels busier than minimalist alternatives
Switching between them
How to migrate from Buffer Start Page to another tool
Estimated time: ~10 minutes. Difficulty: easy.
- Log into your Buffer account at buffer.com
- Navigate to Start Page in the Buffer dashboard
- Add your links and configure your social feed
- Customise your page appearance
- Update your bio link across your social profiles
Full migration guide: Buffer Start Page → Lnk.Bio
Frequently asked questions
Looking for the top-ranked alternative?
Lnk.Bio is the highest-rated link in bio for value — free plan, one-time $0.99 option, custom domain, and Spotify/YouTube embeds.
Try Lnk.Bio freeOverall Comparison Score
Buffer Start Page
Beacons
Top 5 link in bio services
by features offered and cost-efficiency
1 |
|
Lnk.Bio | |
2 |
|
Tilda | |
3 |
|
Linktree | |
4 |
|
Carrd.co | |
5 |
|
Taplink | |