Stan Store vs Beacons: Which Link-in-Bio Storefront Wins?

The Link-in-Bio Commerce Battle

Stan Store and Beacons represent the new generation of link-in-bio tools. Both go far beyond Linktree's simple link page to offer digital product sales, email collection, and creator-focused features. But they target different segments: Stan Store is built for creators who sell, while Beacons is built for creators who want a free all-in-one toolkit.

Commerce and Selling

Stan Store is the stronger commerce platform. The checkout experience is seamless, with embedded payment directly on your page. Order bumps, upsells, and discount codes are available on the Creator Pro plan. Beacons offers digital product sales too, but the checkout experience is less polished and transaction fees are higher on lower tiers (9% on free, 5% on Creator Pro).

The Free Plan Difference

This is Beacons' biggest advantage. The free plan includes a link-in-bio page, a storefront for one product, basic email marketing, a media kit builder, and invoicing for brand deals. Stan Store has no free plan and starts at $29/month. For creators who are not yet monetizing or are testing the waters, Beacons removes the financial barrier entirely.

Email and Marketing

Beacons includes email marketing in every plan, which is unusual for a link-in-bio tool. You can collect emails and send broadcasts without a separate tool. Stan Store's email features are more basic on the Creator plan and only become useful on Creator Pro, where you get sequences and broadcasts. Neither platform replaces a dedicated email tool like ConvertKit for serious email marketing, but Beacons gets you further before you need to upgrade.

Brand Deals and Media Kits

Beacons has a unique advantage: a built-in media kit generator and brand deal management system. If influencer partnerships and sponsorships are a significant part of your income, Beacons provides tools that Stan Store does not, including rate cards, audience demographics, and invoicing for brand collaborations.

Design and Customization

Both platforms offer clean, mobile-optimized designs. Stan Store has a more opinionated storefront aesthetic. Beacons offers more customization with custom themes and CSS on paid plans. Neither is as design-flexible as Carrd or Squarespace, but both produce professional-looking pages that convert well on mobile.

The Verdict

Choose Stan Store if selling digital products is your primary goal, because the commerce experience is best-in-class. Choose Beacons if you want a free all-in-one solution that covers link-in-bio, email, media kits, and basic commerce. For established creators with consistent sales, Stan Store's commerce focus drives higher revenue. For emerging creators building their toolkit, Beacons' free plan is hard to beat.

Related Reading

• Stan Store pricing: plan comparison and transaction fee breakdown
• Beacons pricing: free plan details and upgrade path
• Best link-in-bio tools: our ranked picks for bio link storefronts
• Linktree alternatives: more options beyond Stan Store and Beacons