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Should I self-host Linktree?
NOT REALLYkeep paying
It's one page of links. You don't need to self-host an app for that — you need 40 lines of HTML on any static host, free. LinkStack exists and works; recommending a PHP container to replace a static page is how self-hosting gets its reputation.
The math (nothing hidden, including your time)
| Linktree (Starter) | $8.00/mo |
| VPS share + storage | −$0.00/mo |
| Your maintenance: 0 min/mo at $20/h | −$0.00/mo |
| Net saving | $8.00/mo |
| Setup: 15 min measured (one-time) | $5.00 |
| Break-even | 0.6 months |
Price: source, checked 2026-08-06. Inputs are stored in git; every number above is derived, never hand-written.
What you lose
- Nothing — write the HTML file, or use Linktree's free tier
What you're paying Linktree for
- link-in-bio page
- click analytics
- themes
Ranked alternatives
Your own link-in-bio page, with an admin panel, themes and a QR code, on a domain you keep.
Hardware
Runs comfortably on Raspberry Pi.
Verification
Protocol v1 · verified by zernonia on 2026-08-10 · setup measured at 15 min · AI assistant: claude-code (allowed & stated)
Full timed log
# Linktree — verdict log - **Date:** 2026-08-10 - **Verdict:** NOT REALLY — keep paying - **Protocol:** v1 (2GB reference env, Docker preinstalled, AI assistant: claude-code) ## Why no compose file - This verdict is decided by economics/capability, not setup effort — the rubric doesn't require a timed install to conclude the subscription should stay (or that the replacement's cost lives elsewhere, e.g. GPUs, egress, or an installer script). ## The call It's one page of links. You don't need to self-host an app for that — you need 40 lines of HTML on any static host, free. LinkStack exists and works; recommending a PHP container to replace a static page is how self-hosting gets its reputation.
Verdict history
- 2026-08-10: unscored → NOT_REALLY — Initial verdict: It's one page of links.