What is the difference between these five tools?
They solve related but different problems. Two are link in bio builders, two are creator shopping networks, and CreatorLounge sits between them, built around affiliate offers and discount codes.
- Linktree is a link in bio page with a free plan and paid tiers. It also offers Linktree Shops for affiliate products, which its own page says is available in the US only (Linktree Shops).
- Beacons is a link in bio and creator business tool with a store, media kit and email marketing (Beacons pricing plans).
- LTK is a creator-guided shopping platform where approved creators earn commission when followers buy from their storefront (LTK FAQs).
- ShopMy is an invite-based creator network that turns products you add into affiliate links, with brand partnership opportunities (ShopMy Creator Guide).
- CreatorLounge is a global creator affiliate platform, founded in the UK. Your lounge is one link in bio page of live brand offers and discount codes, and you keep 50% of the approved commission on every sale (For Creators).
How do they compare at a glance?
All details below come from each company's own pages, checked on 22 October 2026. Plans and rates change, so check their sites before you decide.
| CreatorLounge | Linktree | Beacons | LTK | ShopMy | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Main purpose | Link in bio page of brand offers and codes | Link in bio page | Link in bio and creator store | Creator shopping platform | Creator shop and affiliate links |
| Cost to creators | Free | Free plan, plus Starter, Pro and Premium paid tiers | Free plan ($0), paid plans from $10 a month | App free to use | Check their site |
| How it earns from you | Keeps 50% of approved commission | Paid plans; commission share varies, check their site | 9% transaction fee on Free and entry paid plan, 0% on higher plans | Commission share varies, check their site | Commission share varies, check their site |
| Who can join | Apply, vetted by CreatorLounge | Anyone | Anyone | Approved creators only | Invite based, apply via waitlist |
| Criteria | Not published | None | None | 5,000 for some applicants | Typically 1,000+ |
| Minimum payout | £50 | Check their site | Check their site | Check their site | $11 |
| Affiliate focus | Brand offers and discount codes via Awin, Impact and CJ | Shops (US only) | Store mainly for your own products | Products from partner brands | Products from brands and retailers |
Which is best if you mainly share discount codes and brand offers?
If most of your income comes from brand offers and codes, a page built around them saves time. On CreatorLounge, offers come from brands on the affiliate networks they already use, Awin, Impact and CJ, so each click is a tracked affiliate link and the code sits next to the offer (For Brands). There is nothing to pay, and you keep 50% of approved commission, with a £50 minimum payout.
CreatorLounge is application based: creators apply and are vetted against criteria that are not published. Commission share varies by platform, so check each one, and compare what you would actually earn per sale on the brands your audience buys.
Which is best if you mainly link to products?
LTK and ShopMy are built for linking to individual products and building collections. LTK says it has over 250,000 global creators, 7,000 retailers and 1 million brands, and approved creators get a shop in the LTK app (LTK FAQs). ShopMy says commission rates typically range from 10% to 30%, set by each brand or retailer, and pays out weekly once you have at least $11 (ShopMy: how payment works).
LTK and ShopMy also involve an application. LTK looks for an engaged following, regular shoppable content and, for some applicants, 5,000 followers (LTK application expectations). ShopMy says it typically looks at 1,000 or more followers, product content and engagement, and you can reapply after 90 days (ShopMy: creator waitlist).
Which is best if you need a general link in bio?
If you need one page for everything, such as your latest video, a newsletter, bookings and a shop, Linktree and Beacons are designed for that. Linktree's free plan includes unlimited links, with paid tiers adding analytics, commerce and branding controls; prices vary by region (Linktree pricing). Beacons' free plan includes unlimited links, a media kit and a store with a 9% transaction fee, and higher plans remove that fee (Beacons transaction fees).
Many creators use a general link in bio and link to a dedicated affiliate page from it. If you are accepted, your CreatorLounge lounge can be that page, or your main link in bio if offers are most of what you share.
What should you check before choosing?
- What you keep per sale. Commission share varies by platform; check each one.
- Who can join. Some platforms need an application or a follower count.
- Where it works. Some features are limited to certain countries.
- Minimum payout. Know the balance you need before you can be paid.
- Disclosure. Every tool still needs you to label ads clearly. See our disclosure guide.
Related guides
- Link in bio for affiliate links: a UK creator's guide
- How to earn affiliate commission as a UK creator
- Brand discount codes for influencers: how they work in the UK
- Disclosing affiliate links and codes: ASA rules for UK creators
About this comparison: this guide is written by CreatorLounge, so we have an interest in the result. We have kept to facts published by each company on 22 October 2026 and linked every source. Linktree, Beacons, LTK and ShopMy are trademarks of their owners, and this page is not endorsed by them.
Frequently asked questions
Is CreatorLounge free?
Yes. CreatorLounge is free for creators, with no signup, monthly or per-link fees. You keep 50% of approved commission, with a £50 minimum payout.
Can anyone join CreatorLounge?
No. Creators apply and are vetted by CreatorLounge against its own criteria, which are not published. LTK and ShopMy also review applications.
Can I use CreatorLounge alongside LTK or ShopMy?
Yes. You can use CreatorLounge alongside other platforms. Follow each brand's own rules on how its codes and links can be shared.
How much commission do I keep?
Commission share varies by platform, so check each one. On CreatorLounge you keep 50% of approved commission, with a £50 minimum payout.
Does Beacons charge fees on affiliate links?
Beacons' help centre lists a 9% transaction fee on its Free and entry paid plan, applied to sales through its store. Check their site for how it applies to your use.
Do I still need to label posts as ads?
Yes. Whatever tool you use, posts with affiliate links or codes are ads in the UK, so start with "Ad" or "#ad".