git-royal vs Linktree
Both give you one link to share everywhere. The difference is what happens after the click — and whether the money you spend on ads actually compounds.
What Linktree is genuinely good at
Linktree is the most recognizable link-in-bio tool for a reason. It's simple, fast, works for any kind of creator, and has a genuinely generous free tier. You can embed Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube players, collect emails on paid plans, and even add a client-side Meta Pixel to build custom audiences. If all you need is a tidy list of links, it does that beautifully — and git-royal isn't trying to be a better generic link-in-bio.
git-royal is built for a narrower person: the musician who is spending money to grow, or who's tired of chasing royalties across five logins. That focus is the whole difference.
Where the two diverge
| Linktree | git-royal | |
|---|---|---|
| Link-in-bio page | Yes — for any creator | Yes — built for music |
| Free tier | Yes, generous | Yes, free to start |
| Streaming / DSP smart links | Basic player embeds | Per-release smart links that route each fan to their platform |
| Spotify pre-save | Not built in | Yes |
| Ad tracking | Client-side Meta pixel (paid plans) | Server-side Meta CAPI + TikTok Events — survives ad blockers & iOS |
| Retargeting audience | You build it yourself in Meta | Builds a warm audience from your real converters — Meta & TikTok |
| Royalties & splits | Not offered | Upload statements, see every royalty, split with collaborators |
| Fan email you own | Collect on paid plans | First-party capture, exportable, yours |
| Best for | A simple link list for any creator | Musicians spending on ads and managing releases & royalties |
Client-side pixel vs. closing the loop
Server-side tracking
Linktree's pixel fires in the browser, so ad blockers, iOS privacy, and lost cookies quietly eat your conversions. git-royal sends events server-side through Meta's Conversions API and TikTok's Events API — the data the platforms actually optimize on.
Built for releases
Per-release smart links, Spotify pre-save, and streaming routing — the things a musician needs on release day, not a generic link list.
Your money, tracked
Nobody in link-in-bio touches royalties. git-royal reads your distributor, PRO, MLC, and SoundExchange statements into one view and splits earnings with collaborators.
Which is right for you
Pick Linktree if you want a free, simple link page and you're not running paid ads. It's the right tool for that job.
Pick git-royal the moment you start spending money to grow — because a client-side pixel leaks exactly the data you paid for, and you'll want the retargeting audience built for you. It's also the pick if you're managing releases and want your royalties in one place.
And you don't have to choose forever: plenty of artists keep a Linktree and use git-royal smart links for the releases they actually advertise.
Common questions
Doesn't Linktree already have a Meta pixel?+
Yes — on paid plans you can add a client-side Meta Pixel and build custom audiences. The catch is that browser pixels are increasingly blocked by ad blockers and iOS privacy, so a chunk of your conversions never reach Meta. git-royal sends the same events server-side via the Conversions API, which is far harder to block and is what Meta optimizes on.
Can I use both Linktree and git-royal?+
Absolutely. A common setup is keeping Linktree as your everyday bio link and using git-royal smart links for the specific releases you promote with ads, so the tracking and retargeting are airtight where the money is going.
Is git-royal harder to set up?+
The link itself takes about the same time. The one extra step is pasting in a pixel ID and access token when you're ready to run ads — roughly five minutes, no code, and there's a step-by-step guide for it.
Does git-royal replace my distributor?+
No. You still release through your distributor (DistroKid, TuneCore, etc.). git-royal is the marketing and royalty layer on top — smart links, tracking, retargeting, and reading the statements your distributor and PROs send you.
Keep the simple link. Add the closed loop.
Start free, build your smart link, and connect tracking whenever you run your first ad.
Start free ← Back to all guides