posy
Bento.me shut down on 13 February 2026, and every bento.me link now redirects to Linktree's homepage, not to anyone's profile. If you used Bento for its grid and its looks, the closest replacements are grid builders like tini.bio, open-source ones like Blento and OpenBento, or Carrd for a full one-page site. Linktree is where the old links land, but it is a list.
I checked the redirect myself on 17 October 2026: bento.me and bento.me/anyname both answer with a permanent (301) redirect to linktr.ee. So an old Bento link in your Instagram bio, email signature or a printed QR code now sends people to Linktree's sign-up page. Below is what happened, what you can recover, and how the alternatives compare. I make Posy, one of the options, so I have kept its section short and put its limits next to it.
#What happened to Bento
- June 2023: Linktree acquired Bento, a young link-in-bio startup that had opened to the public that February (Tech.eu, 6 June 2023).
- December 2025: Bento announced it would shut down on 13 February 2026. Its notice said user and profile data would be permanently deleted and Bento links would redirect to Linktree, with an email about moving to Linktree and a "special Linktree Pro offer" (AlternativeTo, 21 December 2025).
- 13 February 2026: the service closed.
- Now: the redirect goes to Linktree's homepage. Your old address does not open your Linktree, even if you moved there.
AlternativeTo also notes this follows the same pattern as Koji, another link-in-bio tool Linktree bought and closed in early 2024.
#First, fix the links that point at Bento
This matters more than which tool you pick. Every old bento.me link is now an ad for Linktree's sign-up page.
- Update your bios. Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, X, Threads, Bluesky, LinkedIn. Search your own profiles for "bento".
- Check the places you forget. Email signature, YouTube video descriptions, your CV, business cards, printed QR codes, old pinned posts.
- Rebuild your content. Bento deleted its data, so there is no export now. Start from your social bios and any screenshots. The Internet Archive's Wayback Machine may have a copy of your public page if it was crawled before February.
#Bento alternatives compared (October 2026)
| Tool | Layout | Free plan | Open source | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Linktree | Vertical list; Grid and Carousel collections are listed as paid features | Unlimited links, Linktree logo | No | Where bento.me redirects. Starter from $6/mo billed yearly in the US |
| Carrd | One-page site you build from sections | Up to 3 sites, "Made with Carrd" | No | Pro Lite $9/yr; custom domain from Pro Standard, $19/yr |
| tini.bio | Drag-and-drop grid, image blocks | 6 blocks, 1 content page, 2 image blocks | No | Free plan as stated on its own Bento page (March 2026) |
| Blento | Bento-style grid | Free | Yes, MIT | Your data lives on your Bluesky (AT Protocol) account |
| OpenBento | Drag-and-drop 9×9 grid | Free | Yes | No account; exports a React project you host yourself |
| Posy | Pages drawn as scenes (desk, print, lofi desktop) | Unlimited links, 3 of 6 looks | Yes, MIT | Pro $5/mo adds your own domain |
Prices come from each tool's own pages in October 2026. I left out tools whose current plans I could not check.
#Linktree: where the links already go
Linktree is the default because it is already the destination. It is reliable, has apps for iOS and Android, and has the biggest set of integrations. But it is a column of buttons, which is the thing many Bento users chose Bento to avoid. Its help center lists Grid and Carousel collection layouts as paid features, and custom image backgrounds are on Pro and Premium. If you just want your links back up today, it works. More in is Linktree free.
#Grid builders: tini.bio and others
Several small tools rebuilt the Bento grid after the shutdown: resizable cards, image blocks, social cards. tini.bio is one, with a free plan and a 7-day Pro trial. Others turned up in the Reddit threads from January and February, including Avely and Kasbu. They are the closest match in feel. They are also young, which is worth weighing after watching one grid tool close. Look for an export, so the next move is easier.
#Open source: Blento and OpenBento
Two open-source projects were built in direct response to Bento's closure:
- Blento stores your page on your Bluesky (AT Protocol) data server, so if blento.app ever closes, the data is still yours and another host can show it. Its author asks people not to self-host yet, while the project settles.
- OpenBento is a visual grid editor that runs in your browser with no account, keeps your data in local storage, and exports a React, Vite and Tailwind project you deploy where you like.
Both are good if "it can't be shut down on me" is the lesson you took from Bento. Both ask more of you than a hosted tool.
#Carrd: a real one-page site
If you liked that Bento felt like a small personal site rather than a link list, Carrd is the long-standing option. You lay out sections, text, images and buttons yourself. It is cheap, and Pro Standard at $19 a year includes a custom domain, which matters if you never want to change your bio link again. It takes longer to set up than a grid. The full comparison is in Linktree vs Carrd.
#Posy: a page that looks drawn
Posy is not a grid. Each page is drawn as a scene: your links become polaroids and sticky notes on a desk, plates in a two-ink print, or windows on a lofi desktop. On the desk, a Spotify link becomes a record and a YouTube link a ticket. It is free with unlimited links and three looks; Pro is $5 a month and adds your own domain and the other three looks. The code is MIT licensed and you can self-host it, so the "what if it closes" question has an answer.
#Where Posy is not the right pick
- You want Bento's free-form grid back. Posy's looks are designed scenes; you choose the look, not the exact position of every card. A grid builder fits better.
- You need a store or email sign-ups on the page. Posy has neither. Beacons and Stan do; see Linktree vs Stan Store.
- You want a full site with sections. Carrd is built for that.
For the wider field, see Linktree alternatives and the Linktree alternative page.
#FAQ
#Did Bento.me shut down?
Yes. Bento.me closed on 13 February 2026, after announcing it in December 2025. Linktree had acquired Bento in June 2023.
#Where does my old bento.me link go?
To Linktree's homepage, with a permanent redirect, as of 17 October 2026. It does not open your Linktree profile.
#Can I recover my Bento page?
Not from Bento. Its notice said all user and profile data would be deleted. Rebuild from your bios and screenshots, or check the Wayback Machine for an archived copy.
#What is the best free Bento alternative?
For a grid like Bento's, a free grid builder such as tini.bio or open-source Blento or OpenBento. For a page with a strong look, Posy is free with unlimited links. For a full site, Carrd is free for up to 3 sites.
#Is there an open-source Bento alternative?
Yes: Blento (MIT, data on your Bluesky account) and OpenBento (a browser editor that exports a project you host). Posy is also MIT licensed and self-hostable, though it is not a grid.
