Carrd

Simple one-page website builder for landing pages and profiles

YES · focused build
price $1.58/mosubscription / year $18.96estimated build time one sittingreplaced by 0 people

A one-page static site generator with forms and custom domains is absolutely vibecodable; Carrd's price is so low that DIY only makes sense for control or learning.

Build verification: not recorded. How we judge buildability

What you give up

  • the visual editor
  • hosted forms
  • their template gallery
  • not having to think about hosting

Why people still pay

They pay because the product costs almost nothing and removes all hosting/domain friction.

Your build guide

The stack, security requirements, and agent rules for a focused replacement.

Before you start

  • Node, a selected output folder, licensed content/assets and a user-owned deployment target. DNS, email delivery and any server-side forms require separate configuration.
  • Implementation components: Eleventy, Markdown content and typed JSON section manifests for a static website. A local Node editor/build command with Sharp image processing; generated files publish to a user-owned host.
  • Scope boundary: the visual editor; hosted forms
01
Eleventy, Markdown content and typed JSON section manifests for a static website.
02
A local Node editor/build command with Sharp image processing; generated files publish to a user-owned host.
03
Domain model: single-page sections, anchor IDs, theme tokens, assets and contact-form configuration
engineering roadmap

Implementation plan

1

Phase 1

Scope and fixtures. Implement this bounded workflow: Assemble a compact one-page site from hero, links, projects, pricing and contact sections. Preview narrow widths, generate semantic HTML and attach a user-owned domain after local export review. Record prerequisites, select representative user-owned fixtures and document the unsupported features: the visual editor; hosted forms

2

Phase 2

Durable model. Model single-page sections, anchor IDs, theme tokens, assets and contact-form configuration Add migrations or a versioned document format, explicit validation, stable IDs and a visible import-error report. Preserve this rule: Forms need a real configured endpoint and clear success/error handling; no hardcoded analytics scores or fake testimonials.

3

Phase 3

Complete the first useful path. Implement the workflow's input, review and output interface, with clear controls and explicit empty/error states. Build into a new output directory from a saved content revision. Preview at narrow and wide widths and deploy the complete artifact atomically; retain the previous release.

4

Phase 4

Permissions and integration failure. Escape content, sanitize Markdown, constrain asset paths and never embed API secrets in the static output. Private content requires a real authenticated server rather than a hidden URL. Request integration credentials and permissions only for the enabled feature; show a disconnected state instead of mock results.

5

Phase 5

Portable handoff. Export source Markdown/JSON and original assets alongside the generated site. A clean build from that archive must not depend on an editor database. Include setup, operating limits, fixture walkthrough and shutdown/restart instructions in the README.

6

Phase 6

Acceptance scenarios. Tab through every link and submit a form against a failing endpoint without a false success; the exported page works without the local editor. Repeat the workflow after restart and with a denied permission or unavailable dependency; show recoverable failure rather than a success placeholder.

the pro prompt
download AGENTS.md
WORKING SLICE
Assemble a compact one-page site from hero, links, projects, pricing and contact sections. Preview narrow widths, generate semantic HTML and attach a user-owned domain after local export review.

Build this scoped Carrd-inspired workflow with a documented data model and visible failure states.

Architecture
- Eleventy, Markdown content and typed JSON section manifests for a static website.
- A local Node editor/build command with Sharp image processing; generated files publish to a user-owned host.

Prerequisites and limits
Node, a selected output folder, licensed content/assets and a user-owned deployment target. DNS, email delivery and any server-side forms require separate configuration.
Outside this release: the visual editor; hosted forms

Data model and correctness
single-page sections, anchor IDs, theme tokens, assets and contact-form configuration
Invariant: Forms need a real configured endpoint and clear success/error handling; no hardcoded analytics scores or fake testimonials.
Build into a new output directory from a saved content revision. Preview at narrow and wide widths and deploy the complete artifact atomically; retain the previous release.

Security and privacy
Escape content, sanitize Markdown, constrain asset paths and never embed API secrets in the static output. Private content requires a real authenticated server rather than a hidden URL.

Recovery and export
Export source Markdown/JSON and original assets alongside the generated site. A clean build from that archive must not depend on an editor database.

Implementation order
1. Phase 1 — Scope and fixtures. Implement this bounded workflow: Assemble a compact one-page site from hero, links, projects, pricing and contact sections. Preview narrow widths, generate semantic HTML and attach a user-owned domain after local export review. Record prerequisites, select representative user-owned fixtures and document the unsupported features: the visual editor; hosted forms
2. Phase 2 — Durable model. Model single-page sections, anchor IDs, theme tokens, assets and contact-form configuration Add migrations or a versioned document format, explicit validation, stable IDs and a visible import-error report. Preserve this rule: Forms need a real configured endpoint and clear success/error handling; no hardcoded analytics scores or fake testimonials.
3. Phase 3 — Complete the first useful path. Implement the workflow's input, review and output interface, with clear controls and explicit empty/error states. Build into a new output directory from a saved content revision. Preview at narrow and wide widths and deploy the complete artifact atomically; retain the previous release.
4. Phase 4 — Permissions and integration failure. Escape content, sanitize Markdown, constrain asset paths and never embed API secrets in the static output. Private content requires a real authenticated server rather than a hidden URL. Request integration credentials and permissions only for the enabled feature; show a disconnected state instead of mock results.
5. Phase 5 — Portable handoff. Export source Markdown/JSON and original assets alongside the generated site. A clean build from that archive must not depend on an editor database. Include setup, operating limits, fixture walkthrough and shutdown/restart instructions in the README.
6. Phase 6 — Acceptance scenarios. Tab through every link and submit a form against a failing endpoint without a false success; the exported page works without the local editor. Repeat the workflow after restart and with a denied permission or unavailable dependency; show recoverable failure rather than a success placeholder.

Acceptance
Tab through every link and submit a form against a failing endpoint without a false success; the exported page works without the local editor.
Use real source data or clearly labeled fixtures. Explain unsupported input and provider failures; do not fabricate analytics, delivery receipts, accuracy claims or security guarantees.

Optional agent guidance
Optional external skill: [frontend-design](https://github.com/anthropics/skills/blob/main/skills/frontend-design/SKILL.md) — Create intentional web layouts, typography, component styling and responsive frontend interfaces. Review its instructions and compatibility before use; it does not grant deployment, data-access or publication permission.
Optional external skill: [seo-audit](https://github.com/coreyhaines31/marketingskills/blob/main/skills/seo-audit/SKILL.md) — Investigate crawlability, indexing, page metadata, internal linking and on-page content issues. Review its instructions and compatibility before use; it does not grant deployment, data-access or publication permission.
Optional external skill: [web-design-guidelines](https://github.com/vercel-labs/agent-skills/blob/main/skills/web-design-guidelines/SKILL.md) — Review web interfaces for accessibility, keyboard focus, forms, navigation and interaction quality. Review its instructions and compatibility before use; it does not grant deployment, data-access or publication permission.
Project rule — data model: single-page sections, anchor IDs, theme tokens, assets and contact-form configuration
Project rule — preserve this invariant: Forms need a real configured endpoint and clear success/error handling; no hardcoded analytics scores or fake testimonials.
Project rule — acceptance evidence: Tab through every link and submit a form against a failing endpoint without a false success; the exported page works without the local editor.

$ open in your agent (prompt prefilled, you press enter), copy the prompt or copy or download AGENTS.md

share on X ↗

Alternatives to building your own

WebstudioFar more CSS control than Carrd and far more self-hosting responsibility.8.8kaug 2026open source↗PlasmicA custom-domain visual site on the free plan; comically overpowered for a one-page profile and branded accordingly.6.9kaug 2026open source↗SilexA visual one-page builder that exports plain HTML and costs nothing; publishing begins with a GitLab login.2.9kaug 2026open source↗

all 5 free alternatives to Carrd →· no votes, no pay-to-list · just what's real

Carrd pricing

planmonthlyannual (per mo)what you get
basic$0$03 total site slots; Carrd-branded .carrd.co URL; no custom domains, forms, embeds or third-party analytics
pro lite—$0.753 site slots; premium Carrd URLs and no branding; no custom domains, forms, widgets or embeds$9/year; annual-only plan.
pro lite 10—$1.1710 site slots; premium Carrd URLs and no branding; no custom domains, forms, widgets or embeds$14/year; annual-only plan.
pro lite 25—$2.4225 site slots; premium Carrd URLs and no branding; no custom domains, forms, widgets or embeds$29/year; annual-only plan.
pro standard—$1.5810 site slots; custom domains, forms, widgets/embeds and analytics$19/year; annual-only plan.
pro standard 25—$3.2525 site slots; custom domains, forms, widgets/embeds and analytics$39/year; annual-only plan.
pro standard 50—$5.7550 site slots; custom domains, forms, widgets/embeds and analytics$69/year; annual-only plan.
pro standard 100—$9.92100 site slots; custom domains, forms, widgets/embeds and analytics$119/year; annual-only plan.
pro standard 250—$20.75250 site slots; custom domains, forms, widgets/embeds and analytics$249/year; annual-only plan.
pro standard 500—$33.25500 site slots; custom domains, forms, widgets/embeds and analytics$399/year; annual-only plan.
pro standard 1000—$49.921000 site slots; custom domains, forms, widgets/embeds and analytics$599/year; annual-only plan.
pro plus—$4.0825 site slots; Standard features plus advanced forms/settings, downloads, redirects, password protection and site files$49/year; annual-only plan.
pro plus 50—$7.4250 site slots; Standard features plus advanced forms/settings, downloads, redirects, password protection and site files$89/year; annual-only plan.
pro plus 100—$13.25100 site slots; Standard features plus advanced forms/settings, downloads, redirects, password protection and site files$159/year; annual-only plan.
pro plus 250—$29.08250 site slots; Standard features plus advanced forms/settings, downloads, redirects, password protection and site files$349/year; annual-only plan.
pro plus 500—$49.92500 site slots; Standard features plus advanced forms/settings, downloads, redirects, password protection and site files$599/year; annual-only plan.
pro plus 1000—$83.251000 site slots; Standard features plus advanced forms/settings, downloads, redirects, password protection and site files$999/year; annual-only plan.

free tier3 total site slots on Carrd-branded URLs; no custom domains, forms, embeds/widgets or analytics

billingannual only for Pro plans; optional automatic yearly renewal or manual pay-as-you-go renewal

hidden costsThe low-cost Lite plans do not support custom domains or business features; higher site-slot variants increase the annual price, and account credits/virtual balance are non-cash and non-transferable.

pricing sources checked 2026-08-14 · pricing source ↗

Questions about Carrd

Can you build your own Carrd with AI?

The verdict is yes for the scoped workflow. A one-page static site generator with forms and custom domains is absolutely vibecodable; Carrd's price is so low that DIY only makes sense for control or learning.

What does the Carrd build prompt cover?

The prompt starts with this scope: Assemble a compact one-page site from hero, links, projects, pricing and contact sections. Preview narrow widths, generate semantic HTML and attach a user-owned domain after local export review. Full-product capabilities excluded from the comparison include: the visual editor; hosted forms; their template gallery. Follow the implementation plan and its prerequisites before expanding the build.

How do I use the prompt, AGENTS.md and agent skills?

Start with the Carrd prerequisites and stack, then copy the prompt into your coding agent. Save the project rules as AGENTS.md in the project root. Linked skills are optional packages or source instructions for specific tasks; review their current contents and install only those matching the chosen stack. A skill does not supply API credentials or verify the finished app.

How long will this Carrd project take?

The catalogue estimate is one sitting for the limited scope. Setup, integration approvals, debugging, deployment and ongoing maintenance can add time. This is an estimate, not a delivery guarantee.

What would I give up by replacing Carrd?

the visual editor; hosted forms; their template gallery; not having to think about hosting. They pay because the product costs almost nothing and removes all hosting/domain friction.

What price is this guide comparing against?

The recorded Pro Standard plan is $1.58/mo (annual effective per month), checked 2026-07-30. Check the linked pricing source before buying. Building your own also has hosting, API and maintenance costs; the recorded amount is not a guaranteed saving.

What can I use instead of building Carrd?

Webstudio: Far more CSS control than Carrd and far more self-hosting responsibility. Plasmic: A custom-domain visual site on the free plan; comically overpowered for a one-page profile and branded accordingly. Silex: A visual one-page builder that exports plain HTML and costs nothing; publishing begins with a GitLab login. Compare all listed options at https://howtovibecodeit.dev/carrd/alternatives. Check each option's license, hosting needs and feature limits.

Every week, more subscriptions die.

New verdicts, new prompts, the week's most-doomed apps.
One email. Unsubscribe in one click.

last week:100 Questions · KINDA1of10 · KINDA1Password · KINDA+1090 more

free forever · no scanner spam · the prompt stays on the site, the deaths come to you

$weekly: what got a verdict, what died.