9 Carrd Alternatives to Build Your Website

Building a website for the first time can be a daunting task.

There are so many things to learn and consider; design, icons, photography, illustration domain names, hosting, copywriting, SEO…

The list goes on.

Discover alternative website builders to Carrd, such as WordPress, Shopify, Webflow, Squarespace, Weebly, Wix, Framer, Unbounce, and Straw.page.

Each platform has distinct features for different purposes.

1. WordPress

WordPress is a versatile platform ideal for bloggers, businesses, and developers. It offers extensive customization through themes and plugins, but requires a learning curve and separate hosting.

Read Related: WordPress vs Carrd: COMPARE Website Builders (Ultimate Guide)

WordPress Features

• Custom themes and plugins.
• Blogging and e-commerce capabilities.
• SEO optimization options.

• Highly customizable with a vast plugin library.
• Suitable for bloggers, businesses, and developers.
• SEO optimization options for improved visibility.

Cons

• Learning curve, especially for beginners.
• Requires separate hosting management.

WordPress is best for: Bloggers, businesses of all sizes, developers.

2. Shopify

Perfect for online stores and entrepreneurs, Shopify is a user-friendly e-commerce platform. It simplifies payment integration and inventory management, but there are transaction fees to consider.

Shopify Features

• E-commerce-focused features.
• Secure payment integration.
• Inventory management.

Pros

• Designed for e-commerce, ideal for online stores.
• User-friendly interface and secure payment integration.
• Efficient inventory management features.

Cons

• Fees and app costs can add up and impact profitability
• Limited customization compared to other platforms.

Shopify is best for: Online stores, entrepreneurs.

3. Webflow

Webflow is a designer-friendly platform favored by creative professionals. It offers advanced design control, responsive animations, and hosting, but its learning curve and higher cost may be challenges.

Webflow Features

• Advanced design control.
• Responsive animations.
• Hosting included.

Pros

• Advanced design control, great for designers.
• Responsive animations and interactive features.
• Hosting is included for convenience.

Cons

• Steeper learning curve compared to simpler platforms.
• Higher cost compared to some alternatives.

Webflow is best for: Designers, creative professionals.

4. Squarespace

Squarespace is renowned for its stunning templates and all-in-one platform approach. It’s a solid choice for artists, photographers, and small businesses, though customization options may be limited.

Squarespace Features

• Beautiful templates.
• All-in-one platform (hosting included).
• E-commerce capabilities.

Pros

• Beautiful templates suitable for creative individuals.
• All-in-one platform, hosting included.
• E-commerce capabilities for online stores.

Cons

• Limited flexibility in terms of customization.
• Pricing can be relatively high for certain features.

Squarespace is best for: Artists, photographers, and small businesses.

5. Weebly

Weebly offers an intuitive drag-and-drop interface, making it great for beginners. It’s best suited for small businesses, portfolios, and personal blogs, although it might lack scalability.

Weebly Features

• User-friendly drag-and-drop.
• Pre-designed page layouts.
• Mobile responsive.

Pros

• User-friendly drag-and-drop interface.
• Pre-designed page layouts for quick setup.
• Mobile-responsive designs for optimal viewing.

Cons

• May not be suitable for larger, more complex projects.
• Fewer features compared to more robust platforms.

Weebly is best for: Small businesses, portfolios, and blogs.

6. Wix

Wix is perfect for beginners and small businesses, offering a wide range of templates and an app market for added features. However, advertisements on the free plan and limited flexibility could be potential drawbacks.

Wix Features

• Extensive template collection.
• App market for added features.
• Artificial Design Intelligence (ADI) for quick setup.

Pros

• Extensive template collection for various purposes.
• App market for additional features and functionality.
• Artificial Design Intelligence (ADI) for quick setup.

Cons

• Advertisements displayed on the free plan.
• Less flexibility and control compared to some platforms.

Wix is best for: Beginners, small businesses, creative individuals.

7. Framer

Framer is known for its simplicity and quick landing page creation. It’s suitable for creating basic landing pages and event promotions but may lack complexity for larger projects.

Framer Features

• Simple, easy landing page creation.
• Quick sharing options.
• Unlimited customization.

Pros

• Simple and quick landing page creation.
• Fast sharing options for immediate outreach.
• Ideal for creating basic landing pages and event promotions.

Cons

• Limited complexity and features compared to more robust platforms.

Framer is best for: Landing pages, portfolios, designers, event promotions.

8. Unbounce

Unbounce specializes in high-converting landing pages and A/B testing. It’s a great choice for marketers and advertisers looking to optimize their campaigns, although the focus on landing pages and higher cost may be limitations.

Unbounce Features

• A/B testing for optimization.
• Conversion-focused templates.
• Integrations with various tools.

Pros

• A/B testing capabilities for campaign optimization.
• Conversion-focused templates for better results.
• Integrations with various tools for seamless workflows.

Cons

• Primarily designed for landing pages, not full websites.
• Higher cost compared to some other alternatives.

Unbounce is best for: Marketers, advertisers, e-commerce.

9. Straw.page

Straw.page is ultra-minimalist and perfect for simple personal pages or temporary sites. It offers fast setup and publishing, but its limited features make it unsuitable for complex projects.

Straw.page Features

• Ultra-minimalist interface.
• Fast setup and publishing.
• Limited features for basic sites.

Pros

• Ultra-minimalist interface for a clean look.
• Quick setup and publishing for immediate use.
• Ideal for simple personal pages and temporary sites.

Cons

• Limited features and customization options.
• Not suitable for projects requiring complexity.

Straw.page is best for: Simple personal pages, and temporary sites.

Key Considerations Before Choosing a Website Builder

Before you start, consider what your website needs are.

Are you building a blog, an online store, a portfolio, or a personal site?

Think about your technical skills, budget, and future growth plans.

Step 1: Selecting the Right Platform

Explore the Carrd alternatives mentioned in the guide and choose the one that best aligns with your goals. Consider factors like ease of use, customization options, and available features.

Step 2: Register a Domain Name

Pick a unique and relevant domain name for your website. It’s your online address, so choose wisely. Many website builders offer domain registration services.

Step 3: Choosing a Template and Customizing It

Browse through the platform’s templates and select one that matches your website’s theme. Customize the template with your brand colors, fonts, and content to make it unique.

Step 4: Creating Compelling Content

Craft engaging content for your website’s pages. Use a mix of text, images, and videos to tell your story effectively. Make sure your content aligns with your website’s purpose.

Step 5: Mobile Responsiveness and SEO

Ensure your website is mobile-friendly and looks great on different devices. Learn some basic SEO techniques to improve your website’s visibility on search engines.

Step 6: Enhancing Functionality with Plugins and Apps

Depending on your chosen platform, explore plugins or apps to add more features to your website. This could include contact forms, social media integrations, and more.

Step 7: Testing and Launching

Before you launch, test your website thoroughly. Check for broken links, image loading speed, and overall functionality. Once everything looks good, hit that publish button.

Step 8: Regular Maintenance and Updates

Websites need ongoing care. Regularly update your content, check for broken links, and ensure your plugins are up to date. This keeps your website running smoothly.

Step 9: Gathering and Analyzing Data

Integrate web analytics tools to track your website’s performance. Learn from the data to make informed decisions about improvements and content strategies.

Step 10: Troubleshooting Common Issues

If you encounter design inconsistencies or slow loading times, don’t panic. Check online resources, community forums, or tutorials for solutions to common problems.

Step 11: Learning from Examples

Explore real-life case studies of websites built using the chosen platform. This can provide inspiration and insights into effective design and content strategies.

Step 12: Community Support and Resources

Utilize the vast resources available online. Most platforms have official documentation, active community forums, tutorials, and YouTube channels to help you learn and troubleshoot.

Step 13: Final Words of Encouragement

Building your first website might seem overwhelming, but every step you take brings you closer to your goal. Embrace the learning process, and remember that your online presence matters.

Carrd Alternatives – Conclusion

Choose a Carrd alternative based on your specific needs. Assess pros and cons, explore features, and determine the best fit for your project.

Each platform offers unique capabilities to help you create a compelling online presence.

Craig Leontowicz

Web designer and developer. I love building high-converting 1-page website templates for Carrd. I’ve been featured on: Behance, Canva, Search Engine Journal, CBC, CTV and more…