With the ever-increasing importance of an online presence, it's no wonder that more and more businesses are looking for ways to make their mark on the internet. Whether you're a small business just starting or a large corporation with a worldwide reach, having a website is essential. But what if you don't have the time or money to invest in a fully custom website? This is where Carrd comes in.
Carrd is a simple yet powerful landing page builder that anyone can use to create beautiful and effective websites. Best of all, it's free! You can sign up for an account and build your site in minutes without prior experience or design knowledge.
This Carrd review will look at everything this platform offers, including its features, pricing, and more. By the end, you'll know whether Carrd is the right website builder for your business.
Top Features Of Carrd Website Builder
Carrd offers a range of features that make it easy to create a professional website, even if you've never built one before.
1. Drag And Drop Editor
With its drag-and-drop editor, you can quickly add and rearrange elements on your page without having to code anything. Just click on an element and move it to where you want it to go. It's that simple. Also, if you know HTML, you can easily add your code to customize your site further. It's easy to use, even for beginners.
2. Templates
If you're unsure where to start, Carrd has a wide selection of templates. Whether you need a simple one-page site or something more complex, there's a template that will suit your needs. And if you want to get creative, you can create your template from scratch.
3. Design Flexibility
With Carrd, you have complete control over the design of your site. You can change the colors, fonts, and layout to match your brand, and there are no limits to what you can do. If you can dream it, you can build it with Carrd. Also, Carrd sites are fully responsive, so they'll look great on any device.
4. Domain Options
If you want to use your domain name for your Carrd site, you can do that. Create a CNAME record with your DNS provider and point it to your Carrd site URL. Also, several top-level domains (TLDs) are available to choose the perfect one for your site.
5. Mobile Site Optimization
All Carrd sites are optimized for mobile devices, so they'll look great on any screen size. Your site will look great whether your visitors use a phone, tablet, or laptop. Also, Carrd offers features so you can build and edit your site on the go.
6. SEO (Search Engine Optimization)
Carrd sites are built with SEO in mind, so you can be sure that search engines will find your site. All you need to do is add your keywords, and Carrd will take care of the rest. Also, Carrd sites are automatically submitted to Google and Bing, so you don't need to do anything else. With Carrd, getting found online is easy.
7. Blogging Functions
With features like customizable forms, calls to action, and social media integration, Carrd makes it easy to turn any landing page into a powerful marketing tool. But what if you want to take your marketing efforts further and add a blog to your site?
Carrd has you covered there too. Their blogging function is simple to set up and use and can be a great way to drive even more traffic to your site. Plus, with Carrd's built-in SEO tools, you can be sure that your blog posts will be optimized for search engines, helping you to reach an even wider audience.
8. eCommerce Integration
If you want to sell products or services on your Carrd site, you can do that with their built-in eCommerce integration. You can add a shopping cart and start taking payments with just a few clicks. And because the sites are optimized for mobile devices, your customers can shop on the go.
With so many features, it's no wonder Carrd is one of the market's most popular landing page builders. If you're looking for an easy-to-use, affordable way to build a professional website, Carrd is the perfect solution. So why not give it a try today? You might be surprised at just how easy, and fun website building can be.
9. Page Styles And Backgrounds
With dedicated tabs, you can easily modify your web page's style and background. The Page Style tab lets you edit your page layout, position, style, width, alignment, padding, etc. The Background tab lets you select the type of background to be applied to your website.
A drop-down menu offers 5 different options for backgrounds, including – Color, Gradient, Image, Video, and Slideshow. For Image Backgrounds, Carrd integrates with the Unsplash library to bring you a collection of millions of free images.
10. Animation Effects
Carrd offers basic animation effects like Fade, Blur, Tilt, Flip, Slide, and Zoom to make your website more lively and appealing to the audience. Apply these effects to different elements placed on your web page by choosing an animation from the options. A slider bar can also specify its duration, intensity, and delay. Once you're happy with the results, preview the effect before publishing your site.
What Type Of Pages Can You Create?
With Carrd, you can create several different types of pages to suit your needs. These include:
1. Profile Page
A profile page is a great way to showcase your work and give people an idea of who you are. You can include information about your skills, experience, and work samples. It's also a good place to include your contact information. Whether a freelancer or a business owner, a profile page can help you attract new clients and customers.
2. Landing Page
A landing page is designed to get people to take action. It could promote a product, sign up for a newsletter, or download a free ebook. Whatever the goal, the purpose of a landing page is to get visitors to take that next step. Also, because landing pages are typically focused on one thing, they can effectively convert visitors into leads or customers.
3. Forms
Forms are a necessary part of any website, whether you're collecting information from visitors or allowing them to sign up for something. Carrd makes it easy to create forms and embed them onto your pages. Also, with Carrd's built-in form processing, you can have the form submissions sent directly to your email inbox.
4. Portfolio
You'll want to showcase your work in a portfolio if you're a creative professional. A portfolio allows you to put your best work forward and show potential clients or employers what you're capable of. Carrd makes it easy to create a beautiful portfolio, and you can even include links to your work samples.
5. Sectioned Pages
If you have a lot of information that you want to include on your website, then you may want to consider using sectioned pages. Sectioned pages allow you to break up your content into different sections, making it easier for visitors to find what they're looking for. Plus, with Carrd's drag-and-drop page builder, creating sectioned pages is a breeze.
Which Elements Can You Use?
Some of the elements you can use on your pages are:
Image: You can add an image to any page, and there are a few ways to do it. You can either upload an image from your computer or insert one with a URL. To make your pages more interactive, you can also add a hover effect to your images.
Video: You can add a video to any page by either uploading it from your computer or inserting it with a URL. Embedding a video from YouTube or Vimeo is also an option.
Audio: With Carrd, you can add audio files to any page. You can upload your audio file or insert one with a URL.
Gallery: An image gallery can be a great way to showcase multiple images on your page. With Carrd, you can easily create an image gallery by adding multiple images to a page and setting them up in a grid.
Timer: If you want to create a sense of urgency on your page, you can add a timer. This great way to create a sense of urgency for time-sensitive offers.
Widget: You can add a widget to any page. Carrd has many widgets available, including social media widgets, forms, and more.
Embed: If you want to embed content from another website, you can do so with Carrd. This is a great way to add content from other websites, such as YouTube videos or social media posts.
List: A list can be a great way to organize information on your page. Set up a list by adding items and then using the arrow keys to reorder them.
Buttons: You can add buttons to any page. Buttons can be used for various purposes, such as links to other pages or forms.
Integrations Options With Carrd
With Carrd, you can integrate several different third-party services to extend the functionality of their platform. These include:
The Unsplash Image Library: It allows you access to millions of free images that can be used on your landing pages. Also, it is a great way to find visuals for your content.
Stripe and Paypal: To track customer payments and process them accordingly. Also, to keep track of your viewers and conversions, you can use Google Analytics.
Gumroad: This is a great eCommerce platform for selling digital products. You can use it to process payments and manage your inventory.
Typeform: This tool allows you to create different forms, surveys, etc., that can be used on your landing pages. Also, you can use Zapier to automate your workflow and connect to other apps.
Mailchimp and Sendfox: These can be used to build your email list and keep track of your subscribers. Also, you can use them to send automated emails to your list.
Carrd Pricing And Plans
Several options are available to users regarding pricing and plans for Carrd. They include:
Free Plan: This plan allows users to create and design their websites for free. The only limitation is that the website address will be under the carrd.co subdomain.
Pro Lite: This costs $9 per year, and users enjoy features such as 3 sites, premium URLs, no branding, high-quality images, large images and videos, no element limit, Pro templates, video uploads, slideshows, site icons, and share images.
Pro Standard: For $19 per year, users get 10 sites, custom domain URLs, simple forms, widgets, embeds as well as Google Analytics and meta tags.
Pro Plus: The most expensive plan, which costs $49 per year, gives users 25 sites, custom templates, redirects, password protection, and the ability to update their websites frequently. They also get access to advanced settings and can download their sites.
Downsides Of Carrd
Along with the many upsides of Carrd, there are some downsides that you should be aware of. Because it is such a new and affordable website builder, it lacks some features and customization that you might want or need for your website.
Also, with Carrd, you are limited to creating only one-page websites. This can limit some users who want to create a more complex website. Additionally, there are fewer elements and editing options available with Carrd than other website builders.
Carrd Alternatives
Carrd is a popular website builder that allows users to create simple, one-page websites. It is known for its affordability and ease of use. However, Carrd is not the only website builder out there. Plenty of other options are available, each with its features and pricing. They include:
1. Wix
Wix is one of the most popular website builders on the market. It offers a wide range of features and templates, making it a great option for those looking to create a more complex website. Wix also has an eCommerce platform, making it ideal for those looking to sell products online.
Also, the platform is free to use, though you will need to upgrade to a paid plan if you want to remove Wix branding from your website. While Wix is a great option for those looking to create a more complex website, it may not be ideal for those looking for a simple, one-page website.
2. Weebly
Weebly is another popular website builder that offers a simple drag-and-drop interface. It has many templates and features, including eCommerce options and a blog.
Weebly is a good option if you're looking for an all-in-one platform. It's easy to use and has everything you need to create a professional website. However, it can be more expensive than other options on this list.
Also, Weebly's templates are not as modern or customizable as some other options. So, if you're looking for a cutting-edge design, Weebly may not be the best option.
3. SquareSpace
With Squarespace, you can create beautiful landing pages that are responsive and look great on all devices. You can also use their drag-and-drop builder to make creating your pages easy. Their plans are affordable, starting at just $12 per month.
The features like analytics and eCommerce integrations make SquareSpace a great choice for businesses of all sizes. And, if you need any help, their customer support is excellent.
4. Zyro
For those in search of Carrd alternatives, Zyro could be a great option. Zyro is a website builder that offers users everything they need to create a beautiful and professional website, all in one place. It specializes in creating landing pages and offers a wide range of features and templates.
What’s great about Zyro is that it offers a free plan for those who are just starting and paid plans for those who need more features and customization options. Also, Zyro has a wide range of integrations, so you can easily add features like forms, chatbots, and more to your website.
FAQs
1. Is Carrd Really Free?
Yes, you can create up to 3 pages for free. You can also use custom domain names with the free plan. For more pages and features, you can upgrade to a paid plan.
2. What Payment Methods Does Carrd Support?
Carrd accepts all major credit cards, including Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover. You can also pay with PayPal. Whether you have a free or paid plan, you can upgrade, downgrade, or cancel your subscription anytime.
3. What’s the Difference Between Free and Paid Plans?
With a free plan, you can create up to 3 pages and use a custom domain name. With a paid plan, you can create an unlimited number of pages, use custom fonts, and get access to other features.
4. How Do I Upgrade to a Paid Plan?
You can upgrade to a paid plan anytime from your Carrd account. Just click on the “Upgrade” button and choose the plan you want. You’ll be able to enter your payment information and start using the paid features immediately.
5. Can I Create A Portfolio With Carrd?
Yes, you can create a portfolio with Carrd. Just choose the “Portfolio” template when creating a new page. You can then add your projects and information about each one. Whether you're a freelancer, artist, or photographer, Carrd can help you showcase your work.
Conclusion
With its ease of use, variety of features, and affordable price point, Carrd is a great landing page builder for those just starting with building landing pages. For more experienced users, Carrd offers the ability to create more complex pages with custom code embeds. Overall, we feel that Carrd is a great tool for creating simple to moderate complexity landing pages.
Whether you are just starting or have some experience with landing pages, Carrd is a great builder to create affordable pages quickly and easily. Its simple-to-use interface and wide range of features should be your go-to tool for creating landing pages.