Carrd vs Eleventy
Carrd is simple, responsive one-page site builder for personal profiles, landing pages, and forms, while Eleventy is simple static site generator with flexible templating and zero client-side JavaScript. Eleventy is open source and can be self-hosted, giving you full control over your data. Carrd is built for anyone needing a simple one-page site fast, whereas Eleventy targets developers wanting a simple, zero-config static site generator.
At a glance
|
Carrd
|
Eleventy
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Anyone needing a simple one-page site fast | Developers wanting a simple, zero-config static site generator |
| Starting price | Free | Free |
| Free tier | ✓ | ✓ |
| Open source | — | ✓ |
| Free tier available | ✓ | ✓ |
| Open source | — | ✓ |
| Custom Domains | ✓ | — |
| Data Cascade | — | ✓ |
| Forms | ✓ | — |
| Multiple Templates | — | ✓ |
| One-Page Sites | ✓ | — |
| Plugins | — | ✓ |
| Responsive | ✓ | — |
| Zero Config | — | ✓ |
Carrd
Strengths
- Includes One-Page Sites as a core feature, purpose-built for website builder workflows
- Built-in forms let you collect requests and turn submissions into tasks automatically
- 3 free sites — generous enough for most small teams to get real work done
- Includes responsive alongside the core feature set — fewer separate tools needed
Weaknesses
- Free plan exists but key features are locked behind the paid upgrade
- Fewer built-in features means you may need additional tools to cover gaps
- Performance and SEO control is limited compared to custom-coded sites
- Limited team/admin features if your organization eventually scales up
Eleventy
Strengths
- Open source and transparent
- Includes Zero Config as a core feature, purpose-built for website builder workflows
- Fully open-source — you can self-host, audit the code, and avoid vendor lock-in
- The core product is free with no paywalled essentials
Weaknesses
- May lack some advanced features
- Self-hosting is free but requires server maintenance and DevOps knowledge
- Fewer built-in features means you may need additional tools to cover gaps
- Performance and SEO control is limited compared to custom-coded sites
The bottom line
Pricing: Both Carrd and Eleventy are free. You can try both without spending a dollar.
Feature gaps: Carrd offers Custom Domains, Forms and One-Page Sites that Eleventy lacks. Eleventy brings Data Cascade, Multiple Templates and Plugins that Carrd does not have.
Team fit: Both tools target individuals teams, so the decision hinges on features and workflow fit rather than scale.
Open source: Eleventy is open source, meaning you can self-host, audit the code, and avoid vendor lock-in. Carrd is proprietary — you are trusting the vendor with your data and uptime.
Where each tool shines: Carrd's biggest strengths are: includes one-page sites as a core feature, purpose-built for website builder workflows. built-in forms let you collect requests and turn submissions into tasks automatically. Eleventy's biggest strengths are: open source and transparent. includes zero config as a core feature, purpose-built for website builder workflows.
Watch out for: With Carrd, users commonly note that free plan exists but key features are locked behind the paid upgrade. With Eleventy, the main complaint is that may lack some advanced features.
Choose Carrd if...
- You need a tool built for anyone needing a simple one-page site fast
- You specifically need Custom Domains and Forms
- You care about built-in forms let you collect requests and turn submissions into tasks automatically
- The free tier works for you: 3 free sites
Choose Eleventy if...
- Your profile matches its sweet spot: developers wanting a simple, zero-config static site generator
- You need self-hosting, data sovereignty, or the ability to audit source code
- You specifically need Data Cascade and Multiple Templates
- You care about includes zero config as a core feature, purpose-built for website builder workflows
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