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Developer Tools · head to head

Blacksmith vs Carrd

Blacksmith logo

Blacksmith

Developer Tools

2x faster GitHub Actions with 60% cost savings

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Full reviewWebsite
Carrd logo

Carrd

Web Development

Ultra-affordable one-page site builder.

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Blacksmith per-minute pricing model requires estimating usage to predict costs; Carrd free tier strictly limited to 3 sites; any additional sites require upgrading to Pro
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 29 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Blacksmith and Carrd actually diverge.

Attributes where Blacksmith and Carrd differ
AttributeBlacksmithCarrd
Pricing modelUnknownfreemium
PlatformsGitHub Actions, Linux, Windows, macOSWeb, Mobile
CategoryDeveloper ToolsWeb Development

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Blacksmith

  • Bare metal runners
  • Multiple OS support
  • ARM support
  • Docker layer caching
  • Sticky disks
  • GitHub Actions observability
  • Free tier
  • Static IPs

Only in Carrd

Nothing recorded that Blacksmith does not also cover.

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Blacksmith

  • Replacing GitHub Actions runners with faster, cheaper infrastructurenot Carrd
  • Accelerating CI build times for organizations with heavy CI loadnot Carrd
  • Reducing cloud spend on GitHub Actions by 60% or morenot Carrd
  • Supporting ARM architecture builds without GitHub runnersnot Carrd

Carrd

  • Indie makers and solopreneurs building personal portfolios or landing pagesnot Blacksmith
  • Small business owners requiring minimal online presence at low costnot Blacksmith
  • Link-in-bio alternatives for social media profiles and contact pagesnot Blacksmith
  • Email capture pages for newsletters or lead magnetsnot Blacksmith
  • Cost-conscious teams requiring a cheap website alternative to Webflow or Squarespacenot Blacksmith

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Blacksmith

  • Per-minute pricing model requires estimating usage to predict costs
  • macOS M4 pricing ($0.08/min) is significantly higher than GitHub Actions
  • Docker layer caching and sticky disks are paid add-ons at $0.50/GB/mo
  • Static IP add-on costs $100/IP/mo

Carrd

  • Free tier strictly limited to 3 sites; any additional sites require upgrading to Pro
  • Pro plan includes Carrd branding removal but still lacks advanced features (e-commerce, multi-step funnels, complex forms)
  • Single-page design only; does not support multi-page websites or complex site structures
  • Limited template library compared to competitors like Leadpages or Unbounce
  • Annual payment required for Pro tier; no monthly payment option
  • No native A/B testing, analytics dashboard or conversion optimisation tools built-in

Pricing, plan by plan

Blacksmith

Free
  • Ubuntu x64$0.004/minute
    • 3,000 free minutes per month
    • 2x faster hardware
    • 4x faster cache downloads
  • Ubuntu ARM$0.0025/minute
    • 3,000 free minutes per month
    • 2x faster hardware
    • 4x faster cache downloads
  • Windows x64$0.008/minute
    • 3,000 free minutes per month
    • 2x faster hardware
    • 4x faster cache downloads
  • macOS M4$0.08/minute
    • 3,000 free minutes per month
    • 2x faster hardware
    • 4x faster cache downloads

Carrd

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 3 sites
    • Responsive design
    • Templates and blank pages
  • Pro$19/year
    • Unlimited sites
    • Custom domain with SSL
    • Contact forms

Which should you pick?

Choose Blacksmith if

  • You need bare metal runners.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on GitHub Actions, Linux, Windows, macOS.
  • You also want multiple os support.
Blacksmith review

Choose Carrd if

  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Mobile.
Carrd review

Questions people ask

Is Blacksmith or Carrd better?
Neither clearly leads. Blacksmith starts at Free and Carrd at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Blacksmith or Carrd?
Blacksmith starts at Free and Carrd at Free.
Does Blacksmith or Carrd run on more platforms?
Blacksmith runs on GitHub Actions, Linux, Windows, macOS. Carrd runs on Web, Mobile.
Can I use Blacksmith for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Blacksmith best used for?
Blacksmith is most often used for replacing github actions runners with faster, cheaper infrastructure, accelerating ci build times for organizations with heavy ci load, reducing cloud spend on github actions by 60% or more, supporting arm architecture builds without github runners. Of those, replacing github actions runners with faster, cheaper infrastructure and accelerating ci build times for organizations with heavy ci load are not what Carrd is typically brought in for.
What can Blacksmith do that Carrd cannot?
Blacksmith covers Bare metal runners, Multiple OS support, ARM support, Docker layer caching.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Blacksmith: How much do Blacksmith runners cost compared to GitHub Actions?

Blacksmith offers 60-75% cost savings depending on OS. Ubuntu x64 costs $0.004/min vs GitHub at $0.012/min. All plans include 3,000 free minutes monthly.

Source
Carrd: How much does Carrd cost?

Carrd is free for up to 3 sites. The Pro plan costs $19/year and enables unlimited sites with custom domains, forms and integrations.

Source
Blacksmith: Can I use Docker layer caching with Blacksmith?

Yes, Docker layer caching is available as an add-on at $0.50/GB/mo. Managed Docker layer persistence is included with the base service.

Source
Carrd: Can I use Carrd for e-commerce?

Carrd's Pro plan supports payment forms with Stripe integration, but it is not a full e-commerce platform. Single-product sales or payment collection is possible, but inventory management and complex product catalogs are not supported.

Source
Blacksmith: What is the SLA for Enterprise plans?

Enterprise Blacksmith plans include a 99.9% SLA guarantee along with 24/7 priority support, dedicated Slack channels, white-glove onboarding, and CI optimization support.

Source
Carrd: Can I create multi-page websites with Carrd?

No. Carrd is designed for single-page sites only. For multi-page websites, you would need to use a full website builder like Webflow or Squarespace.

Source
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