Web Development · head to head
Carrd vs Preact
Preact
Web Development
3kB alternative to React with the same modern API
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Carrd free tier strictly limited to 3 sites; any additional sites require upgrading to Pro; Preact compatibility through preact/compat is good but not total, and some React libraries break in ways that are hard to diagnose
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Carrd and Preact actually diverge.
Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Web Development).
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 Carrd
Nothing recorded that Preact does not also cover.
Only in Preact
- 3kB runtime
- preact/compat
- Same modern API
- Fast rendering
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Carrd
- Indie makers and solopreneurs building personal portfolios or landing pagesnot Preact
- Small business owners requiring minimal online presence at low costnot Preact
- Link-in-bio alternatives for social media profiles and contact pagesnot Preact
- Email capture pages for newsletters or lead magnetsnot Preact
- Cost-conscious teams requiring a cheap website alternative to Webflow or Squarespacenot Preact
Preact
- Embedded widgets that load inside someone else’s page and must stay smallnot Carrd
- Marketing and content sites where JavaScript payload affects Core Web Vitalsnot Carrd
- Applications targeting low-bandwidth or low-powered devicesnot Carrd
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
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
Preact
- Compatibility through preact/compat is good but not total, and some React libraries break in ways that are hard to diagnose
- Behavioural differences from React exist in edge cases, particularly around event handling
- A much smaller community, so unusual problems have fewer existing answers than React
Pricing, plan by plan
Carrd
Free- FreeFree
- 3 sites
- Responsive design
- Templates and blank pages
- Pro$19/year
- Unlimited sites
- Custom domain with SSL
- Contact forms
Preact
Free- PreactFree
- Full library
- Commercial use permitted
- No usage limits
Which should you pick?
Choose Preact if
- You need 3kb runtime.
- You want to start without paying.
- You also want preact/compat.
Questions people ask
- Is Carrd or Preact better?
- Neither clearly leads. Carrd starts at Free and Preact at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Carrd or Preact?
- Carrd starts at Free and Preact at Free.
- Does Carrd or Preact run on more platforms?
- Carrd runs on Web, Mobile. Preact runs on Web.
- Can I use Carrd for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is Carrd best used for?
- Carrd is most often used for indie makers and solopreneurs building personal portfolios or landing pages, small business owners requiring minimal online presence at low cost, link-in-bio alternatives for social media profiles and contact pages, email capture pages for newsletters or lead magnets. Of those, indie makers and solopreneurs building personal portfolios or landing pages and small business owners requiring minimal online presence at low cost are not what Preact is typically brought in for.
- What can Carrd do that Preact cannot?
- Preact covers 3kB runtime, preact/compat, Same modern API, Fast rendering.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
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.
SourcePreact: Is Preact free?
Yes, open source under the MIT licence.
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.
SourcePreact: Can I use React libraries with Preact?
Most, through the preact/compat layer. Compatibility is good but not complete, so libraries relying on React internals can break.
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.
SourcePreact: Why choose Preact over React?
Bundle size, almost always. If payload is not a binding constraint, React’s ecosystem is usually the better trade.
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