Web Development · head to head
PHP vs Carrd
PHP
Web Development
A popular general-purpose scripting language that is especially suited to web development
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: PHP distributed under the Modified BSD License, also called the PHP License version 4, per php.net/license/; there is no paid tier or vendor price to compare; Carrd free tier strictly limited to 3 sites; any additional sites require upgrading to Pro
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which PHP and Carrd actually diverge.
Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Web Development).
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
PHP
No use cases recorded yet. See the PHP review.
Carrd
- Indie makers and solopreneurs building personal portfolios or landing pagesnot PHP
- Small business owners requiring minimal online presence at low costnot PHP
- Link-in-bio alternatives for social media profiles and contact pagesnot PHP
- Email capture pages for newsletters or lead magnetsnot PHP
- Cost-conscious teams requiring a cheap website alternative to Webflow or Squarespacenot PHP
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
PHP
- Distributed under the Modified BSD License, also called the PHP License version 4, per php.net/license/; there is no paid tier or vendor price to compare
- PHP 8.2 lost active support on 31 Dec 2024 and enters full end of life on 31 Dec 2026, with only security fixes since, per php.net/supported-versions.php (Aug 2026)
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
PHP
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the PHP review.
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?
Questions people ask
- Is PHP or Carrd better?
- Neither clearly leads. PHP 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, PHP or Carrd?
- PHP starts at Free and Carrd at Free.
- Does PHP or Carrd run on more platforms?
- PHP runs on Web. Carrd runs on Web, Mobile.
- Can I use PHP for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
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.
SourceCarrd: 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.
SourceCarrd: 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