Final verdict
Carrd and Appy Pie offer distinct advantages for users with different needs, with Appy Pie taking a slight lead in overall score.
-
Carrd (Overall Grade: 6.1/10)
excels in simplicity and ease of use, making it an ideal choice for individuals and small businesses looking to create single-page websites quickly. Its focus on affordability, responsive design, and straightforward customization options cater to users who need a no-frills, effective online presence. Carrd’s user-friendly interface and attractive templates are particularly suited for personal profiles, portfolios, and simple landing pages. -
Appy Pie (Overall Grade: 7.2/10)
, on the other hand, stands out for its broader feature set and flexibility, catering to users who require more than just a single-page website. With its AI-driven design capabilities, extensive ecommerce features, and robust customer support, Appy Pie is geared towards businesses and individuals looking for a comprehensive, no-code solution for creating both websites and apps. Its ability to convert websites to apps and offer a wide range of integrations makes it a versatile choice for a diverse user base.
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
Design functionalities & templates |
7.5 |
6.8 |
|
Ease of use |
9.0 |
8.3 |
|
Ecommerce |
3.5 |
7.2 |
|
Website Editors |
7.0 |
7.7 |
|
Product testing options |
6.0 |
8.9 |
|
Price |
8.9 |
7.4 |
|
Hosting quality |
5.0 |
6.9 |
|
Website speed optimization |
8.2 |
5.0 |
|
Plugins and integrations |
5.8 |
6.4 |
|
Marketing features |
5.8 |
7.5 |
|
Customer support |
6.2 |
8.2 |
|
Security |
7.6 |
7.5 |
|
AI capabilities |
0.0 |
7.2 |
|
User Management |
4.3 |
7.3 |
| Overall |
6.1 |
7.2 |
Best for ecommerce
3.5
7.2
Verdict
: For users seeking to build and manage an online store with a range of ecommerce features, Appy Pie emerges as the superior choice over Carrd.
-
Carrd
: Best suited for simple, one-page websites, Carrd’s ecommerce capabilities are limited and largely dependent on external integrations. It’s a viable option for those needing a minimalist online presence with basic product listings. -
Appy Pie
: With a focus on ease of use and a broader array of built-in ecommerce features, Appy Pie stands out for users looking to create more comprehensive online stores. Its platform offers better support for product and inventory management, multiple currencies, and various shipping options.
Best for informational & business websites
7.9
7.4
Verdict
: Carrd edges out Appy Pie for informational and business websites, thanks to its superior design flexibility, ease of use, and focus on security.
-
Carrd
: Carrd shines for simple, single-page informational websites with its straightforward design and ease of use. It’s particularly well-suited for individuals and small businesses that prioritize quick setup and minimalistic design. Carrd’s focus on responsive design and security further bolsters its appeal for informational sites. -
Appy Pie
: While Appy Pie offers a broader range of features and integrations, making it versatile for various website types, it falls slightly behind Carrd for purely informational and business websites. Its strengths in customer support and plugins make it a strong contender, but for users prioritizing simplicity and design, Carrd holds a slight edge.
Detailed comparison
Design functionalities & templates
Design FunctionalitiesRepresents how well each platform allows for creative design and customization of websites.Score Components:
- Template Variety (30%): Range and quality of design templates.
- Customization (30%): Flexibility and options for design alterations.
- User Interface (20%): Ease and intuitiveness of the design process.
- Responsiveness (10%): Adaptability to different devices and screen sizes.
- Innovation (10%): Unique design features and tools.
7.5
6.8
🏆
Winner: Carrd.
Carrd offers a higher degree of customization flexibility and creative design possibilities compared to Appy Pie.
Carrd is a versatile platform that offers a wide variety of templates and designs, catering to different needs and preferences. Users can choose from a broad selection of themes, ranging from simple and minimalist to complex and dynamic layouts, ensuring there’s something for everyone.
On the other hand, Appy Pie offers a wide array of website templates with over 10,000 options, catering to various needs and budgets. However, layout modifications are limited, and fine-tuning the mobile experience has constraints.
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Ease of use
Ease of useReflects the platform’s overall user-friendliness.Score
Components:
- Learning curve (40%): Quickness and ease of getting started.
- Interface design (30%): Simplicity and intuitiveness of layout.
- User guidance (20%): Quality of tutorials and support.
- Flexibility (10%): Adaptability to various user skills.
9.0
8.3
🏆 Winner: Carrd
. With a score of 9.0, Carrd edges out Appy Pie, which scored 8.3. Carrd’s simplicity and intuitive drag-and-drop interface make it a highly user-friendly platform, ideal for beginners and those seeking to create single-page websites quickly. Appy Pie, while also user-friendly and intuitive, falls slightly short in comparison.
Learning Resources
🏆 Winner: Carrd
. Both platforms offer learning resources, but Carrd’s are more comprehensive and high-quality, providing clear, step-by-step instructions that cater to both beginners and those with more experience in web design. Appy Pie’s resources, while clear and well-organized, could use improvement in depth, especially for advanced topics.
For ecommerce
EcommerceMeasures the platform’s effectiveness in supporting online business activities.Score Components:
- Ecommerce themes and templates (20%): Variety and design of templates.
- Product management (25%): Ease of managing and organizing products.
- Payment options (25%): Variety and convenience of payment methods.
- Ecommerce features (20%): Features for managing an ecommerce store.
- Integration (10%): Compatibility with external e-commerce tools and services.
3.5
7.2
Carrd, primarily designed for building one-page websites, does not inherently offer robust eCommerce features out of the box. Users looking to incorporate eCommerce functionalities would need to integrate third-party services or use external links to platforms like Etsy or Shopify. On the other hand, Appy Pie provides a more comprehensive set of ecommerce features for building and managing online stores within your app.
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
Ecommerce themes and templates |
4.5 |
6.0 |
|
Product page customization |
3.0 |
7.0 |
|
Payment processing and commissions |
5.0 |
6.5 |
|
POS capabilities |
0.0 |
6.0 |
|
Payment gateways |
5.5 |
7.5 |
|
Product numbers |
2.0 |
6.5 |
|
Additional ecommerce features |
3.5 |
7.0 |
Carrd ecommerce features:
- Paypal and Stripe Integration
- External Widgets integrations
- Basic Product Listing options
Appy Pie ecommerce features:
- Product and Inventory Management
- Shopping Cart
- Multiple Currencies
- Promotions and Discounts
- Order Management
- Shipping Options
- Analytics
- Tax management
Ecommerce themes & templates
Carrd provides a selection of 14 e-commerce templates aimed at users looking to quickly launch online stores for products ranging from e-books to physical goods. These templates are crafted with a focus on simplicity and conversion optimization, featuring designs that vary from dark themes to minimalist aesthetics. They are priced starting at $19 or $25, depending on the template, and require a Pro Standard account or higher due to the use of advanced elements and widgets.
On the other hand, Appy Pie offers a small selection of ecommerce website templates. These templates are designed to help users create online stores quickly and efficiently, without the need for coding skills. Appy Pie’s ecommerce templates feature mobile-first designs, customizable product galleries, and various other features aimed at enhancing the online shopping experience for both the store owner and their customers.
Product page customization
Carrd offers a streamlined approach to ecommerce product page customization, primarily through integrations with third-party platforms such as Stripe, Lemon Squeezy, and Gumroad. Users can create product pages within Carrd by adding product details like name, description, image, and price, and then integrate a checkout button using Carrd’s Widget element for platforms like Stripe. Users can integrate third-party services for ecommerce functionalities, but the customization possibilities for product pages would then depend on the capabilities of those external platforms.
In contrast, Appy Pie’s Website Builder provides users with extensive customization options for product pages, enabling the creation of unique online stores or product showcases without requiring advanced coding skills. Users can personalize product details like descriptions, images, and pricing, ensuring they can offer comprehensive information to assist customers in making informed purchasing choices.
Payment processing
When it comes to payment processing, Carrd allows for payment-enabled forms for Pro Plus users or higher, integrating with Stripe Checkout for payment processing. This setup enables creating forms for various transactions like order forms or paid email lists. The process requires setting up the payment through Stripe, either via a preconfigured price or a custom price, and entering Stripe API keys. There’s no direct mention of Carrd charging commissions or offering POS capabilities within this documentation. For payment gateways, it specifically supports Stripe and Paypal.
Appy Pie offers a user-friendly platform for integrating payment processing and POS capabilities into mobile apps and online stores, supporting multiple payment gateways like PayPal, Stripe, and Square for secure and versatile customer transactions. While it facilitates easy payment integrations, commission management may require third-party solutions or custom setups. This makes Appy Pie an effective tool for businesses looking to provide a comprehensive shopping experience with a focus on mobility and flexibility.
Website Editors
Website EditorsEvaluates the platforms’ website building and editing capabilities.Score Components:
- Customization tools (40%): Range and power of editing features.
- Editor usability (30%): User experience within the editor.
- Design flexibility (20%): Freedom in layout and design changes.
- Update and maintenance ease (10%): Simplicity of updating and maintaining the site.
7.0
7.7
🏆
Winner: Appy Pie
. Appy Pie, with a score of 7.7, is a user-friendly, cloud-based platform that allows individuals, professionals, and small businesses to create mobile-friendly websites without needing to code. It offers a drag-and-drop interface, customizable templates, and various features like social media integration, ecommerce capabilities, and SEO tools. This makes it an ideal solution for quickly creating a wide range of websites, from landing pages to online stores, tailored to users’ specific needs and brand identities.
Carrd’s website builder editor, scoring 7.0, is designed for simplicity and efficiency, catering primarily to users looking to create single-page websites. It offers a user-friendly interface that allows for easy drag-and-drop functionality, enabling users to add, customize, and position elements such as text, images, buttons, and forms with minimal effort. The editor also provides a range of pre-designed templates and responsive design options, ensuring that websites look professional and work seamlessly across various devices. Additionally, Carrd includes basic SEO tools and integration capabilities with external services, making it a versatile choice for personal projects, portfolios, and small business landing pages.
Mobile editor/app
5.5
5.5
🏆
It’s a tie
. Both Carrd and Appy Pie do not have a dedicated mobile app for editing. However, they allow users to edit their websites via a mobile browser. This feature provides flexibility for users who want to make quick changes or updates to their websites on the go. Despite the lack of a dedicated mobile app, both platforms manage to provide a decent mobile editing experience, earning them the same score in this category.
Product testing options
Product Testing OptionsAssesses the options for trying out platform features before commitment.Score Components:
- Trial quality (40%): Extent and usefulness of the trial or free version.
- Feature accessibility (30%): How many features are available to test.
- Trial duration (20%): Length of the trial period.
- Ease of transition (10%): Smoothness of moving from trial to paid plans.
6.0
8.9
Overall Result
:
Appy Pie Wins
. Appy Pie scores 8.9 in product testing options, significantly higher than Carrd’s 6.0. Appy Pie offers a longer trial period of 30 days compared to Carrd’s 7 days. Additionally, Appy Pie allows testing of all premium features during the trial period, while Carrd only allows testing of premium features. Neither platform offers a money back guarantee.
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
Free Plan |
No | No |
|
Trial Duration |
7 days |
30 days |
|
Testing Premium Features |
Premium features during trial |
All features during free trial |
|
Money Back Guarantee |
No | No |
Price
PriceLooks at the cost-effectiveness and value for money of each platform.Score Components:
- Plan value (40%): What each pricing tier offers.
- Transparency and clarity (30%): Clearness of pricing structures.
- Flexibility of plans (20%): Range of options to suit different budgets.
- Hidden costs (10%): Additional expenses not included in the plan.
8.9
7.4
Carrd offers more affordable plans, but Appy Pie provides more features and an enterprise plan for larger businesses.
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
$0-$1 |
Pro Lite ($0.75/month): Basic features suitable for simple, personal websites. Up to 3 1-page websites. Value for price: 6.0 |
No offering at this amount. |
|
$1-$3 |
Pro Standard ($1.58/month): Offers more features and flexibility, ideal for professional profiles and small projects. Up to 10 1-page websites. Value for price: 7.5 |
No offering at this amount. |
|
$3-$10 |
Pro Plus ($4.08/month): Enhanced features for more complex sites, including additional customization options. Up to 25 1-page websites. Value for price: 8.5 |
No offering at this amount. |
|
$10-$20 |
No offering at this amount. |
Start ($18/month): Suitable for personal projects, offering 50 GB storage and access to professional theme templates, domain connection, no Appy Pie ads, CSS & Java customization, etc. Value for price: 6.5 |
|
$30+ |
No offering at this amount. |
Grow ($36/month): Aimed at small businesses, providing unlimited storage, advanced marketing and monetizing tools, multiple payment gateways, etc. Value for price: 8.5 |
location. As a result in rare cases the prices displayed here can differ from the ones you see on their
websites.
Hosting quality
Hosting
qualityExamines the reliability and performance of the hosting solutions.Score Components:
- Uptime (40%): Consistency and reliability of website availability.
- Speed (30%): Loading times and performance.
- Bandwidth and storage (20%): Sufficiency of resources provided.
- Data centers (10%): Quality and distribution of hosting infrastructure.
5.0
6.9
Winner: Appy Pie
. Appy Pie offers a proprietary hosting service with storage options ranging from 50GB to unlimited and includes unlimited bandwidth for all plans. It also ensures data safety by incorporating automatic backup in all plans. Carrd, on the other hand, offers shared hosting but does not provide specific information on bandwidth or storage limitations and does not have a traditional backup system.
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
Do they offer hosting? |
Yes, Carrd offers shared hosting integrated with its website-building platform, however they don’t provide specific information on bandwidth or storage limitations. Additionally the platform does not have backups in traditional sense, users can create limited amount of copies of their websites or download the websites on higher plans. | Yes, AppyPie offers a hosting solution, without providing details on hosting types. It features plans with storage options ranging from 50GB to unlimited and includes unlimited bandwidth for all plans to accommodate varying traffic volumes. Additionally, AppyPie ensures data safety across its offerings by incorporating automatic backup in all plans |
|
Data Centers: |
Carrd doesn’t publicly disclose any information about its data centers. | Appy Pie relies on Amazon Web Services (AWS) |
|
Type of hosting: |
Shared Hosting | Proprietary hosting service |
|
Uptime: |
Carrd.co does not provide any statistics on uptime and neither they have uptime guarantee. | 99% |
|
Uptime Guarantee: |
No | Yes, 99% |
Website Speed Optimization
Website Speed OptimizationEvaluates optimization of website loading timesScore Components:
- PageSpeed Score (30%): Google’s score indicating performance optimization.
- Loading Time (30%): The average time until a website is fully interactive.
- Mobile Optimization (15%): Optimization effectiveness for mobile devices.
- Resource Optimization (15%): Optimizing images, scripts, and other heavy resources.
- CDN Usage (10%): Use of CDN to enhance speed across geolocations.
8.2
5.0
🏆 Winner: Carrd
Carrd and Appy Pie both offer tools and features for website speed optimization, but Carrd takes the lead with a higher website speed optimization score and more direct strategies for speed optimization.
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
Focus |
Mobile Responsive design, Caching, Cloudflare CDN |
Tools and features for user optimization |
|
Performance Tools |
Not specified |
Not specified |
|
Key Strategies |
Mobile Responsive design, Caching, Cloudflare CDN |
No direct strategies, user optimization |
|
Load Times |
Minimal due to simplicity of websites |
Varies widely, depending on optimization and user’s location |
|
Page Speed Scores Range |
High due to simplicity of websites |
Varies widely, depending on optimization and user’s location |
|
Core Web Vitals Improvement |
Not disclosed |
Not disclosed |
Carrd, with its focus on simplicity and ease of use, offers a variety of strategies for website speed optimization, including mobile responsive design, caching, and Cloudflare CDN. Given that websites built with Carrd are fairly simple, load times are expected to be minimal, and page speed scores are expected to be high. However, Carrd does not disclose any information related to Core Web Vitals improvements.
On the other hand, Appy Pie, as a website building platform, doesn’t directly implement specific speed optimization strategies for your website. However, they offer various tools and features that can help you optimize your website’s speed on your own. Both load times and Page speed scores vary widely, depending on the optimization and user’s location. Appy Pie does not disclose any information on their Core Web Vitals improvements.
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Plugins and integrations
Plugins and integrationsMeasures the range and effectiveness of additional plugins and integrations.Score Components:
- Variety of options (40%): Range of available add-ons.
- Integration smoothness (30%): Ease of integrating plugins into the site.
- Quality of plugins (20%): Functionality and reliability of the options.
- Custom integration capabilities (10%): Support for custom or third-party integrations.
5.8
6.4
🏆 Winner: Appy Pie.
With a score of 6.4, Appy Pie offers a wider range of plugins and extensions, especially for users on paid plans. It provides over 100 plugins across various categories such as marketing, design, social media, SEO, analytics, payments, and more. Carrd, scoring 5.8, also offers a variety of plugins and extensions, but they are more limited in number and functionality compared to Appy Pie.
However, it’s worth noting that Carrd offers some unique plugins like scroll-to-top buttons, accordion FAQs, autoplay videos on mobile, and confetti buttons, which can enhance user interactions and content presentation.
Marketing Features
Marketing featuresAssesses tools and options available for marketing.Score Components:
- SEO tools (40%): Effectiveness of SEO features.
- Marketing automation (30%): Availability and quality of marketing tools.
- Social Media integration (20%): Ease and depth of social media connectivity.
- Email marketing (10%): Quality and usability of email marketing tools.
5.8
7.5
🏆
Overall Winner: Appy Pie
. Appy Pie stands out for its more comprehensive marketing tools, especially in email marketing, blogging, and analytics and reporting. Carrd, while offering a simpler and more streamlined approach, provides basic marketing features and relies on third-party integrations for more advanced functionalities.
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
SEO Tools |
|
|
|
Email Marketing |
✓ (through third-party integrations) |
|
|
Blogging |
|
|
|
Social Media Integration |
|
|
|
Analytics and Reporting |
✓ (through Google Analytics integration) |
|
|
Ads and Promotions |
✓ (through third-party integrations) |
|
Customer Support
Customer supportEvaluates the quality and availability of support options.Score Components:
- Response time (40%): Speed of support responses.
- Support quality (30%): Effectiveness and helpfulness of the support.
- Availability (20%): Range of support channels (phone, chat, email).
- Resource richness (10%): Quality of self-help and educational materials.
6.2
8.2
🏆 Winner: Appy Pie
. With a customer support score of 8.2, Appy Pie outperforms Carrd, which has a score of 6.2. Appy Pie offers 24/7 customer support through various channels including live chat, email, and phone. They also provide extensive documentation and tutorials on their website to help users troubleshoot common problems on their own. For enterprise-level customers, Appy Pie offers enhanced support options, including priority email and chat support, and the benefit of a dedicated account manager.
On the other hand, Carrd provides 24/7 support via email, with responses typically within 24 hours. However, they do not provide enterprise support, which could be a drawback for larger businesses.
Security
SecurityLooks at the platforms’ security measures and data protection.Score Components:
- Data protection (40%): Safeguards for user and customer data.
- SSL and encryption (30%): Implementation of secure connections.
- Compliance (20%): Adherence to industry security standards.
- Regular updates (10%): Frequency of security updates and patches.
7.6
7.5
🏆
Winner: Carrd
. Carrd takes a slightly stronger stance on security with a score of 7.6 compared to Appy Pie’s 7.5. Carrd ensures website security by automatically enabling SSL for all sites, including custom domains and subdomains. This measure safeguards websites against unauthorized access and hacking. Carrd also collects personal information but does not sell it, implementing measures to protect this information both online and offline.
Appy Pie also prioritizes security, offering advanced encryption and strict access controls to protect user data. They ensure website security through SSL encryption, regular security audits, and secure hosting. Additionally, they provide two-factor authentication and password protection for user accounts. Despite these measures, Appy Pie falls slightly short of Carrd in the security score.
AI Capabilities
AI capabilitiesMeasures the effectiveness of AI-driven features and tools.Score Components:
- Automation efficiency (40%): Impact of AI on streamlining processes.
- Personalization (30%): AI-driven customization for users or customers.
- AI-Assisted design (20%): Role of AI in website design and functionality.
- Data analysis (10%): Use of AI in interpreting user data and analytics.
0.0
7.2
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
Personalized Design |
|
Appy Pie uses AI to design and customize websites based on user preferences |
|
Customer Behavior Analysis |
|
AI-powered analytics and insights for data-driven decisions |
|
Sales Predictions |
|
|
|
Inventory Management |
|
|
|
Content Generation |
|
AI assistance in creating top-notch content for blogs, marketing, and social media |
|
Chatbots |
|
AI-powered chatbots for 24/7 customer service |
🏆 Winner: Appy Pie
. Appy Pie, with a score of 7.2, utilizes AI to enhance the website building experience. Its AI features focus on personalized design, content generation, customer behavior analysis, and customer service through chatbots.
Carrd, on the other hand, does not have any AI capabilities. It focuses on simplicity and ease of use, allowing users to create attractive and functional websites without the need for extensive web development skills. However, it lacks the advanced AI features offered by Appy Pie.
User Management
User ManagementAssesses the platforms’ capabilities in managing user roles, permissions, and accessibility.Score Components:
- Role Customization (40%): Flexibility in creating and defining user roles and
permissions. - Ease of Management (30%): User interface and tools for managing users.
- Access Control (20%): Effectiveness of access control measures for different user
levels. - Scalability (10%): Ability to manage a growing number of users efficiently.
4.3
7.3
🏆 Winner: Appy Pie
. Both Carrd and Appy Pie offer different approaches to user management.
- Carrd is primarily designed for individual use or small teams, with each account managing its own sites. The platform introduced a Team feature to allow multiple users to collaborate, but traditionally, Carrd sites are managed by a single account holder with full control. The specifics of access levels and permissions for collaborators, if available, are less detailed but generally include editing capabilities.
- The Appy Pie website builder offers different user access levels based on the plan chosen. For the Free Plan, one user has full editing privileges. Paid plans include the Starter Plan (3 users), Hobby Plan (5 users), Professional Plan (10 users), and Enterprise Plan (unlimited users). Each plan designates an Admin with full access and additional Editors with varying editing rights. Additionally, paid plans allow for customization of roles, enabling tasks such as content editing or design adjustments.
Additional Features
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
SSL Certificate |
|
|
|
Custom Domain |
|
|
|
Free Custom Domain Included |
|
|
|
International Domains |
|
|
|
Mobile Responsive |
|
|
|
Page Speed |
|
|
|
Website Builder Mobile App |
|
|
|
Convert a Website To An App |
|
|
|
Website Analytics |
|
|
|
Multilingual Sites |
|
|
|
Multiple Users |
|
|
User Feedback
Carrd users overwhelmingly praise the platform for its user-friendly interface, excellent customer support, and attractive templates, which make website creation effortless and enjoyable. The drag-and-drop builder, affordability, and mobile-friendly designs are highlighted as significant benefits. However, some users express limitations, such as the inability to create multi-page websites or a desire for more design options. Overall, Carrd is praised for its affordability, ease of use, and suitability for creating quick, simple webpages.
Appy Pie garners positive feedback for its user-friendly interface and excellent customer support, offering low-code solutions for app and website building without requiring coding experience. Users appreciate its ease of use, extensive features, and ability to create apps and websites quickly. While some express a desire for more customization options and templates, overall, Appy Pie serves as a valuable tool for businesses and individuals seeking to create apps and websites efficiently, solving the problem of complex coding requirements and providing a platform for easy communication and engagement with users.
The making of this blog
We followed a clear, step-by-step process to write and research this article.
FAQ
Which platform is better for creating single-page websites, Carrd or Appy Pie?
Can I use Carrd or Appy Pie for building an online store?
How do Carrd and Appy Pie compare in terms of design flexibility and customization?
Which platform offers better support for informational and business websites?
Are there any AI capabilities in Carrd or Appy Pie?
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