Final verdict
Carrd and Network Solutions offer distinct approaches to website building, each with its own set of strengths and weaknesses.
-
Carrd (Overall Grade: 6.1/10)
excels in simplicity, design flexibility, and ease of use, making it an excellent choice for individuals and small businesses looking to create single-page websites quickly and efficiently. Its user-friendly interface, affordable pricing, and responsive design capabilities stand out. However, Carrd falls short in ecommerce features and lacks comprehensive marketing tools and AI capabilities, which might limit its appeal to users looking for an all-in-one website solution. -
Network Solutions (Overall Grade: 5.4/10)
, on the other hand, provides a more traditional website building experience with a focus on small businesses. It offers a range of ecommerce features, marketing tools, and customer support options. Despite its strengths, Network Solutions is criticized for its outdated interface, higher pricing, and less intuitive user experience compared to Carrd. Its hosting quality and security measures are notable, but the platform’s overall user feedback suggests room for improvement.
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
Design functionalities & templates |
7.5 |
7.2 |
|
Ease of use |
9.0 |
6.8 |
|
Ecommerce |
3.5 |
6.3 |
|
Website Editors |
7.0 |
6.3 |
|
Product testing options |
6.0 |
0.5 |
|
Price |
8.9 |
6.4 |
|
Hosting quality |
5.0 |
7.8 |
|
Website speed optimization |
8.2 |
6.7 |
|
Plugins and integrations |
5.8 |
4.8 |
|
Marketing features |
5.8 |
7.2 |
|
Customer support |
6.2 |
6.6 |
|
Security |
7.6 |
7.5 |
|
AI capabilities |
0.0 |
1.1 |
|
User Management |
4.3 |
3.2 |
| Overall |
6.1 |
5.4 |
Best for ecommerce
3.5
6.3
Verdict
: For users seeking basic ecommerce functionalities with a focus on simplicity, Carrd might be sufficient. However, Network Solutions emerges as the better choice for those requiring a more comprehensive set of ecommerce tools and features.
-
Carrd
: Best suited for individuals or small projects needing to add simple ecommerce elements to single-page websites. Its reliance on third-party integrations for ecommerce functionalities makes it less ideal for users looking for an all-in-one solution. -
Network Solutions
: Offers a broader range of ecommerce features, including customizable templates, secure payment processing, and inventory management tools, making it a more suitable option for small to medium-sized businesses aiming to establish a more robust online store.
Best for informational & business websites
7.9
7.4
Verdict
: Carrd edges out Network Solutions for individuals and small businesses focused on creating simple, effective informational websites.
-
Carrd
: Excelling in simplicity and ease of use, Carrd is ideal for building single-page, responsive websites. Its focus on design and affordability makes it a go-to for personal profiles, portfolios, and small business landing pages. -
Network Solutions
: While offering a comprehensive suite of services including hosting and domain registration, Network Solutions is more suited for users looking for an all-in-one solution rather than those prioritizing cutting-edge design or simplicity.
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
7.2
🏆
Winner: Carrd.
Carrd offers a wider variety of templates and designs, more customization flexibility, and more creative design possibilities than Network Solutions.
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, Network Solutions offers a wide variety of templates and designs tailored to meet the diverse needs of its users. Whether you’re setting up a website for a small business, a personal blog, or a large e-commerce platform, you’ll find an extensive selection of options to choose from. However, Network Solutions does not provide a link to the themes page and screenshots of the template page and template example.
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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
6.8
🏆 Winner: Carrd
. Scoring a solid 9.0, Carrd stands out for its simplicity and ease of use, making it ideal for beginners and those seeking to create single-page websites quickly. Network Solutions, with a score of 6.8, offers a reliable platform but with a slightly outdated interface and limited customization options.
Learning Resources
🏆 Winner: Carrd
. While both platforms offer solid learning resources, Carrd goes a step further with its wide array of detailed tutorials and active subreddit, making it easier for users to learn and adapt.
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
6.3
Carrd, primarily designed for building one-page websites, does not inherently offer robust eCommerce features out of the box. For users looking to incorporate eCommerce functionalities, they would need to integrate third-party services or use external links to platforms like Etsy or Shopify. This setup can be a downside for those seeking an all-in-one solution with comprehensive eCommerce tools, inventory management, and payment processing directly within the platform.
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
Ecommerce themes and templates |
4.5 |
6.5 |
|
Product page customization |
3.0 |
6.8 |
|
Payment processing and commissions |
5.0 |
6.0 |
|
POS capabilities |
0.0 |
5.0 |
|
Payment gateways |
5.5 |
7.0 |
|
Product numbers |
2.0 |
6.0 |
|
Additional ecommerce features |
3.5 |
5.5 |
Carrd ecommerce features:
- Paypal and Stripe Integration
- External Widgets integrations
- Basic Product Listing options
Network Solutions ecommerce features:
- Marketing Tools
- Personalized Email
- Product Listings
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.
Network Solutions offers a variety of ecommerce templates designed to cater to businesses of different sizes and industries. Their templates are crafted to be responsive, ensuring a seamless shopping experience across various devices, including smartphones, tablets, and desktops. The platform provides a range of customizable templates, allowing users to tailor their online stores to their brand’s aesthetics and requirements. While the exact number of ecommerce templates can vary over time, Network Solutions focuses on delivering quality, professional designs that incorporate essential ecommerce features such as product catalogs, shopping carts, and secure checkout processes.
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.
Network Solutions offers a range of ecommerce product page customization options to enhance the online shopping experience. Users can personalize product descriptions, images, and videos to showcase their items effectively. Additionally, the platform allows for the customization of product options such as size, color, and material, enabling a more interactive and tailored shopping experience for customers. Network Solutions also supports the integration of customer reviews and ratings, further enriching product pages and aiding in the decision-making process for potential buyers.
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.
Network Solutions’ website builder is designed for online stores, small businesses, and personal websites, offering essential e-commerce features including a built-in shopping cart and support for a wide range of payment options such as PayPal, PayFlow, USA ePay, CyberSource, PlugNPay, making it convenient for businesses to process transactions. Network Solutions does not mention that they charge commissions on transactions, commissions are charged by the gateways themselves.
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
6.3
🏆
Winner: Carrd
. Carrd, with a score of 7.0, is a simple, yet powerful platform for building fully responsive, 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.
Network Solutions’ editor, scoring 6.3, offers a comprehensive suite of tools for website creation and management, catering to businesses and individuals alike. It provides an intuitive website editor that allows users to design, edit, and publish their websites without needing advanced technical skills. With a wide array of templates and customization options, users can create professional-looking websites that are responsive and optimized for search engines. Additionally, Network Solutions offers domain registration, web hosting, and security services to support and protect online presences.
Mobile editor/app
5.5
0
🏆
Winner: Carrd
. Both Carrd and Network Solutions do not offer a dedicated mobile editor app. However, Carrd allows users to edit their websites on a mobile browser, which gives it an edge over Network Solutions. Despite this, Carrd’s mobile editor score is 5.5, indicating that the mobile editing experience may not be optimal.
On the other hand, Network Solutions does not offer any mobile editing capabilities, resulting in a score of 0. Therefore, while Carrd is the winner in this comparison, users should note that the mobile editing experience may not be as smooth as on desktop.
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
0.5
Overall Result
:
Carrd Wins
. Carrd scores 6.0, significantly higher than Network Solutions’ 0.5. Carrd offers a 7-day free trial during which users can test premium features, while Network Solutions does not offer a free trial and only allows access to features after purchasing a plan. Neither platform offers a free version, but Network Solutions does provide a 30-day money-back guarantee, albeit with some potential difficulties in obtaining refunds.
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
Free Plan |
No | No |
|
Trial Duration |
7 days | No free trial |
|
Testing Premium Features |
During free trial |
Only after purchasing a plan |
|
Money Back Guarantee |
No | 30 days (may be difficult to get refunds) |
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
6.4
Carrd offers better value for money with a higher price score than Network Solutions.
Neither platform offers an enterprise plan. Carrd charges on an annual basis and does not provide discounts for annual subscriptions, while Network Solutions does not provide any discounts for annual subscriptions.
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
$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-$5 |
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 |
Website ($4.95/month): Easy-to-use website builder – Domain & Domain Privacy: 1 Year Free – Professional Email: 3 Months Free – SSL Certificate: 1 Month Free – 1-hour expert design support Value for price: 6.5 |
|
$5-$9 |
No offering at this amount. |
Website + Marketing ($7.95/month): Includes all features from the Website plan – Sell services – Appointment scheduling – Social and email marketing – AI copywriting tool (NEW) Value for price: 7.5 |
|
$9-$10 |
No offering at this amount. |
Online Store ($9.95/month): Includes all features from the Website + Marketing plan – Sell products and services – Sell on Facebook & Instagram Value for price: 8.0 |
|
$10+ |
No offering at this amount. |
Online Marketplaces ($19.95/month): Includes all features from the Online Store plan – Sell on Amazon, eBay, Etsy, & more 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
7.8
🏆
Winner: Network Solutions
Network Solutions offers a variety of hosting options including shared, VPS, and WordPress hosting, with features like unlimited data transfer and scalable cloud-based environments. They also provide a 99.99% uptime guarantee. Carrd, on the other hand, offers shared hosting integrated with its website-building platform, but does not provide specific information on bandwidth or storage limitations, nor does it offer an uptime guarantee.
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
Do they offer hosting? |
Yes, shared hosting integrated with website-building platform |
Yes, offers a variety of hosting options including shared, VPS, and WordPress hosting |
|
Data Centers: |
Carrd doesn’t publicly disclose any information about its data centers |
Network Solutions doesn’t publicly disclose any information about its data centers |
|
Type of hosting: |
Shared Hosting |
Shared Hosting, VPS hosting, WordPress Hosting |
|
Uptime: |
Carrd.co does not provide any statistics on uptime |
99.99% |
|
Uptime Guarantee: |
No |
Yes, 99.99% |
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
6.7
🏆 Winner: Carrd
Both Carrd and Network Solutions prioritize website performance and page speed, with Carrd focusing on mobile responsive design, caching, and Cloudflare CDN, and Network Solutions emphasizing CDN, web caching, image optimization, and SEO optimization. However, Carrd gets the edge when it comes to website speed optimization.
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
Focus |
Mobile responsive design, caching, Cloudflare CDN |
CDN, web caching, image optimization, SEO optimization |
|
Performance Tools |
Not specified |
Not specified |
|
Key Strategies |
Mobile responsive design, caching, Cloudflare CDN |
CDN, web caching, image optimization, SEO optimization |
|
Load Times |
Minimal |
Varies widely |
|
Page Speed Scores Range |
High |
Varies widely |
|
Core Web Vitals Improvement |
Not disclosed |
LCP, FID, CLS improvements |
Carrd, a platform for building fully responsive, single-page websites, prioritizes mobile responsive design, caching, and Cloudflare CDN for speed optimization. Given the simplicity of websites built with Carrd, 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, Network Solutions, a website builder and hosting service, focuses on CDN, web caching, image optimization, and SEO optimization for speed optimization. The load times and PageSpeed scores of websites built with Network Solutions vary widely, depending on the optimization, hosting type, and website complexity. Network Solutions emphasizes LCP, FID, and CLS improvements for Core Web Vitals.
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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
4.8
🏆 Winner: Carrd.
Carrd, with a score of 5.8, offers a range of plugins and extensions, including both free and paid options, that enable functionalities beyond its base features. Network Solutions, scoring 4.8, offers a variety of plugins/extensions to enhance the functionality of websites built through their platform, although the exact number can vary based on the current offerings and updates. Network Solutions focuses more on providing an all-in-one solution with built-in features rather than a wide range of third-party plugins or extensions.
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
7.2
🏆
Overall Winner: Network Solutions
. Network Solutions offers a more comprehensive set of marketing tools, including SEO features, email marketing, blogging, social media integration, analytics and reporting, and ads and promotions. Carrd, while offering similar features, relies heavily on third-party integrations for its marketing capabilities.
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
SEO Tools |
|
|
|
Email Marketing |
✓ (through third-party integrations) |
|
|
Blogging |
|
|
|
Social Media Integration |
|
|
|
Analytics and Reporting |
✓ (through Google Analytics integration) |
✓ (through visitor statistics and Google Analytics integration) |
|
Ads and Promotions |
✓ (through third-party integrations) |
✓ (includes PPC advertising management for platforms like Google Ads) |
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
6.6
🏆 Winner: Network Solutions
. Network Solutions edges out Carrd in this category with a customer support score of 6.6 compared to Carrd’s 6.2. Network Solutions provides 24/7 live chat support, which is a more immediate form of assistance compared to Carrd’s email support. Neither of the platforms offer enterprise support as they don’t have enterprise plans.
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’s security measures are commendable, with automatic SSL certification for all sites, including custom domains and subdomains. This ensures data security and encryption, protecting websites from unauthorized access and hacking. Carrd also collects personal information and uses cookies for website operation, data gathering, and enhancing user experiences, but does not sell personal information.
Network Solutions also takes several steps to protect customer data, including encryption, safeguarding data centers, and managing access controls. They offer a range of security services, including SSL certificates, malware scanning and removal, and possibly DDoS protection. However, Carrd’s automatic SSL certification and commitment to data security give it a slight edge in this category.
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
1.1
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
AI Builder |
|
Network Solutions does not have an AI powered website builder |
|
AI Ecommerce |
|
|
|
AI Content Generation |
|
Network Solutions provides AI copywriting tool on higher plans |
|
Additional AI Features |
|
Network Solutions lacks any AI features, except for the AI copywriting tool provided on higher plans |
🏆 Winner: Network Solutions
. Although both platforms have limited AI capabilities, Network Solutions edges out Carrd with its AI copywriting tool available on higher plans. Carrd, on the other hand, does not offer any AI features.
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
3.2
🏆 Winner: Carrd
. Both Carrd and Network Solutions have limited user management capabilities, but Carrd has a slightly higher score.
- 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.
- Network Solutions’ website builder offers very limited multi-user functionality and access levels compared to other platforms.
Unfortunately, neither platform provides detailed information about user roles and access levels.
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
Users overwhelmingly praise Carrd for its user-friendly interface, excellent customer support, and attractive templates, making 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.
User reviews of Network Solutions are mixed, with some praising its prompt customer support and variety of domain management options. However, there are widespread complaints about the platform’s outdated business practices, high costs, and poor customer service. Users often find the website’s layout confusing and report instances of misleading promises regarding refunds. Overall, while Network Solutions has some positive attributes, its drawbacks suggest that users may want to consider alternatives.
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 Network Solutions?
Can I use Carrd or Network Solutions for ecommerce?
How do Carrd and Network Solutions compare in terms of ease of use?
Which platform offers better customer support, Carrd or Network Solutions?
Are there any significant differences in pricing between Carrd and Network Solutions?
Which platform is better for SEO and marketing features?
How do the website editors of Carrd and Network Solutions compare?
Which platform has better hosting quality and website speed optimization?
Can I manage multiple users with Carrd or Network Solutions?
What are the security features of Carrd and Network Solutions?
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