What you can do before paying anything
This plan is drawn from Carrd's homepage, docs and Pro page read on 30 October 2026. It is a research guide, not a record of our own build.
Carrd's homepage says you can build up to three sites per account and use all of Carrd's core features for free, starting from one of dozens of templates or a blank page. Sites published to .carrd.co URLs get SSL automatically. [1][7]
Removing the Made with Carrd branding is listed as a Pro feature, so expect it on free sites. Pro Lite and above also list no element limit, which implies the free plan has one; the pages we read do not state the free number. [2][3]
The week, day by day
| Day | Goal | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Decide the job and the template | Write the one action you want visitors to take. Pick a template with roughly that many blocks, or start blank [1] |
| 2 | Learn the builder | Canvas, properties panel and menu; add, edit, move, clone and delete elements [4][5] |
| 3 | Structure with sections | Split content into sections with section breaks; add header and footer markers if needed [6] |
| 4 | Write and style | Replace template copy, add images, set the background on the Background element [4] |
| 5 | Check mobile | Switch to Mobile View, fix spacing and wrapping; switch back to Desktop View [8] |
| 6 | Publish | Use Publish in the menu, publish to your .carrd.co address, then View to see the live site [4][7] |
| 7 | Decide on Pro | Only upgrade for a named need: domain, form, branding, analytics [3] |
Days 2 and 3: elements and sections
Every Carrd site has two base elements: the Background (colour, gradient, image or video) and the Page, which holds everything else. Click Add Element and choose a type such as Text; it goes to the end of the site and its properties panel opens. Drag an element to move it (a green bar shows where it will land). Clone and Delete sit at the bottom of the element's panel. [4][5]
The properties panel has Main, Appearance, Animation and Settings tabs; Settings needs Pro Plus. [4]
Sections split one page into named regions you can link to and move between, so a one-page site can act like a multi-page one: a home view, an about view, a thank-you message after a form. You create them with section breaks and add static headers and footers with markers. Links to a section use the Section URL type. [6][9]
Beginner layout decisions
Edits made in Mobile View also change desktop unless you are using an element's mobile-only appearance settings. [8]
| Decision | Simple choice | When to do more |
|---|---|---|
| One long page or sections | One long page for a single offer | Sections when you have distinct views such as About and Contact |
| Navigation | A few buttons linking to sections | Header marker for navigation that stays on every section |
| Mobile | Check every section in Mobile View | Mobile-only appearance settings when desktop and phone need different spacing |
| Call to action | One button above the fold | A form, which needs Pro Standard |
Day 7: when Pro is worth paying for
Prices and tiers come from Carrd's Pro page and plan docs. Carrd's homepage says Go Pro from just $19 a year, which is Standard; Lite at $9 is the cheaper tier without custom domains. [2][3][1]
Not sure? Carrd's 7-day Pro trial needs no card and includes custom domains, forms and no branding, with a 150-element limit. [10]
Connecting a domain on Standard: enter it in the Publish dialog, add an A record for @ with the IP Carrd shows and a CNAME for www pointing at your bare domain. It initializes in up to an hour, then serves over SSL. [11]
| You need | Lowest plan | Yearly price |
|---|---|---|
| No Carrd branding, premium URLs like .crd.co, video uploads, share images | Pro Lite (3 sites) | $9 |
| Your own domain, contact or signup forms, embeds, widgets, analytics | Pro Standard (10 sites) | $19 |
| Fully custom forms, password protection, redirects, site files | Pro Plus (25 sites) | $49 |
First-week checklist
- One sentence describing the page's job, written before choosing a template.
- Template chosen; unused sections removed.
- Every element checked in Mobile View.
- Sections named and linked from buttons.
- Published to your .carrd.co address and opened with View.
- A list of the exact Pro features you need, if any, matched to Lite, Standard or Plus.
- If connecting a domain: registrar login ready and DNS screenshot taken before changes.
Questions before you decide
Is Carrd free to use?
Yes for basic sites. Carrd's homepage says you can build up to three sites per account and use its core features for free. Removing branding, custom domains and forms need a Pro plan.
Which Carrd plan do I need for my own domain?
Pro Standard or higher, at $19 a year for 10 sites on Carrd's Pro page. Pro Lite at $9 a year removes branding and offers premium URLs but does not support custom domains.
Do Carrd sites get SSL?
Yes. Carrd's SSL doc says SSL is automatically enabled for sites on .carrd.co URLs, and custom domains get a certificate once DNS records are in place and propagated, which can take up to an hour.
Can I try Carrd Pro before paying?
Carrd offers a 7-day Pro trial with no payment or card details required. It includes custom domains, forms and no branding, with a 150-element limit.
Sources & verification
Product details and prices can change. Check the linked provider before buying.
- Carrd homepage Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Carrd Pro plans and prices Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Carrd docs: Pro plans Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Carrd docs: builder overview Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Carrd docs: building basics Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Carrd docs: using sections Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Carrd docs: setting up SSL Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Carrd docs: using mobile view Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Carrd docs: URL types Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Carrd docs: Pro trial Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Carrd docs: using a custom domain Accessed 30 Oct 2026
Sources link directly to providers. Product buttons may use separately labeled affiliate links. Read our disclosure.