Two different kinds of tool
Carrd builds one-page sites, with sections that simulate separate pages on a single page. [1] [4] You can build up to three sites free, and Pro plans are billed yearly. [1] [2]
WordPress.com is hosted WordPress. Its pricing page lists unlimited pages on paid plans, premium themes and, on every paid plan, the ability to install plugins from the marketplace or upload one. [5] WordPress.com's plugins support page, last reviewed August 11, 2026, confirms plugin installation is available on all paid plans; free sites must upgrade. [6]
Prices compared
WordPress.com lists prices per month for each billing term, and the yearly price is billed in full up front. The free domain for the first year applies to yearly and multi-year plans, not monthly. [5]
| Plan | Price | Per year | Notable limits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carrd Basic | Free | $0 | Up to 3 sites, Carrd address [1] |
| Carrd Pro Lite | $9 a year | $9 | No custom domain or forms [3] |
| Carrd Pro Standard | $19 a year | $19 | 10 sites, custom domain, forms, embeds [2] |
| Carrd Pro Plus | $49 a year | $49 | 25 sites, advanced forms, password protection [2] |
| WordPress.com Free | $0 | $0 | 1 GB storage, ads shown, subdomain only [5] |
| WordPress.com Personal | $4/mo yearly, $9 monthly | $48 | 6 GB, plugins, free domain first year [5] |
| WordPress.com Premium | $8/mo yearly, $18 monthly | $96 | 13 GB, payment buttons, video uploads [5] |
| WordPress.com Business | $25/mo yearly, $40 monthly | $300 | 50 GB, SFTP/SSH, real-time backups [5] |
Where each one wins
Carrd wins on simplicity and price for a single page. A portfolio, link page or launch page on your own domain is $19 a year on Pro Standard, and the editor has no plugin or theme layer to maintain. [2]
WordPress.com wins once the site has ongoing content. Unlimited pages, a blog, premium themes and plugins all come from the Personal plan up. [5] Plugins also bring upkeep: each one you add is something to update and check after changes.
Fees matter if you sell subscriptions. WordPress.com lists a fee on paid subscriptions that falls from 10% on Free to 8% on Personal, 4% on Premium, 2% on Business and 0% on Commerce. [5]
Decision table by site type
| Site type | Better fit | Why |
|---|---|---|
| One-page portfolio or link page | Carrd Pro Standard | Custom domain and form for $19 a year [2] |
| Event or waitlist page used for a few months | Carrd | Free plan or a low yearly fee; nothing to maintain [1] |
| Personal blog you will post to weekly | WordPress.com Personal | Unlimited pages, plugins, free first-year domain [5] |
| Small business site with 5 to 10 pages | WordPress.com Personal or Premium | Real pages; Premium adds payment buttons [5] |
| Site needing SFTP, SSH or real-time backups | WordPress.com Business | Listed on Business at $25/mo yearly [5] |
| 20 separate client one-pagers | Carrd Pro Plus | 25 sites for $49 a year [2] |
Two-year cost check
For one page on your own domain, Carrd Pro Standard is $38 over two years plus domain registration, since Carrd connects a domain you have registered elsewhere. [2] [7] WordPress.com Personal billed yearly is $96 over two years and includes the domain for the first year only. [5]
For a blog, Carrd is not the right comparison; the real choice is between WordPress.com tiers. Start at Personal and move up only for a listed feature you need, such as Premium payment buttons or Business SFTP access. [5]
Checklist before choosing
- Count your real pages today and in a year; more than one usually points to WordPress.com. [4]
- Decide whether you will publish posts regularly.
- List any plugin you rely on and confirm it is in the WordPress.com marketplace. [6]
- Compare the yearly price with the monthly price; WordPress.com monthly is more than double for Personal. [5]
- Check whether you need a custom domain on Carrd; that starts at Pro Standard. [3]
Questions before you decide
Can WordPress.com Personal install plugins?
Yes. WordPress.com says installing plugins is available on all paid plans, including Personal, as of its support page last reviewed August 11, 2026.
Is Carrd cheaper than WordPress.com?
For one page, yes: Carrd Pro Standard is $19 a year, while WordPress.com Personal is $4 a month billed yearly, or $48 a year.
Does either include a free domain?
WordPress.com includes a custom domain free for the first year on yearly and multi-year paid plans. Carrd requires a domain registered elsewhere.
Sources & verification
Product details and prices can change. Check the linked provider before buying.
- Carrd: home page Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Carrd: Pro plans and pricing Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Carrd Docs: Pro plans Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Carrd Docs: using sections Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- WordPress.com: pricing Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- WordPress.com Support: plugins (last reviewed August 11, 2026) 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.