Linktree vs Beacons: Honest Take from the Guy Who Built Carrd
Back in 2019, I was sitting in a coffee shop in Austin watching a friend scroll through her Instagram bio. She had a Linktree link, and she was frustrated — the font was tiny, the colors clashed with her brand, and she couldn't even add a photo gallery. "Why does this have to be so ugly?" she muttered. I nodded along, but inside I was already thinking, I could build something better.
That moment stuck with me. Because honestly, Linktree and Beacons both solve a real problem — you need one link to share multiple destinations. But they solve it in the most limited way possible. A list of clickable buttons. No personality. No real design. Just a digital hallway of doors with no sense of place.
The problem with link-in-bio tools
When I started poking around, I realized most people weren't asking for a full website. They wanted something easy to use — drag in a photo, write a few lines, drop some links, publish. That's it. Linktree gave them that, but with zero creative control. Beacons gave them a bit more — themes, analytics, a media kit — but still, you're coloring inside someone else's lines.
But they could have a page that actually feels like theirs. A page with a proper header image, custom fonts, a contact form, even a little gallery. Without learning HTML. Without spending an afternoon wrestling with a website builder.
So I built Carrd.
What Carrd does differently
This isn't a platform war. I'm not here to tell you Linktree or Beacons are bad — they're fine for quick setups. But if you've ever stared at your Linktree and thought "this is just not me," then Carrd might be what you're actually looking for.
Carrd is a one-page site builder built around a simple "stack" of elements. You pick a layout, then drop in text, images, buttons, embeds — whatever — and they stack vertically. That's it. No grid, no flexbox, no wrestling with alignment. Just a clean column of stuff that looks good on any screen.
And the best part? The whole thing is mobile-friendly — not just the sites it builds, but the builder itself. You can design a page from your phone in under five minutes. I know, because I've done it while waiting for a burrito.
Pricing that doesn't make you wince
Linktree's free tier is fine until you want to remove the branding or get custom domains. Then it's $5/month. Beacons is similar — free but limited, paid plans start around $10/month. Over a year, that adds up.
Carrd's pricing is different. The free plan gives you one site, no frills, but you can actually use custom domains on the Pro plans. The Pro Plus plan — $49/year, 25 sites, full feature set includes everything: custom domains, no branding, bigger images, analytics. If you need 100 sites, that's $159/year. Need 250? There's a $349/year plan for that. No monthly commitments, just a single annual payment.
Short of me royally screwing up the code, that's the most affordable way to own a handful of proper one-page sites.
Real-world comparison: linktree vs beacons vs carrd
Let's say you're a musician. You want a page with your bio, a music player embed, your tour dates, and a contact form. Linktree? You get a link to your Spotify, a link to your ticket site, maybe a newsletter signup link. Beacons? Same, but you can add a profile photo and a bio text block. That's it.
With Carrd, you can actually embed a SoundCloud player right on the page. You can add a custom background image, choose your own fonts, and style everything to match your album art. The page is your brand, not a generic template.
And it's not just for musicians. I've seen people use Carrd for:
- Personal portfolios — show your work, not just links to it.
- Small business landing pages — services, pricing, contact, all on one scrollable page.
- Event pages — with RSVP forms, embedded maps, countdown timers.
- Link-in-bio — obviously. But with way more personality.
"Isn't this just a website builder?"
Yes. But so streamlined that it doesn't feel like one. Traditional website builders (Squarespace, Wix, etc.) are powerful, but they're kitchens full of appliances when you just need a toaster. Carrd is a toaster that also happens to make grilled cheese. (Okay, that metaphor got away from me.)
The point is: the product's narrow focus is a feature, not a limitation. Because when you limit yourself to one page and one stack, there's a natural limit to its complexity. You can't get overwhelmed. You can't break anything. You just stack and publish.
The messy behind-the-scenes truth
Building Carrd wasn't a straight line. I spent months obsessing over the "site spec" — the internal model that turns your stack into a live page. I had a dry run with an early prototype that crashed on mobile. Much to my surprise, the results were good. Really good. But I also had doubts: Does anyone actually want this? Or is it just me?
I launched a simple beta, expecting a few dozen users. Within a week, a few thousand people had signed up. Not because of marketing hype, but because they'd been waiting for something that was both simple and customizable. Something that didn't feel like 2006.
All looked great on paper, but how would it play out in practice?
I asked a friend — a graphic designer who's allergic to code — to build a page for her freelance business. She did it in eight minutes. Her exact words: "Wait, that's it? I thought this would be harder." That's when I knew we had something.
Customizable, responsive, simply built
Carrd sites are responsive by default — they look great on phones, tablets, desktops. You don't have to tweak breakpoints. You don't have to test in a million browsers. It just works.
And because it's simply built, you can dive into the custom CSS if you want to get fancy. But you don't have to. The defaults are really good.
FAQ
Can I use Carrd as a Linktree alternative?
Absolutely. In fact, many people do. You get a single page with all your links, plus more creative control. Start with our free plan and upgrade when you need custom domains or no branding.
Is Carrd really free?
Yes, there's a free plan that lets you publish one site with basic features and "Made with Carrd" branding. Paid plans start at $49/year for up to 25 sites, no branding, and full features.
How long does it take to build a page?
Most people build a gorgeous site in under 5 minutes. That's not an exaggeration — just pick a template, add your content, and publish.
Can I use my own domain?
Yes, on Pro plans. You also get free SSL via Let's Encrypt.
What if I need more than one page?
Carrd is designed for one-page sites. If you need a multi-page site, you can link between separate Carrd sites or use external pages. It's a deliberate trade-off for simplicity.
Key takeaways
- Carrd is a dead-simple one-page site builder that works great as a Linktree or Beacons alternative — but with way more customization.
- Pricing is $0 for one site, or $49–$349/year for 25 to 250 sites with full features and no branding.
- The builder itself is mobile-friendly, so you can create a page from your phone in minutes.
- No technical skills needed — just stack elements vertically and publish.