If you need a dead-simple one-page site and $19 a year works for you, Carrd still does the job. If you want a more generous free tier, full HTML control, or lower-friction publishing, there are better options. Here's how four tools compare.
At a Glance
| Tool | Free tier | Paid from | Custom domain | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carrd | 3 sites, no custom domain | $19/year | Pro plan | Simple no-code one-pagers |
| HTMLPub | Unlimited pages, HTMLPub subdomain | $10/month | All paid plans | AI-generated HTML, quick publishing |
| Strikingly | Unlimited sites, Strikingly subdomain | $16/month | Pro plan | Marketing one-pagers with built-in features |
| Neocities | 1 site, 1 GB storage | $5/month | Supporter plan | Developers managing files directly |
Pricing verified April 2026. Verify current prices at each tool's site before committing.
Where Carrd Still Wins
Carrd has the cleanest visual editor for non-technical users who want a simple about page or link-in-bio site. The $19/year Pro price is genuinely cheap for what it includes: custom domain with SSL, contact and signup forms, Google Analytics, and no "Made with Carrd" footer branding. If you already know Carrd and your use case fits, there's no compelling reason to switch.
The catch: Carrd builds sites in its own format. You don't get raw HTML output you can take elsewhere, and the free tier blocks custom domains entirely, so you're locked into carrd.co subdomains until you pay.
Where HTMLPub Wins
HTMLPub's free tier is more useful for one specific workflow: you generated HTML in Claude, ChatGPT, or Cursor, and you need it live immediately. Paste the HTML, get a public URL. No drag-and-drop editor to learn, no template constraints, no waiting.
For people running marketing experiments or testing landing page ideas, the publish-anything approach means you can ship a new variation in under a minute. The free tier supports that workflow at no cost. Paid plans start at $10/month and add custom domains.
The AI website builder approach also means you're not locked into a template format. Whatever HTML you generate with AI tools, HTMLPub publishes it. For teams using the MCP connector, it's possible to publish directly from a Claude conversation without touching a dashboard at all.
The catch: HTMLPub doesn't have a visual editor. If you want to design a site without touching code (even AI-generated code), this isn't the right tool.
Where Strikingly Wins
Strikingly has the most feature-rich free plan for marketing-oriented one-pagers. The free tier allows unlimited sites on a Strikingly subdomain, 500 MB storage per site, 5 GB monthly bandwidth, and even basic ecommerce (one product, 5% transaction fee). The Pro plan at $16/month billed annually adds a custom domain, 20 GB storage per site, and up to 300 products.
The catch: Strikingly sites look like Strikingly sites. The templates are polished but visually identifiable. If you want something that feels fully custom, you'll hit the ceiling of what their editor can produce.
Where Neocities Wins
Neocities gives the most control for developers who want to host raw HTML, CSS, and JavaScript with no framework overhead. The free tier includes 1 GB storage and 200 GB monthly bandwidth. The Supporter plan at $5/month adds custom domains, a global CDN, SSL certificates, and the ability to manage multiple sites.
The catch: Neocities is intentionally minimal. There's no visual editor, no built-in forms, no analytics dashboard. You're managing files. That's the point for the audience it serves, but it's not a Carrd replacement for non-technical users.
Pricing Side by Side
| Tool | Free | Entry paid | What you get |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carrd | 3 sites, no custom domain | $19/year | Custom domain, forms, analytics, no branding |
| HTMLPub | Unlimited pages | $10/month | Custom domain, all paid plans |
| Strikingly | Unlimited sites, limited storage | $16/month (billed yearly) | 3 sites, custom domain, 20 GB storage |
| Neocities | 1 site, 1 GB | $5/month | Custom domain, CDN, SSL, multiple sites |
Who Should Use Each
Use Carrd if you want a no-code visual editor for personal one-pagers and the $19/year price point works.
Use HTMLPub if your workflow starts with AI-generated HTML and you want the fastest path from code to live URL. Also the right choice for running multiple landing pages or publishing directly from Claude.
Use Strikingly if you want a polished marketing page with ecommerce, forms, and analytics built in, and you're comfortable working within their template system.
Use Neocities if you're comfortable managing files directly and want the most control for the lowest price.
The Honest Take
Carrd became popular because it solved a real problem: simple one-page sites with minimal friction. It still solves that problem. The alternatives here aren't better across the board; they're better for specific workflows.
If you're generating sites with AI tools, Carrd's visual editor doesn't fit your workflow. HTMLPub is a more direct answer. If you want marketing features and forms without writing code, Strikingly covers more ground. If you want file-level control and low cost, Neocities at $5/month is hard to match.
See also: Free HTML Hosting: 5 Options Compared and Best Static Site Hosting in 2026.