carrd vs google sites
A practical, neutral look at which low-cost website tool fits small business needs — design, SEO, speed and long-term ownership.
Carrd and Google Sites are popular, low-cost ways to get online fast. This guide compares capabilities, SEO implications, costs, and real-world suitability so you can pick the right approach for your business in 2025.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | Carrd | Google Sites |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Single-page focused site builder | Simple multi-page site builder, part of Google Workspace |
| Ease of use | Very easy — drag-and-drop sections, minimal learning curve | Very easy — template-driven with Google integrations |
| Design flexibility | High for one-page designs; modern templates and custom CSS (paid) | Limited layout flexibility; clean but basic designs |
| SEO controls | Basic SEO (titles, descriptions); limited technical SEO | Basic SEO; lacks advanced meta controls and sitemap options |
| Custom domain | Supported on paid plans | Supported (often via Google Workspace/domain provider) |
| Integrations | Embed forms, payments, scripts; good third-party embeds | Excellent G Suite integration (Drive, Calendar, Docs) but fewer marketing integrations |
| Pricing (2025) | Free tier; Pro plans start around $9–19/mo | Free tier; part of Google Workspace for businesses (cost varies) |
| Best for | Landing pages, micro-sites, portfolios | Internal sites, basic public info pages, team wikis |
Design and Flexibility
Design needs often determine the platform choice. Carrd focuses on modern, single-page layouts with attention to spacing, typography and conversions. Google Sites prioritises simplicity and integration with Google apps.
Carrd — Strengths
- Polished one-page templates focused on conversion
- Flexible embeds and paid options for custom CSS/JS
- Fast to launch — ideal for landing pages and promos
Google Sites — Strengths
- Drag-and-drop sections tightly integrated with Google Drive
- Great for internal documentation, team pages and quick public info pages
- Free and included for many Google Workspace users
Design caveats to consider
- Carrd: Excellent for single-page experiences but not ideal for content-heavy multi-page sites.
- Google Sites: Consistent and simple but limited if you need bespoke layouts, animation, or fine-grained style control.
SEO & Visibility (What Matters for Small Businesses)
For small businesses, practical SEO elements — local signals, structured data, fast mobile pages, and accessible content — matter more than which builder you used. Here's how each platform stacks up.
Technical SEO
Both platforms handle basic needs: robots, titles, and HTTPS (when configured). Neither offers the deep plugin ecosystem of WordPress for advanced technical SEO.
Schema & Local SEO
Carrd: limited schema support unless you add custom markup (paid/embedded). Google Sites: also limited for custom schema. For local businesses, claim and optimise your Google Business Profile in addition to the site.
Speed & Mobile
Both are lightweight and generally fast, especially for single-page Carrd sites. However, performance depends on images, embeds and third-party scripts — optimise before publishing.
Practical SEO tips regardless of platform
- Use descriptive page titles and meta descriptions for every page or landing section.
- Compress and serve scaled images to keep mobile load times low.
- Ensure contact details and service pages are crawlable — put text, not images, for key info.
- For local visibility, keep NAP (Name, Address, Phone) consistent and optimise your Google Business Profile.
Pricing, Ownership & Support
Cost and control are common concerns for small business owners. Here’s a straightforward look at what to expect.
Carrd
- Free tier for simple pages; Pro plans from roughly $9–19/month (2025)
- Custom domains available on paid plans
- Support via docs and email; no large agency support
- Site exports are limited — content portability requires manual steps
Google Sites
- Free for personal use; business use often via Google Workspace subscription
- Easy to attach custom domains via domain providers
- Excellent uptime and hosting via Google infrastructure
- Limited marketing-focused support; not intended as a full web host for scaling sites
Which Platform Fits Your Business?
Use Carrd if...
- You need a high-converting landing page fast
- You want modern one-page design without a steep learning curve
- You plan simple marketing funnels, link-in-bio pages, or promos
Use Google Sites if...
- You need an internal team site or intranet connected to Google Drive
- You want a free, simple public info site with minimal design needs
- You prioritise Google Workspace integration over marketing features
When to consider a managed service
- If you want a full website that ranks locally and converts reliably
- If you prefer predictable pricing, domain/hosting included, and ongoing updates
- Small businesses that value time over DIY often find managed subscription models faster and more cost-effective in Year 1
Neutral summary: Carrd and Google Sites both solve simple web needs well. If your business requires local SEO, frequent updates, or multi-page content that needs to rank, consider a managed approach that bundles SEO, hosting and unlimited updates into one predictable monthly fee.
Final Recommendation
For straightforward landing pages and promos, Carrd is a strong, design-forward choice. For basic informational pages and internal sites tied to Google Workspace, Google Sites is simple and reliable. Neither platform replaces a full website strategy when you need local SEO, conversion-focused design, and ongoing updates.
If you value simplicity and time
A managed, all-inclusive service can be a better fit: predictable monthly cost, domain + hosting included, built-for-mobile templates, and ongoing local SEO optimisations so your business gets found and converts — without technical headaches.
Want to see how a low-effort, conversion-focused website works in practice?
See How It WorksFrequently Asked Questions
Can a Carrd or Google Sites page rank on Google?
Which is better for e-commerce?
How hard is it to move away later?
Still Unsure?
If choosing between simple builders feels limiting, a managed, all-inclusive website service can deliver faster launches, built-in local SEO, and unlimited updates so you focus on running your business — not fiddling with layouts.
Neutral advice: pick the tool that matches your immediate goal. If you expect to scale or rely on local search, plan for a solution that includes ongoing SEO and updates.
