How to Build a One-Page Website Using Carrd in 10 Minutes
In today’s fast-paced digital world, having an online presence isn’t just nice to have—it’s essential. But let’s be honest: not everyone has the time, technical skills, or budget to build a complex website. That’s where Carrd comes in. This intuitive platform lets you create stunning one-page websites with minimal effort, even if you’ve never written a line of code in your life.
And honestly? You can have a professional-looking site up and running in just 10 minutes. No exaggeration.
I discovered Carrd when I needed a quick portfolio site for a freelance project. What I expected to be a weekend-long hassle turned into a pleasant afternoon activity that took less time than brewing and drinking my coffee. Let me walk you through exactly how you can do the same.
What is Carrd and Why It’s Perfect for Quick Website Creation
Carrd is a web-based platform specifically designed for building simple, responsive one-page websites. Created by AJ, the developer behind popular tools like Skel and Responsive Tools, Carrd focuses on simplicity without sacrificing quality.
Key Features That Make Carrd Stand Out:
- Truly drag-and-drop interface that works the way you expect it to
- Responsive design that looks great on all devices automatically
- No coding required to create professional-looking sites
- Extremely affordable (free tier available, Pro plans start at just $19/year)
- Fast loading times even with beautiful design elements
- Custom domains available with paid plans
Most people overlook just how powerful a one-page website can be. They’re perfect for portfolios, landing pages, digital business cards, event pages, or simple storefronts. And Carrd excels at making these types of sites both beautiful and functional.
Before You Start: Quick Preparation Tips
Taking a few minutes to plan before diving in will save you time later. Here’s what I recommend:
- Define your website’s primary purpose (portfolio, contact page, event, etc.)
- Gather your content (logo, images, text blocks, links to social media)
- Consider your color scheme (or use Carrd’s pre-built palettes)
- Make a quick sketch of your ideal layout (even a rough drawing helps)
Having these elements ready beforehand makes the actual building process incredibly smooth. Most people who struggle with website builders actually spend more time searching for content than working with the tool itself.
Step 1: Sign Up and Choose a Template
Let’s get started with the actual building process:
- Head to Carrd.co
- Click the “Create a new site” button
- You’ll be presented with template options divided into categories
Carrd’s templates are professionally designed and provide excellent starting points. Don’t worry about finding the “perfect” template — remember, everything can be customized.
Choosing the Right Template:
| Template Type | Best For | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Profile | Personal sites, portfolios | Great for showcasing yourself |
| Landing | Product launches, events | Focused on calls-to-action |
| Form | Contact pages, subscriptions | Enhanced form functionality |
| Sectioned | Multi-section content | Feels like multiple pages |
| Blank | Complete customization | For those who know what they want |
Once you’ve selected a template, click on it and then hit “Start with This” to begin customizing.
Step 2: Customize Your Content and Layout
Now the fun begins! Carrd’s editor is remarkably intuitive. Here’s how to make the template your own:
- Click on any element to edit it directly
- To add new elements, use the “+” button in the toolbar
- To rearrange elements, simply drag and drop them
- Resize elements by dragging their corners or edges
Essential Elements to Customize:
- Header/Hero Section: This is your first impression — make it count with a compelling headline and image
- About/Info Section: Briefly explain who you are or what your offering is
- Visual Content: High-quality images that represent your brand or purpose
- Call to Action: What do you want visitors to do? Make this button stand clear
- Contact Information: Make sure people can reach you
Pro tip: Less is more with one-page websites. Each element should serve a clear purpose. If something doesn’t contribute to your page’s goal, consider removing it.
Step 3: Design Customization That Won’t Slow You Down
Carrd makes design customization surprisingly simple and quick. Here’s where to focus:
Colors and Typography
- Click on the “Style” icon in the left toolbar
- Under “Theme”, you can adjust the color palette
- Under “Typography”, modify font choices
Rather than tweaking every single color individually, Carrd’s theme feature lets you change your entire color scheme at once. This saves tremendous time while ensuring your site maintains visual consistency.
Background Options
Carrd offers several background options that can dramatically change your site’s feel:
- Solid colors (clean and professional)
- Gradients (modern and dynamic)
- Images (high impact if used well)
- Patterns (subtle texture)
Important: If using image backgrounds, make sure they don’t interfere with text readability. Carrd allows you to add overlays that darken or lighten backgrounds to improve contrast.
Step 4: Making Your Site Mobile-Friendly (Already Done For You!)
Here’s what makes Carrd truly special: responsive design is built-in. Unlike other website builders where you might need to create separate mobile layouts, Carrd handles this automatically.
However, it’s still worth checking how your site looks on different devices:
- Click the device preview icons at the top of the editor
- Review your site on desktop, tablet, and mobile views
- Make minor adjustments if needed
Most elements will adapt automatically, but occasionally you might want to resize an image or adjust spacing for smaller screens. The adjustments you make in one view won’t affect the others.
Step 5: Adding Functionality Without Complexity
Despite its simplicity, Carrd allows you to add powerful functionality to your site:
Forms and Email Collection
- Add a Form element from the “+” menu
- Customize fields (name, email, message, etc.)
- Set up form processing (email notifications, integrations)
Pro plan users can connect forms to services like Mailchimp, ConvertKit, or even Google Sheets.
Buttons and Links
Every good website needs clear calls-to-action:
- Add Button elements where appropriate
- Customize text, colors, and style
- Set up the link destination (external URL, email, or section on the same page)
Embedding External Content
You can easily embed:
- Videos from YouTube or Vimeo
- Maps from Google
- Social media feeds
- Payment buttons from platforms like PayPal
These embeds work well when they serve your page’s primary purpose rather than distracting from it.
Step 6: Publishing Your Site in Seconds
You’re almost done! Time to make your creation live:
- Click the “Publish” button in the top right
- Choose your publishing options:
- Free Carrd subdomain (yoursite.carrd.co)
- Custom domain (requires Pro plan)
- Confirm and publish
Your site is now live and ready to share with the world! The entire process from template selection to publication genuinely takes about 10 minutes once you’re familiar with the interface.
Domain Options Comparison:
| Option | Cost | Professionalism | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carrd Subdomain | Free | Good for personal projects | yourname.carrd.co |
| Custom Domain | Pro plan + domain cost | Best for business use | yourbusiness.com |
Can I Use HTML and CSS to Enhance My One-Page Website Built with Carrd?
If you’re looking to elevate your one-page website built with Carrd, incorporating HTML and CSS can significantly enhance its design and functionality. By utilizing custom code, you can personalize your site while improving user experience. To get started, you can always seek resources to learn how to create websites with html css.
Step 7: Post-Launch Tweaks and Updates
One of Carrd’s strengths is how easy it is to update your site after it’s live:
- Log back into your Carrd dashboard
- Select your site and click “Edit”
- Make your changes
- Hit “Publish” again to update the live site
Changes appear instantly, with no complicated deployment process. This makes Carrd perfect for sites that need frequent updates or time-sensitive information.
Common Questions About Building With Carrd
“Can I add more pages later?” Carrd is specifically designed for one-page websites. If you need multiple pages, you might eventually outgrow it. However, you’d be surprised how much you can fit on a single, well-designed page with smooth navigation.
“Is the free plan actually useful?” Absolutely. The free plan allows up to three sites with core features intact. The main limitations are using Carrd branding and missing some advanced features like forms processing and custom domains.
“How does Carrd compare to Wix or Squarespace?” Carrd is more focused and simpler. While it doesn’t offer the extensive features of these platforms, it’s significantly faster to build with and more affordable. Think of it as a specialized tool rather than a swiss army knife.
Conclusion: Why Carrd Might Be All You Need
Not every online presence requires a complex, multi-page website. Sometimes, focused simplicity is more effective. Carrd excels at creating beautiful, functional one-page sites with minimal time investment.
Could you build something more complex with other tools? Sure. But ask yourself if you really need to. For many professionals, small businesses, and projects, a well-designed Carrd site provides the perfect balance of professional appearance and ease of maintenance.
The platform won’t solve all your digital presence needs—you won’t be building the next Amazon on it—but for a stunning landing page, portfolio, or simple business site, you might find that Carrd’s 10-minute website solution is exactly what you’ve been looking for.
Give it a try. You literally have nothing to lose but 10 minutes—and you might gain the online presence you’ve been putting off creating for months.
