Milkshake vs. Carrd: Which One is Better for Your Business?

Jessica Li
Chief of Staff

Link-in-bio products are essential for online creators as they centralize all their offerings, making it easier to manage and promote their creator business. We'll compare Milkshake and Carrd to determine which platform best supports this centralization for creators.

A Quick Overview of Milkshake and Carrd

What is Milkshake?

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Milkshake is a mobile app that enables users to create free websites directly from their phones. It features a card-based layout, allowing for easy customization with text, images, videos, and more. The app is designed for simplicity, requiring no prior web design skills, and offers insights to track website performance.

What is Carrd?

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Carrd allows users to create simple, free, and fully responsive one-page websites. It offers a variety of templates and a user-friendly interface, making it easy to build and customize sites. The core service is free, with a Pro version starting at $19 per year that includes additional features like custom domains and Google Analytics integration.

Comparing Milkshake and Carrd: Features and Pricing

Milkshake Features

Milkshake offers several unique features that make it a compelling choice for creators.

  • Mobile-First Design: Create and update websites directly from your phone.
  • Card-Based Layout: Websites are made up of cards that can be swiped like Instagram Stories.
  • Customization: Personalize cards with text, images, GIFs, videos, blog posts, and more.
  • Instant Publishing: Publish websites online with one tap.
  • Multiple Accounts: Create and switch between multiple Milkshake websites.

Carrd Features

Here are some special features that Carrd offers:

  • Simple: Start with one of dozens of templates (or a blank page) and make it your own.
  • Responsive: Look great at every screen size right out of the box, from phones to tablets to desktops.
  • Free: Build up to three sites per account and use all of Carrd's core features – for free!
  • Custom Domains: Publish sites to any custom domains you own with full SSL support (via Let's Encrypt).
  • No Branding: Publish sites without the "Made with Carrd" branding in the footer.

Milkshake and Carrd Similarities

Milkshake and Carrd both excel in providing user-friendly website building tools that require no advanced design or web development skills. They are particularly useful for social media integration, such as adding a "link in bio."

  • Ease of Use: Both platforms allow users to create and update websites quickly without needing technical skills.
  • Customization: Users can personalize their sites with text, images, videos, and more.
  • Templates: Both offer a variety of templates to start with, making it easy to create visually appealing websites.
  • Mobile-Friendly: Websites created on both platforms are optimized for mobile devices.
  • Free Options: Both Milkshake and Carrd offer free versions with essential features.

Milkshake and Carrd Differences

Milkshake and Carrd both offer unique features tailored to different user needs. While Milkshake focuses on mobile-first design and Instagram integration, Carrd emphasizes simplicity and responsiveness across all devices.

  • Card-Based Design vs. One-Page Sites: Milkshake uses a card-based layout for easy swiping, whereas Carrd offers fully responsive one-page sites.
  • Mobile-First Approach vs. Multi-Device Responsiveness: Milkshake is designed for mobile use, while Carrd ensures sites look great on all devices.
  • Milkshake Insights vs. Advanced Integrations: Milkshake provides in-app analytics, whereas Carrd Pro offers advanced integrations like Google Analytics and custom domains.

Milkshake and Carrd Pricing

Milkshake offers a free download with in-app purchases, including a Lite plan for $2.99, a Pro plan for $6.99, and an annual Pro subscription for $59.99. The Pro subscription includes features like mailing list integration, SEO tools, and the removal of Milkshake branding.

In contrast, Carrd provides a free service with a Pro version starting at $19 per year. The Pro version includes custom domains, Google Analytics integration, and the ability to publish sites without Carrd branding.

Overall, Carrd offers a more cost-effective Pro plan compared to Milkshake, especially for users needing advanced features and custom domains.

Why Choose One Over the Other?

Why Choose Milkshake Over Carrd: Consumers who prioritize mobile convenience and Instagram integration will find Milkshake more appealing. This platform is ideal for Instagram influencers and social media marketers who need to enhance their bios and connect followers to multiple links effortlessly.

Why Choose Carrd Over Milkshake: Carrd is perfect for users who need a cost-effective, highly customizable one-page website. Freelancers and small business owners who require advanced features like custom domains and Google Analytics will benefit most from Carrd's offerings.

Considering Beacons vs. Milkshake and Carrd

What is Beacons

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Beacons is the all-in-one creator platform designed to help you manage and monetize your online presence effortlessly. With over 1 million users worldwide, Beacons offers unique features like customizable link-in-bio, email marketing tools, an online store, auto-updating media kits, and AI-generated brand outreach.

Beacons's Pricing

Pricing Packages for Beacons

  • Free Plan: $0 (Free forever)
  • Creator Pro: $8.33 per month (billed annually) or $10 per month (billed monthly)
  • Store Pro: $25 per month (billed annually) or $30 per month (billed monthly)
  • Business Pro: $75 per month (billed annually) or $90 per month (billed monthly)

Comparing Beacons to Milkshake and Carrd

Choosing Beacons over Milkshake and Carrd offers a comprehensive solution for creators looking to maximize their online presence.

  • All-in-One Platform: Unlike Milkshake and Carrd, Beacons combines link-in-bio, email marketing, an online store, and more into a single platform.
  • AI Integration: Beacons leverages AI for custom insights, email generation, and product descriptions, providing advanced tools that Milkshake and Carrd lack.
  • Cost-Effective: Beacons offers a free plan with essential tools, whereas Milkshake and Carrd charge for individual services.
  • Ease of Use: No coding or design skills are needed, making Beacons accessible for all creators.
  • Automatic Data Sync: Syncs data across tools for better insights and efficiency, a feature not available in Milkshake or Carrd.

For creators seeking a robust, integrated platform, Beacons stands out as the superior choice.

What Are the Customers Saying?

Milkshake Reviews

Overall, users have given Milkshake a stellar rating of 4.9 out of 5. While many appreciate its ease of use and aesthetic design, some find managing multiple accounts frustrating.

BEST APP EVER (5 stars) - Started using it: "Before this app, I used link tree... Then, I saw an ad for milkshake & it changed my life... It built me a beautifully curated insta website... MILKSHAKE IS AMAZING."

Cannot have multiple accounts (3 stars) - bwchi85: "The most frustrating thing I’ve run into is not being able to easily create two milkshake sites for two different IG accounts... I hope the developers are working on a way to easily go back and forth between different Instagram accounts."

For more reviews, check out Carrd Reviews.

Carrd Reviews

Overall, users have given Milkshake a stellar rating of 4.9 out of 5. While many appreciate its ease of use and aesthetic design, some find managing multiple accounts frustrating.

BEST APP EVER (5 stars) - Started using it: "Milkshake changed my life with its aesthetic that fits my brand perfectly. It built a beautifully curated Insta website that invites people in. I am never going back. Milkshake is amazing!"

Cannot have multiple accounts (3 stars) - bwchi85: "The most frustrating thing is not being able to easily create two Milkshake sites for two different IG accounts. It always brings me back to my first Instagram account, making it impossible to create a second Milkshake website."

For more reviews, check out Carrd Reviews.

Beacons reviews

Overall, users have given Beacons an impressive rating of 4.9 out of 5. Here are some of the positive reviews from our satisfied customers:

Incredible app with a bunch of useful creator business tools (5/5) - "Love the email marketing and store apps!" - Christopher Wong

Probably the most outstanding link app (5/5) - "Tons of features especially for building and connecting community!" - Viva Stylez

Final Decision: Milkshake, Carrd, or Beacons?

Whether you choose Milkshake, Carrd, or Beacons, each platform offers unique features that can help you grow your audience. However, if you're looking for an all-in-one solution that combines link-in-bio, email marketing, and an online store, Beacons is the way to go. With its AI integration and cost-effective plans, Beacons provides everything you need to manage and monetize your online presence effortlessly.

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