One-page websites are popular for portfolios, resumes, product launches, and simple business sites. Website Builders for One-Page Websites must balance ease of use, design flexibility, and performance.
In this article, you’ll compare three top options: Wix, Carrd, and Webflow. You’ll get a breakdown of their strengths, limits, pricing, and best use cases.
Ease of Use and Setup Time
These platforms all claim to be easy, but your experience depends on how much control you need. Here’s what it’s actually like to build a site on each one.
Wix: Drag-and-Drop That Feels Familiar
Wix gives you a classic drag-and-drop builder with lots of freedom. You can start from a blank canvas or use a template.
It’s easy to move sections and blocks, but with too many options, things can get messy. Beginners may struggle to create clean layouts without guidance.
The onboarding is friendly, but there’s a learning curve once you explore features. Still, Wix helps you publish a site quickly without writing code.
Carrd: Minimal Effort, Maximum Speed
Carrd is ideal if you need something fast and functional. The editor is minimal, and every step feels smooth.
It’s designed specifically for one-page layouts, so you don’t need to think about menus or multi-page structure.
Adding sections, images, or contact forms is simple and intuitive. You’ll go from zero to live in under an hour. If you want fast results with low effort, Carrd delivers.
Webflow: Control Comes With Complexity
Webflow gives you serious control over structure and style. You can design with precision, but it requires more attention to detail.
Unlike Wix or Carrd, Webflow uses concepts like containers, grids, and breakpoints. The interface is clean, but you’ll need time to understand it.
Beginners can use templates, but there’s still a learning curve. Once mastered, Webflow gives you results that look like a custom-coded site.
Design Flexibility and Templates
Design matters even more when your site only has one page. You need strong structure, good flow, and a mobile-friendly layout.
Wix: Lots of Variety, Mixed Consistency
Wix offers hundreds of templates, many of which support one-page formats. You can drag and drop anything anywhere, but it’s easy to break alignment.
Mobile responsiveness can require manual adjustments. If you enjoy design freedom and tweaking visuals, you’ll appreciate Wix.
But if you prefer pre-structured templates that stay neat, it can feel too loose. The visual output is strong, but you’ll need to keep it consistent.
Carrd: Clean, Limited, and Purpose-Built
Carrd templates are made for clarity. They focus on scrollable one-page formats with simple sections.
You won’t get deep customization, but the designs feel modern and focused. It’s best for clean portfolios, personal sites, or basic services.
Carrd’s visual limits are a strength if you want a simple build. For users who care more about speed than endless options, this builder works well.
Webflow: Designer-Level Layout and Control
Webflow gives you full layout freedom with pixel-level accuracy. You can set section sizes, animations, and breakpoints for any screen.
Templates are more refined, and many are built for one-page uses like product pages or event sites. You can copy structures or build from scratch.
The visual quality is high, and responsiveness is baked into every design. It’s ideal if you want to control exactly how things look and behave.
Features for One-Page Navigation
Single-page sites depend on smooth scrolling, anchor links, and modular content. Here’s how each platform handles navigation.
Wix: Simple Anchors, Less Smooth Transitions
Wix lets you link buttons or menus to page sections using anchors. The process is easy, and it works fine for basic one-page layouts.
However, scroll behavior isn’t always smooth or customizable. If you need polished transitions or micro-interactions, Wix can’t do much.
It’s acceptable for most users, but not advanced. Expect basic navigation tools that get the job done.
Carrd: Made for One-Page Flows
Carrd is built around one-page logic. You create sections, assign IDs, and connect buttons to them without friction.
Scroll behavior is smooth and native to the platform. It doesn’t offer complex transitions, but everything works cleanly.
For users building a resume, landing page, or link-in-bio tool, this is more than enough. You won’t fight the platform—Carrd makes one-page logic easy.
Webflow: Best for Interactive Page Movement
Webflow allows you to build advanced navigation with interactions and smooth scrolling. You can add animations that trigger on scroll, customize offsets, or create sticky headers.
It takes longer to set up, but the result feels polished. This is ideal for storytelling sites or brands that want to impress. You’ll need to learn how to structure IDs and links, but the flexibility is unmatched.
Pricing and Value for Single-Page Projects
All three platforms offer free plans, but the value depends on what you need. Here’s how they compare for one-page use cases.
- Wix starts higher but gives you tools for email, apps, and business features. It’s better if you need integrations or plan to grow.
- Carrd is the cheapest, with pro plans starting at around $19/year. It’s perfect for personal projects, freelancers, or minimal portfolios.
- Webflow offers a free tier with branding, but custom domain and CMS features require upgrades. It’s worth it for advanced design work.
If cost is the main factor, Carrd wins. If design control is your goal, Webflow is worth the price.
Performance and SEO Tools
Speed, discoverability, and structure matter—even on a one-pager. Each platform takes a different approach.
- Wix offers built-in SEO tools, but some templates are heavy and affect loading time. You may need to optimize images manually.
- Carrd loads quickly, thanks to its minimal setup. SEO is basic, limited to titles, meta descriptions, and simple redirects.
- Webflow gives you full SEO control, from meta tags to schema markup and clean HTML structure. Sites are fast, structured, and easy to optimize.
For serious visibility and speed, Webflow takes the lead. For simple use, Carrd is fast and clean enough.
Best Use Cases Based on Your Project Needs
Every user has a different goal. Choose based on what you actually need—not just features.
Carrd: Fast and Focused
Carrd is best if your goal is speed, clarity, and simplicity. You can build resumes, portfolios, contact pages, and landing pages without friction.
It’s ideal for freelancers, creators, and personal brands. If your budget is tight, Carrd gives you a lot for very little.
Wix: Visual and Business-Ready
Wix works better for users who want a polished, business-friendly design. You can integrate forms, booking tools, or basic eCommerce if needed.
It’s flexible enough to handle most small business needs. If you want more than just one page later, it also scales.
Webflow: Full Design Power
Webflow fits designers, developers, or brands that care about fine detail. You get animations, precision layout, and SEO control.
If you need to impress visitors or create a visual story, this is your tool. Just be ready to spend time learning.
Quick Summary: Pros and Cons
Here’s a breakdown of what each platform does best—and where it might fall short.
| Platform | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Wix | Rich design, business tools, app access | Clunky mobile handling, heavier load times |
| Carrd | Fast, simple, cheapest | Limited custom features |
| Webflow | Full control, great performance, SEO tools | Steep learning curve, higher price |
Final Verdict: Which Platform Should You Choose?
One-page websites need a clear structure, fast loading, and a strong design. Website Builders for One-Page Websites vary in how much control, cost, and effort they require.
Carrd works if you need fast results. Wix fits if you want design freedom without complexity. Webflow gives you the most power—but only if you’re ready to learn.
