A link-in-bio that doesn't need a website builder
Carrd is a website builder you can hack into a bio link page. Links is a bio link tool built from the ground up. No templates to pick. No sections to drag. Just add your links and share.
Free forever. No credit card.
Links vs Carrd
An honest comparison, feature by feature.
Setup time
Smart deep links
Shield protection
Analytics
Page speed
Design flexibility
Pricing
| Feature | Links | Carrd |
|---|---|---|
| Setup time | 2 minutes | 30-60 minutes (design + configure) |
| Smart deep links | Yes, bypasses Instagram webview | No |
| Shield protection | Yes, blocks risky crawlers | No |
| Analytics | Full per-link click tracking, free | Basic Google Analytics (manual setup) |
| Page speed | Under 1 second | 1-3 seconds (depends on template complexity) |
| Design flexibility | Clean, fixed template (fast) | Full website builder (slow to configure) |
| Pricing | Free, no limits | Free (1 page), Pro $19/year for forms and analytics |
Why creators leave Carrd
You don't need a website builder for a bio link
Carrd is a full website builder. Using it for a link-in-bio is like using Photoshop to crop a photo. It works, but you spend 30+ minutes picking templates, adjusting sections, and tweaking fonts. Links takes 2 minutes. Add links, share your URL, done.
Your links actually work from Instagram
Carrd doesn't fix the webview problem. When someone taps your Carrd bio link from Instagram, they're stuck in the mini browser. Checkout pages break, forms glitch, and apps don't open. Links bypasses the webview and sends visitors to the real browser.
Real analytics without Google Analytics setup
To track clicks on a Carrd page, you need to manually set up Google Analytics, add tracking codes, and configure event tracking. Links gives you per-link click tracking, device data, and traffic sources out of the box. Zero configuration.
Your account stays protected
Carrd doesn't block bots that crawl your bio link. Links has shield protection that filters out suspicious traffic before it can trigger platform spam detection on your Instagram account.
Common questions
Carrd can work as a link-in-bio, but it's overkill. You're using a website builder for what should be a simple link page. The setup takes much longer, you don't get deep links or shield protection, and analytics require manual Google Analytics configuration. A dedicated tool like Links does the job faster and better.
Carrd's free plan lets you create 1 page with basic features. You need the Pro plan ($19/year) for forms, Google Analytics, and custom domains. Links is free with unlimited links, full analytics, smart deep links, and shield protection. No paid tier needed.
Yes. The switch takes about 2 minutes total. Copy your link URLs from your Carrd page, create a free Links account, and add them. Then update your Instagram bio with your new Links URL. You can keep your Carrd page live as a personal website or portfolio while using Links for your bio link. Both can exist at the same time. Most creators keep Carrd for showcase purposes and use Links where speed matters most: the Instagram bio.
Carrd is a full website builder. You can create landing pages, portfolios, and multi-section websites with custom layouts. Links is specifically a link-in-bio tool. If you need a full website, use Carrd for that. If you need a fast, effective bio link, use Links.
No. Carrd generates standard web pages. When someone opens your Carrd page from Instagram, they're in the webview. Links detects the webview and opens the real browser, which means your links work correctly and load faster.
“I spent an hour designing a Carrd bio page. It looked good but my links were still broken in the Instagram webview. Set up Links in 2 minutes and everything works. Should have done this first.”
Olivia M.
Freelance copywriter, 11K followers
“Carrd is great for landing pages. But for a bio link you don't need a website builder. Links does the job in a fraction of the time with deep links Carrd doesn't have.”
Neil T.
SaaS founder
“Two minutes, not an hour. Free, not $19/year. My links work.”
Jess P.
Virtual assistant
Ready to switch from Carrd?
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