Can AI replace Carbonmade?
The visible portfolio builder loop is buildable, but a credible replacement needs more than the first screen. Carbonmade earns its keep through editor, CMS, hosting, polish, so expect a weekend or multi-day build and a narrower personal scope.
01What it costs
Checked Aug 14, 2026 · source: carbonmade.com.
| Plan | Monthly | Billed yearly | What you get |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beginner | $9.99 | — | 8 projects; unlimited image/video uploads; 3 navigation options; SD video |
| Professional | $14.99 | — | 50 projects; unlimited image/video uploads; 5 navigation options; 4K video/audio; custom pages and private portfolio |
| Unlimited | $24.99 | — | Unlimited projects and pages; includes all Professional features |
Hidden costs: A custom domain itself is not included; Carbonmade hosts the site and lets you connect a domain you already own.
02Could AI build it for you?
The core job: Build a focused portfolio builder generator that edits structured page sections, previews responsive layouts, and publishes static files.
What a working version needs:
- Node.js 22
- deploy target or static hosting
- user-owned domain for publishing
Useful boundary case: the first 60 percent of Carbonmade is approachable, but operating the last 40 percent is the real subscription.
03What you'd give up
- general-purpose visual editing
- large template and component libraries
- CMS collaboration and client handoff
- managed hosting, forms, and analytics
- high-fidelity color, format, and export handling
Carbonmade: A single site is easy to code. People pay for safe ongoing edits, templates, publishing, domains, collaboration, and no-maintenance hosting.
04Free and cheaper alternatives
A hosted visual portfolio with full layout freedom and a custom domain free; the Plasmic badge stays.
Versus paying: Plasmic lacks Carbonmade's ready-made portfolio onboarding, project-presentation defaults and creative discovery network.
plasmic.app →A desktop portfolio publisher that produces a fast static site; hosting is your problem, server maintenance is not.
Versus paying: Publii has no hosted portfolio service, discovery network or portfolio-specific presentation layer; publishing and hosting are separate.
getpublii.com →A free visual builder that exports ordinary HTML; portfolio templates are less polished but your files are yours.
Versus paying: Silex supplies fewer polished portfolio templates and none of Carbonmade's discovery or portfolio-specific guidance.
silex.me →Open-source visual design with real CSS control; self-hosting replaces Carbonmade's calm with operations.
Versus paying: Webstudio has no portfolio-specific onboarding, discovery network or calm managed handoff comparable to Carbonmade.
webstudio.is →05The build prompt
Paste this into an AI coding tool (such as Claude, ChatGPT, Lovable or Replit) to build your own version.
Build a deliberately narrow personal substitute for Carbonmade, not a full clone. Use exactly this stack: Next.js 15 + TypeScript + SQLite. Primary job: Build a focused portfolio builder generator that edits structured page sections, previews responsive layouts, and publishes static files. Start from an empty folder and create the complete working project. Make the default mode single-user and private. Store user data locally unless the core job requires the declared self-hosted database. Do not add analytics, telemetry, ads, or third-party accounts. Put every secret and external credential in .env and provide .env.example. Use realistic sample data that is clearly labelled and easy to delete. Implement the smallest polished interface that completes the core loop end to end. Include clear empty, loading, validation, success, and failure states. Add import and export so the user is not trapped in the app. Use accessible keyboard navigation, labels, focus states, and sensible contrast. Validate untrusted input and never log secrets or private file contents. Deliberately exclude these paid-product advantages: general-purpose visual editing; large template and component libraries; CMS collaboration and client handoff. Do not fake integrations, network effects, proprietary data, model quality, compliance, or security claims. Where an external API is optional, keep the app useful without it and explain the degraded mode. Write focused unit tests for the data model and the most important workflow. Add one end-to-end smoke test that proves the core loop works. Create a README with setup, permissions, architecture, data location, backup, and limitations. Add scripts for install, development, test, build, and a production-style local run. Run the tests and build before finishing, then fix errors rather than merely describing them.
06Open-source starting points
App prices, verdicts, alternatives and build prompts are adapted from Can I Vibecode It? (MIT License, © 2026 Rob Hallam). Each price shows the date it was checked and its source. Prices change; confirm on the vendor's site before you decide.
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