Carbonmade carbonmade.com

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.

Verdict: Half-bot · AI gets you partway; the hard part stays hardBuild time: weekend to multi-day
Half-bot

01What it costs

Price variesTypical paid plan, paid plan; billing basis requires review

Checked Aug 14, 2026 · source: carbonmade.com.

PlanMonthlyBilled yearlyWhat 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

Plasmicopen-source

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 →
Publiiopen-source

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 →
Silexopen-source

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 →
Webstudioopen-source

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.

prompt.txt
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

  • Webstudio: Open-source visual website builder.
  • GrapesJS: Open-source web-builder framework.
Sponsor slot · openFeatured alternative to Carbonmade. A labeled card for one relevant tool.
Book this spot →

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.