Carbonmade wants a subscription.
These cost $0.
4 free alternatives to Carbonmade, checked for license, recent activity and real adoption. Each one tells you the catch, so you can switch with your eyes open.
Carbonmade vs Free Alternatives Matrix
Quick side-by-side comparison · $0/mo vs paid
| Alternative | Type | License | Where It Runs | Stars | Head-to-Head |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Webstudio | open source | AGPL-3.0+ | Local or hosted | ★ 8.8k | Carbonmade vs Webstudio → |
| Publii | open source | GPL-3.0 | Local | ★ 7.3k | Carbonmade vs Publii → |
| Plasmic | open source | MIT AND AGPL-3.0 | Local or hosted | ★ 6.9k | Carbonmade vs Plasmic → |
| Silex | open source | AGPL-3.0+ | Local or hosted | ★ 2.9k | Carbonmade vs Silex → |
The picks
4 open source · ranked by fit
- 01
Webstudio
open sourceAGPL-3.0+Local or hosted8.8kaug 2026Open-source visual design with real CSS control; self-hosting replaces Carbonmade's calm with operations.
The catch vs CarbonmadeWebstudio has no portfolio-specific onboarding, discovery network or calm managed handoff comparable to Carbonmade.
Install, platforms & data +
- platforms
- webself-hostedself-host, real ops
- install
- Hosted signup or desktop app; alternatively export the project or deploy the self-hosted builder/site
- setup
- The free cloud plan publishes only to a Webstudio subdomain; a free custom domain requires export or self-hosting
- engines
- Webstudio Inception AI and MCP integrations; the hosted model provider is not named in official documentation
- your data
- Projects and assets live in Webstudio Cloud when hosted there; export/self-host routes produce source or static assets under the user's deployment
- checked
- 2026-08-10
- 02
Publii
open sourceGPL-3.0Local7.3kjul 2026A desktop portfolio publisher that produces a fast static site; hosting is your problem, server maintenance is not.
The catch vs CarbonmadePublii has no hosted portfolio service, discovery network or portfolio-specific presentation layer; publishing and hosting are separate.
Install, platforms & data +
- platforms
- desktopone-click install
- install
- Install the native Windows/macOS package or Linux AppImage
- setup
- Publishing still needs separate hosting plus SFTP, GitHub or Netlify credentials/configuration
- your data
- Source content and media in a user-selected local Sites Location; publishing generates static HTML, CSS and assets, with optional local backup archives
- checked
- 2026-08-10
- 03
Plasmic
open sourceMIT AND AGPL-3.0Local or hosted6.9kaug 2026A hosted visual portfolio with full layout freedom and a custom domain free; the Plasmic badge stays.
The catch vs CarbonmadePlasmic lacks Carbonmade's ready-made portfolio onboarding, project-presentation defaults and creative discovery network.
Install, platforms & data +
- platforms
- webself-hostedthey host it
- install
- Hosted signup; optional npm-installed Plasmic CLI for React code generation and deployment in your own repository
- setup
- Free hosted output keeps Plasmic branding; codegen/self-deployment requires a Node/React project and deployment workflow
- engines
- Plasmic AI (beta); the official site does not name its underlying model provider
- your data
- Hosted projects and CMS records in Plasmic Cloud; codegen writes React components plus plasmic.json and plasmic.lock into the user's repository
- checked
- 2026-08-10
- 04
Silex
open sourceAGPL-3.0+Local or hosted2.9kaug 2026A free visual builder that exports ordinary HTML; portfolio templates are less polished but your files are yours.
The catch vs CarbonmadeSilex supplies fewer polished portfolio templates and none of Carbonmade's discovery or portfolio-specific guidance.
Install, platforms & data +
- platforms
- webself-hostedthey host it
- install
- Use the hosted editor with a GitLab login, install the desktop alpha, or run the official Docker setup
- setup
- The stable hosted route starts with a GitLab account; the desktop build is still labelled alpha
- engines
- Optional desktop MCP workflow can connect to Ollama, OpenCode, Goose or Claude Code
- your data
- Project JSON and assets in GitLab, FTP or local storage; publishing produces ordinary static HTML, CSS and JavaScript
- checked
- 2026-08-10
Frequently Asked Questions
Direct answers · Carbonmade open-source replacements
What is the best free alternative to Carbonmade?+
The top free alternative to Carbonmade is Webstudio (open source, AGPL-3.0+). Open-source visual design with real CSS control; self-hosting replaces Carbonmade's calm with operations. Other popular Carbonmade replacements include Publii, Plasmic, Silex.
Can I self-host a free replacement for Carbonmade?+
Yes. Of the 4 free alternatives to Carbonmade, 3 can be self-hosted on your own server or local machine: Webstudio (AGPL-3.0+), Plasmic (MIT AND AGPL-3.0), Silex (AGPL-3.0+).
Should I vibe-code or build my own Carbonmade clone from scratch?+
Our build verdict for Carbonmade is KINDA (the core, yes. the polish, no). 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.
What is the catch when switching from Carbonmade to Webstudio?+
Webstudio has no portfolio-specific onboarding, discovery network or calm managed handoff comparable to Carbonmade.
