How Framer and Heartbeat compare
Framer is the fastest way from design canvas to live site. Freeform layout, effects and animations, a CMS, localization, and a template community let designers publish marketing sites that look and move like products. If you think in Figma and want the site to feel that way, Framer is a joy.
Heartbeat is a friendly place to start a paid community without a big budget. For $49 a month you get channels, threads, chat, voice rooms, DMs, unlimited courses and events, a custom domain, checkout pages, five automation workflows, and Pulse, an AI that actually sets up channels, offers, and pages for you. Grow adds unlimited workflows, DM rules, an affiliate program, and white-label email; Scale adds a branded app. For a founder with a small group who wants courses and calls next to the conversation, Heartbeat covers a lot for the price.
Where they are different
Framer
- Framer ends at publish.
- Framer has no reader accounts.
- Framer sells nothing natively.
Heartbeat
- Heartbeat's landing page is the door to a private space.
- Heartbeat emails members through workflows and a weekly digest.
- Heartbeat's events sync to members' calendars.
- Heartbeat charges 5% to 1.25% on payments.
Choose Framer when the site is a designed artifact and motion matters.
Choose Heartbeat when a small paid community with courses, calls, and member chat is the product.
Compare features
What's on Framer and Heartbeat
A check means that capability is available. Framer and Heartbeat are marked only when the offer is comparable, not the same product.
Site and brand
- Workspace siteFramer: IncludedHeartbeat: Included
- Custom domainFramer: IncludedHeartbeat: Included
- Theme and fontsFramer: IncludedHeartbeat: Included
Public content
- BlogFramer: IncludedHeartbeat: Not included
- Showcase pagesFramer: IncludedHeartbeat: Included
Audience and email
- AudienceFramer: Not includedHeartbeat: Included
- Marketing emailsFramer: Not includedHeartbeat: Included
- Campaign workflowsFramer: Not includedHeartbeat: Included
Messaging
- Built-in chatFramer: Not includedHeartbeat: Included
Commerce
- Shop paymentsFramer: Not includedHeartbeat: Included
Team
- Admin usersFramer: IncludedHeartbeat: Included
- AI AssistantFramer: IncludedHeartbeat: Included
* Note: This table does not capture every feature of Framer or Heartbeat, and is not intended as a comprehensive list. We keep this page current, but Framer or Heartbeat may add or remove features that are not shown here.
Framer vs Heartbeat pricing
Compare plans, prices, and what it costs to get started.
Framer
Current plans and prices
See what Framer charges on their pricing page.
Heartbeat
Current plans and prices
See what Heartbeat charges on their pricing page.
Cardel: An alternative to
Framer and Heartbeat
You don't pay until you publish.
Cardel provides a home for your craft. Share and sell your work, grow your audience, and bring your community together on a site of your own.
Common questions
Is Cardel an alternative to Framer or Heartbeat?
Cardel is a home for your craft: a site of your own with a blog, newsletter, shop, community, and one inbox. It can replace Framer or Heartbeat when you want your work, audience, and sales in one place. The feature list on this page shows where Framer and Heartbeat are marked.
Can I use Cardel with Framer or Heartbeat?
Yes. Cardel pages can link out to other products, so you can keep Framer or Heartbeat for what it does best and bring the rest of your work to Cardel.
How much does Cardel cost compared with Framer and Heartbeat?
You don't pay for Cardel until you publish. Choose Starter, Pro, or Studio when your site goes live. Framer and Heartbeat set their own prices, so check their pricing pages on this page for current plans.
How do I switch from Framer or Heartbeat to Cardel?
Start with Build Your Site, set up your home, and bring your work over at your own pace. You do not have to move everything on day one.