How Cardel and WordPress compare
WordPress powers a huge share of the web for good reason. This page compares WordPress.com hosted plans. You get the block editor, thousands of themes, comments and likes, Jetpack newsletters, and on higher plans the full plugin ecosystem and WooCommerce. Nothing else offers this much freedom to extend, and your content is exportable and yours.
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. Cardel has no plugin ecosystem and no self-hosting; it trades that freedom for one integrated workspace.
Where are they different
WordPress extends by plugin: a form plugin, a booking plugin, an email plugin, each with its own settings. Cardel includes Shop, scheduling, audience, email on your domain, and inbox as one product.
WordPress email is Jetpack newsletters or a plugin. Cardel adds campaign workflows and receives replies in a Messaging Center.
WordPress accessibility and SEO depend on your theme and plugins. Cardel sets WCAG 2.2 AA and per-page SEO as standard.
Choose WordPress when you want maximum control, plugins for anything, and the option to self-host.
Choose Cardel when you want your site, audience, shop or bookings, and inbox working together on your domain without assembling plugins.
You are the Forgemaster. Cardel is your forge. What you build is yours.
Common questions
Is Cardel a WordPress alternative?
Cardel is a home for your craft: a site of your own with a blog, newsletter, shop, community, and one inbox. It can replace WordPress when you want your work, audience, and sales in one place. The feature list below shows where the two overlap and where they part.
Can I use Cardel and WordPress together?
Yes. Cardel pages can link out to other products, so you can keep WordPress for what it does best and bring the rest of your work to Cardel.
How much does Cardel cost compared to WordPress?
You don't pay for Cardel until you publish. Choose Starter, Pro, or Studio when your site goes live. WordPress sets its own prices, so check their pricing page below for current plans.
How do I switch from WordPress to Cardel?
Choose Start for Free, set up your home, and bring your work over at your own pace. You do not have to move everything on day one.
Compare features
What's on Cardel and WordPress
A check means that capability is available. WordPress is marked only when the offer is comparable, not the same product.
Site and brand
- Workspace siteCardel: IncludedWordPress: Included
- Custom domainUse your own domain with HTTPS. Cardel includes the DNS records for the site and for sending and receiving email.Use your own domain with HTTPS. Cardel includes the DNS records for the site and for sending and receiving email.Cardel: IncludedWordPress: Included
- Editor ModeCardel: IncludedWordPress: Included
- Theme and fontsCardel: IncludedWordPress: Included
Public content
- BlogCardel: IncludedWordPress: Included
- Reader engagementCardel: IncludedWordPress: Included
- Showcase pagesCardel: IncludedWordPress: Included
- Shop pagesCardel: IncludedWordPress: Included
Reach and quality
- SEOCardel: IncludedWordPress: Included
Audience and email
- AudienceGroups, tags, and import so you can organize contacts and bring in an existing list.Groups, tags, and import so you can organize contacts and bring in an existing list.Cardel: IncludedWordPress: Included
- Email on your domainSend and receive from your custom domain, not a shared Cardel address.Send and receive from your custom domain, not a shared Cardel address.Cardel: IncludedWordPress: Not included
- Marketing emailsCardel: IncludedWordPress: Included
- Bulk email workflowsCardel: IncludedWordPress: Included
- Campaign workflowsCardel: IncludedWordPress: Not included
Messaging
- Built-in chatCardel: IncludedWordPress: Not included
- Messaging CenterCardel: IncludedWordPress: Not included
Commerce
- Shop paymentsSell on your Shop pages with Stripe. Cardel takes a 0.5% application fee on those card sales. Stripe's own processing fees still apply, and you keep the rest.Sell on your Shop pages with Stripe. Cardel takes a 0.5% application fee on those card sales. Stripe's own processing fees still apply, and you keep the rest.Cardel: IncludedWordPress: Included
- Orders and fulfillmentCardel: IncludedWordPress: Included
- Scheduling and bookingsLink to external scheduling available on Starter.Cardel: IncludedWordPress: Not included
Team
- Admin usersCardel: IncludedWordPress: Included
- Per-admin permissionsCardel: IncludedWordPress: Included
- AI AssistantCardel: IncludedWordPress: Included
Other
- Plugin ecosystemCardel: Not includedWordPress: Included
- Paid user subscriptionsCardel: Not includedWordPress: Included
- WooCommerceCardel: Not includedWordPress: Included
- Self-hostingCardel: Not includedWordPress: Included
* Note: This table does not capture every feature of Cardel or WordPress, and is not intended as a comprehensive list. We keep this page current, but Cardel or WordPress may add or remove features that are not shown here.
Cardel vs WordPress pricing
Compare plans, prices, and what it costs to get started.
Cardel
You don't pay until you publish
Build at no cost, then choose Starter, Pro, or Studio when your site goes live.
WordPress
Current plans and prices
See what WordPress charges on their pricing page.
Forge your community
Choose Cardel
Looking for a WordPress alternative? Bring your work to a site of your own.
Compare Cardel
See how Cardel stacks up, or explore WordPress comparisons.
