Cards vs aiCarousels for carousels
aiCarousels generates slides with AI and exports them for LinkedIn, Instagram, and TikTok. Cards takes writing that already exists and lays it out. Both get you a set of slides in a couple of minutes. The practical differences are who supplies the words, and what the free tier lets you publish.
| Cards | aiCarousels | |
|---|---|---|
| Where the text comes from | Your own writing, laid out as typed | AI writes it from a topic, or reworks text you supply |
| Free tier | Unlimited exports, no account for the first 8 cards | 10 carousels, 1 brand kit |
| Watermark | None on any plan | On free exports |
| Paid plan | Pro at $5 a month | Pro at $15 a month, or $10 billed yearly |
| Slides per carousel | 8 signed out, 18 on a free account, 200 with Pro | Set by the template |
| Canvas sizes | Instagram square and portrait, Story and Reels, LinkedIn, X | LinkedIn, Instagram feed and stories, TikTok |
| Export | JPEG, PNG, ZIP of the set, HTML, and MP4 with Pro | Images, and PDF for LinkedIn documents |
| Video | Renders the deck as an MP4 up to 30 seconds, with Pro | Not listed among its outputs |
| Publishing | Buffer channels, with Pro | Download and post yourself |
| Extra tools | Collage layouts and Smart split of Markdown | Post, infographic, quote card, and headshot generators on Pro |
aiCarousels figures checked July 2026. Plans move, so read their site before you decide.
The watermark decides the free tier
aiCarousels lets you make 10 carousels for free and marks them, so the free plan works for trying the tool rather than for posting. Cards has no watermark at any tier and no cap on exports. Open the editor with no account, build up to 8 cards, download the set, and post it.
Generated copy versus your own
Give aiCarousels a topic and it produces the slide copy. That saves the drafting when you are starting from a blank page. Cards has no model in the loop, so the words on the export are the words you typed. If you already write newsletters, threads, or notes, the draft is the input.
PDF, images, and video
aiCarousels exports a PDF, which is what a LinkedIn document carousel needs. Cards has no PDF export, so that route means assembling one from the images yourself. What Cards adds on the other side is motion: the same deck renders as an MP4 for Reels and TikTok, with twelve presets and a 30 second cap.
When aiCarousels is the better pick
Choose aiCarousels if you want the copy written for you, a PDF for LinkedIn documents, or the extra generators bundled with its Pro plan. Cards fits when the writing is done and you want it on screen without a meter running.
Questions
- Is Cards a free aiCarousels alternative?
- For the carousel itself, yes. Cards charges nothing for the editor, the layout, or the image export, and puts no watermark on any tier. aiCarousels is free for 10 carousels and stamps a watermark on them; removing it means the $15 plan. Cards Pro costs $5 a month.
- Does Cards generate the copy?
- No. You paste the text and Cards splits it into slides on word and line boundaries, keeping your wording exactly. Smart split reads Markdown structure so headings, quotes, lists, and code each get their own slide. aiCarousels writes the slides for you from a topic.
- Is there a limit on how many carousels I can make?
- No. Cards counts cards inside one carousel, not carousels: 8 signed out, 18 on a free account, 200 with Pro. How many you make and export is unmetered. aiCarousels caps the free plan at 10 carousels.
- Can Cards export a PDF for LinkedIn?
- No. Cards exports JPEG and PNG images, a ZIP of the set, an HTML bundle, and an MP4 with Pro. A LinkedIn document carousel needs a PDF, so you would assemble one from the exported images. aiCarousels exports that PDF directly.
- Can I turn the carousel into a video?
- Yes. Twelve motion presets animate the deck and Cards renders it as an MP4 up to 30 seconds for Reels and TikTok. The preview plays free for everyone; rendering the file is Pro.