Although phenoxide ion has more number of resonating structures than carboxylate ion, carboxylic acid is a stronger than phenol. Why ?

Explanation

In case of phenoxide ion, structures (V-VII) carry a negative charge on the less electronegative carbon atom. Therefore, their contribution towards the resonance stabilization of phenoxide ion is very small.
In structures I and II, (carboxylate ion), the negative charge is delocalized over two oxygen atoms while in structures III and IV, the negative charge on the oxygen atom remains locatized only the elctrons of the benzene ring are delocalized Since delocalization of benzene electrons contributes little towards the stability of phenoxide ion therefore, carboxylate ion is much more resonance stabilied than phenoxide ion. Thus, the release of a proton from carboxylic acids is much easier than from phenols. In other words, carboxylic acids are stronger acids than phenols.