compare web design companies
Freelancers, agencies, DIY platforms, and modern subscription services — clear pros, cons and what to expect.
Choosing who builds your website is a trade-off between cost, speed, control and long-term results. This page helps small businesses make a practical choice in 2025.
At a glance: who to choose
High-level differences to help you decide quickly.
| Provider type | Typical cost | Turnaround | Best for | Key trade-off |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Freelancer | $500–$5,000 | 1–4 weeks | Simple custom projects; flexible scope | Varies by skill; inconsistent timelines & support |
| Traditional Agency | $3,000–$20,000+ | 6–12 weeks | Complex branding and bespoke builds | High upfront cost; slower changes |
| DIY Platforms (Wix/Squarespace) | $15–$60/mo | Days–weeks (your time) | Low budget, owner-built sites | Time investment; hidden feature costs |
| Subscription Services | $30–$49/mo | Minutes–48 hours | Busy trades & service businesses | Less pure ownership of platform tech; predictable monthly fee |
Freelancers — pros & cons
Great for one-off custom jobs where you can find an experienced designer/developer.
- Potentially lower cost for small projects
- Direct communication with the builder
- Flexible scope and bespoke tweaks
- Support can be inconsistent
- May require ongoing paid updates
- Turnaround depends on availability
Agencies — pros & cons
Full-service teams that handle strategy, design and development for larger projects.
- High design polish and project management
- Strategic services (branding, CRO, marketing)
- Established processes and QA
- Significant upfront fees
- Longer delivery and slower minor changes
- Ongoing updates often billed hourly
DIY Platforms — pros & cons
Cloud builders that give control to owners who have time to learn the tools.
- Low monthly cost to start
- Immediate control and editing access
- No developer dependency for basic changes
- Hidden add-on fees for critical features
- Time cost can be substantial
- Design limitations and template constraints
Subscription Services — pros & cons
Monthly plans that bundle design, hosting, domain and ongoing updates for a predictable fee.
- Fast launch and predictable monthly cost
- Ongoing updates often included
- Built-in hosting, SSL and basic SEO
- Platform functionality is managed by provider
- May not suit highly custom technical needs
How to pick the right option for your business
- Estimate your time value. If one hour of your time is worth more than a few hundred dollars, paying for a managed service often makes sense.
- Define outcome, not tool. Prioritise leads, speed and mobile performance over the method used to build the site.
- Ask about ongoing changes. If updates will be frequent, predictable monthly pricing with unlimited edits reduces friction.
- Check local search setup. For trades and services, local SEO, schema and Google Business integration are essential.
Many small service businesses find subscription services a practical middle ground: professional design, hosting and continual optimisation for a single predictable monthly fee. If you need deep custom development or unique integrations, agencies or freelancers may be appropriate.
About modern subscription services (what to expect)
Modern subscription services combine AI-assisted workflows, professional templates and managed hosting so businesses can get a working website quickly without large upfront fees. Typical inclusions are domain registration, SSL, mobile-first design and basic on-page SEO.
For many trades and local services this model balances affordability and results: fast launch, ongoing updates, and predictable costs — useful if you prefer to focus on your business rather than technical maintenance.
Questions to ask providers:
- Is a custom domain and SSL included?
- Are updates and content changes billed hourly or included?
- Do they provide local SEO and analytics reporting?
- Is there a lock-in contract?
Frequently asked questions
Which option is cheapest long-term?
Will a subscription site limit custom features?
How fast can a professional site be live?
Deciding made simple
If speed, predictable cost and easy updates matter more than deep custom development, consider a managed subscription approach. It’s a practical choice for most small trades and service businesses.
