A website builder is cheaper up front and fine for a simple site. A web designer costs more but saves your time and usually gets you a site built to rank and convert. The right choice depends on your time, budget and how much work you need the site to bring in.
A builder makes sense when
- You're just starting and need something basic online quickly
- You have the time and confidence to write, design and update it yourself
- Most of your work comes from referrals, not Google
A web designer makes sense when
- You want work from Google and need service and suburb pages
- Your time is worth more on the tools or with clients
- You need integrations: booking, quoting, payments, CRM
- Your current DIY site isn't bringing in enquiries
Hidden costs
- Builders: monthly fees forever, paid apps, your time, and limits on SEO and speed.
- Designers: hosting and care plans, and the risk of a designer who doesn't hand over ownership. See who owns my website.
Middle ground
Some businesses get a designer to build the first version properly, then make small updates themselves. That works well if the site is on a platform you can edit, like WordPress or Shopify.
See WordPress vs Shopify vs Wix and what a website costs.
Want this done for you? See our website design packages, or get a free audit.