The most common website question that we get asked is “How much does it cost?” Everyone always hates our answer, but it depends! Design complexity, development needs, and your business goals all influence the price. To deliver an accurate quote and what you need, a good digital marketing and web design agency must always be thorough in understanding your website requirements.
Regardless, we’ve done our best to compile the guide below on cost and what to expect when developing your website using AI builders, freelancers, and agencies.
1. DIY AI Website Builders: Affordable but Extremely Limited (and Bad for Business)
AI-powered website builders like Wix ADI, GoDaddy’s AI site builder, and Squarespace AI have gained popularity in 2025 for their affordability, ease of use, and the ability to be up and running in minutes. However, they come with significant limitations that can hurt your brand and business growth. Remember, you get what you pay for!
If your goal is to create a website with zero to limited brand identity or personality, an AI builder is your answer. These builders rely on historical templates and data, meaning your website will look and feel like another AI-generated website. Customization options are also limited, and you’re often stuck using cookie-cutter layouts that don’t fully support your business’s basic needs. You can also kiss SEO goodbye, given these builders will generate content for you, which is a big no-no for search engines.
Additionally, AI website builders typically own your website and hosting, making it difficult (or even impossible) to migrate your site elsewhere as your business scales.
AI Website Builder Pricing & Considerations:
- Price: $10 – $100+ per month for one site
- Best for: Hobby websites, personal blogs, or temporary landing pages
- Considerations: Limited customization, no scalability, restricted functionality, not SEO-friendly, and lacks a real brand identity
The Verdict:
Cheap and suitable for hobbyists or early-stage concepts, but not for serious businesses looking to establish a strong online presence.
2. Freelance Web Designers: Budget-Friendly, But Not an All-in-One Solution
Hiring a freelance web designer is a step up from AI builders. Platforms like Upwork, Fiverr, and Freelancer.com provide access to thousands of cost-effective web designers worldwide. However, businesses often overlook the fact that building a website takes more than design. You also need a web developer, SEO strategist, copywriter, web hosting, and ongoing website maintenance. That’s a lot of contractors.
It’s rare to find a freelancer who excels at all these aspects. In most cases, you’ll be hiring a whole team of freelancers. Additionally, you’d better be good at project management, because you’ll be sourcing freelancers and managing them until your website launches!
Freelancer Pricing & Considerations:
- Price: $1,000 – $3,000+ per freelancer
- Best for: Businesses and owners with technical knowledge and project management capabilities
- Considerations: High management effort, varying quality, longer hiring and contracting process, and the scope must be clearly defined upfront
The Verdict:
A good choice for those who can oversee multiple moving parts, but risky for those with no web design background or who need a seamless, hands-off professional experience.
3. Bespoke Web Design & Digital Marketing Agencies: A Balanced Approach
For businesses that need professional-grade web design without the overhead of a large agency, a bespoke web design agency is the best solution. They provide the expertise to design, develop, and optimize your website in one place.
Unlike freelancers, these agencies offer an integrated team of designers, developers, and SEO strategists who collaborate to create a cohesive website experience. With a bespoke agency, you avoid the headache of hiring and managing multiple freelancers while ensuring that your site resonates with customers.
What’s unique about our agency is that you get to work directly with our partners, ensuring the highest levels of service and accountability. Because your success is our success, we ensure that your strategic vision, brand identity, and business objectives align with your website, giving it the best chance to succeed when launched.
Bespoke Agency Pricing & Considerations:
- Price: $3,500 – $6,000+ per website
- Best for: Businesses looking for an expert team without the high costs of a much larger agency
- Considerations: May have limited bandwidth for extensive projects, and industry expertise can vary by agency
The Verdict:
The best balance between quality, cost, and efficiency. Ideal for small- to mid-sized businesses seeking a professional web design and development solution.
4. High-End Web Design Agencies: Premium Service, Premium Price, Premium Complexity
For enterprise-level companies or businesses with complex projects, high-end web design agencies deliver the same cutting-edge designs and top-tier execution as those from a bespoke solution. These high-end agencies have much larger teams to serve corporations with complex needs, multiple stakeholders, and stringent brand guidelines.
However, for small and mid-sized businesses, these larger agencies can be overkill. They tend to have lengthy approval processes, numerous stakeholder meetings, and rigid structures that can slow down project timelines. While they do deliver exceptional design work, you may end up overpaying for the same quality work you’d get from a cheaper option.
High-End Agency Pricing & Considerations:
- Price: $15,000 – $35,000+ per website
- Best for: Large corporations with extensive branding and organizational needs.
- Considerations: Expensive, potentially overcomplicated for small and medium businesses, long timelines, and often requires a minimum contract
The Verdict:
Best for large enterprises and not ideal for smaller companies seeking agility and cost efficiency.
Which Web Design Option Is Best for You?
The right web design solution depends on your business’s stage and budget. Here’s a recap of who to go with:
- If you’re starting out and need a quick solution, AI website builders might be an option, but you’ll outgrow them quickly as a business.
- If you’re comfortable managing the web design project, hiring freelancers could save money. However, it requires time, expertise, and project management skills.
- If you want quality professional web designs with a hands-off experience, a bespoke agency like Uplancer is your best choice.
- If you have a large budget and need enterprise-level service, a high-end agency is your go-to. Note that a bespoke agency can be just as good. Just be prepared for longer timelines and higher costs.
Need Help Finding the Right Web Design Service?
At Uplancer, we specialize in custom web design for businesses that want high-quality, scalable websites without breaking the bank. If you’re unsure which option is best for your business, reach out to us for a free consultation! We’ll point you in the right direction, even if it’s not with us!
