Web Design
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How to get a .com.au domain: eligibility, choosing a name, registering it, WHOIS privacy and the .au direct option if you have no ABN.
Website builder vs web designer is a choice between doing it yourself and paying for expertise. A website builder such as Wix, Squarespace or Shopify lets you make a site yourself for a monthly plan fee, which suits simple sites and tight budgets. A web designer costs more upfront but plans, designs and builds the site around your customers, which suits businesses that rely on their website for enquiries or sales.
What is the difference between a website builder and a web designer?
A website builder is a tool. A web designer is a person (or team) who uses tools, including builders sometimes, to plan and create a site for you. Here’s how a DIY website vs a professional website compares:
| Website builder (DIY) | Web designer (professional) | |
|---|---|---|
| Who does the work | You | The designer, with your input |
| Upfront cost | Low: a free or paid plan | Higher: a project fee |
| Ongoing cost | The platform’s plan and any apps | Hosting and, if you choose, a care plan |
| Your time | Significant: learning, writing, building, fixing | Less: content, feedback and approvals |
| Design | A template you adapt | Planned around your brand and customers |
| Strategy and SEO | Up to you | Page structure, SEO basics and calls to action planned in |
| Best for | Hobby sites, start-ups testing an idea, very simple sites | Businesses that need the site to bring in work |
When does a website builder make sense?
A do it yourself website builder is a good choice when:
- You’re just starting out and need something online quickly with a small budget.
- The site is simple: a few pages, your services and contact details.
- You enjoy design and writing, and have time to learn the tool.
- Most of your work comes from word of mouth, and the site is mainly there to reassure people.
If that’s you, a builder can be the right call, and there’s no shame in starting there. Our comparisons of Wix vs Squarespace and Wix vs WordPress can help you choose a platform.
When is a web designer worth it?
A professional is usually worth it when:
- Your website is a main source of enquiries, bookings or sales.
- You want to rank on Google for your services and towns.
- You need features such as bookings, payments, an online store or integrations with a CRM.
- You don’t have the time to build and maintain it yourself.
- Your DIY site isn’t bringing in work, and you’re not sure why.
A designer also brings things a template can’t: a page plan built around what customers search for, clear calls to action, a consistent brand, and someone to call when something breaks.
Website builder vs custom web design: what about cost?
Builders cost less upfront, but your time has a value too, and so does a site that doesn’t bring in enquiries. With us, a professionally built website starts at $5,000 + GST for our Essentials package (up to 5 pages), which can be paid over 6 monthly payments of $833 + GST and includes 12 months’ hosting. Our guide to how much a website costs breaks down every package. Website builder plan prices change often and show in your local currency, so check the platforms’ own pricing pages.
What is the best website builder for small business?
There isn’t one best builder for everyone. The best website builder for a small business depends on what the site needs to do:
- Wix: a free plan and a flexible drag-and-drop editor, good if you want control over every detail.
- Squarespace: polished, structured templates, good for visual businesses and simple selling.
- Shopify: built for online stores, good if selling products is the main job.
- WordPress.com: the hosted version of WordPress, good for content and blogging.
What’s the easiest website builder to use?
Most people find Wix and Squarespace the easiest to start with, because you edit the page as you see it and hosting is included. Squarespace’s structured sections make it harder to break the layout; Wix gives more freedom but needs more care on phones.
Are AI website builders good?
AI website builders can produce a first draft in minutes from a short description, and most major builders now include AI tools. They’re useful for getting started, but the result still needs a person to check the facts, write in your own voice, choose real photos and make sure each page has a clear next step. An AI draft is a starting point, not a finished business website.
Are there free website builders?
Yes. Some builders, such as Wix and WordPress.com, have free plans. Free plans usually show the platform’s branding, use the platform’s web address instead of your own domain, and limit features. They’re fine for testing an idea, but most businesses move to a paid plan or a professional site to look credible.
A middle path: professional help on a builder
It doesn’t have to be one or the other. If you’re already on Wix and want to stay, a designer can restructure and improve your existing site rather than rebuild it. Our Wix website design service does that. If you need a site built for you from the start, our small business website design page explains what we include, and we’ll tell you honestly if a builder would serve you better for now.
Frequently asked questions
Can I start with a builder and switch to a designer later?
Yes. Many businesses start on a builder and move to a professional site as they grow. Moving usually means rebuilding the site and setting up redirects from old page addresses, so keep a copy of your content.
Will a DIY website rank on Google?
It can, if the content is good and the basics are done: page titles, descriptions, headings, a Google Business Profile and a fast, mobile-friendly site. What matters most is useful content, not who built the site.
Do I own a website made with a builder?
You own your content, but the site runs on the builder’s platform and plan. If you stop paying, the site loses its paid features or goes offline, depending on the platform, and you usually can’t move the design to another platform.
Can I update a site a web designer builds?
You should be able to. Ask for a site you can edit yourself and some training at handover. Our sites are built on a content management system so you can change your own text, photos and pages.
The short version
In website builder vs web designer, a builder suits simple sites, tight budgets and people with time to learn; a web designer suits businesses that need their website to bring in work. Weigh the upfront cost against your time and what the site needs to achieve.
If you’d like an honest view on which suits your business, book a free 30-minute discovery call.
