Guides

Website builder vs hiring a web developer

Updated June 2026 · 5 min read

DIY builders like Wix, Squarespace and GoDaddy promise a website in an afternoon for the price of a coffee. So why hire a web developer at all? Here's an honest look at both — because the right answer genuinely depends on your situation.

When a website builder makes sense

• You're just testing an idea and need something basic, fast.
• Your budget is truly tiny and you enjoy doing it yourself.
• You have the time to learn the tool, write the content and maintain it.

The hidden costs of DIY

• Your time. "Free" builders can eat days of evenings and weekends.
• Templates everyone else uses. Your site ends up looking like thousands of others.
• Slower performance & weaker SEO. Bloated templates can hurt your Google ranking.
• Monthly fees forever. The subscription never stops, and costs rise over time.

When hiring a developer wins

• You want a fast, professional site that reflects your brand — not a template.
• You'd rather spend your time running your business than building a website.
• You want it built for speed, SEO and conversions from day one.
• You need custom features like booking, portals or integrations.

The middle ground

You don't need a £10,000 agency to get a great website. A good independent developer gives you bespoke quality at small-business prices — which is exactly the gap we built 2020 Developers to fill.