Wix or Squarespace vs Hiring a Web Designer

They’re easy to find, the templates look polished, and the monthly fee seems lower than hiring someone. For a lot of business owners, the question is simple: should I just build it myself, or pay a web designer?

There’s no single right answer. It depends on your time, your budget, and how much you want to manage the site after it goes live.

This guide compares Wix and Squarespace with hiring a web designer, so you can choose with clearer expectations.

What Wix and Squarespace are good at

Wix and Squarespace are DIY website builders. You pick a template, edit the layout, add your text and images, and publish.

They’re a strong fit when:

• you need a basic online presence quickly

• your budget is tight

• you’re comfortable learning the tools

• you’re happy to write the content and keep the site updated yourself

• you only need a simple brochure site, not a complex custom build

For many small businesses, that’s enough to get started. A clean DIY site is better than no website at all.

The real cost of DIY isn’t just the subscription

The platform fee is usually the easy part.

The harder cost is your time. Even a “simple” site still needs:

• a clear structure

• wording that explains what you do

• decent photos

• mobile checks

• forms that actually work

• a connected domain

• basic search settings

If you enjoy that kind of work, fine. If you’d rather be with customers, on jobs, or running the business, those evenings add up quickly.

DIY can also become limiting later. What felt flexible at the start can get awkward when you want a better layout, more pages, booking tools, or someone else to take over.

When Wix or Squarespace make sense

Choose a DIY builder if:

• you’re fine being the website person

• you can spare the time to build and maintain it

• your needs are straightforward

• you’re testing an idea and want to keep early costs low

In those cases, Wix or Squarespace can be a practical first step.

When hiring a web designer makes more sense

Hiring someone usually makes more sense when:

• you don’t have time to learn another tool

• you want the site to look more tailored to your business

• you need clear pages that help turn visits into enquiries

• you want help shaping the structure and content

• you don’t want to be responsible for updates and fixes later

The point of hiring isn’t just “someone who can use the software”. It’s having someone take responsibility for the result.

What “hiring someone” can mean

Not all web designers work the same way.

Freelancer

Often a good middle ground. You usually work with one person, and the price is lower than an agency. Check what’s included after launch, because many freelancers hand the site over and move on.

Agency

Useful for larger or more complex projects. You’ll often pay more, and you may deal with a team rather than one person. That can be more than a typical small business needs.

Managed monthly website

You pay a monthly fee for design, hosting, updates and support, instead of a big upfront build bill. This suits businesses that want a professional site without managing it themselves.

If you’re comparing options, don’t just compare the first invoice. Compare what happens when opening hours change, a page needs rewriting, or something breaks.

Wix / Squarespace vs hiring: a simple comparison

DIY builders (Wix, Squarespace)

• Lower cash cost to start

• You do the design, content and updates

• Templates can look good, but often feel generic

• Support is usually platform help, not a person who knows your business

• You’re responsible when something needs changing

Hiring a web designer

• Higher cash cost (upfront or monthly)

• Someone else handles design and build

• Easier to get a site that fits your business

• Support depends on the agreement

• Better if you want the website off your plate

Neither option is automatically “better”. The better choice is the one that matches how you actually run the business.

Common mistakes when choosing DIY

A few patterns come up again and again:

• starting on a template, then spending weeks trying to make it feel right

• launching with thin content because writing was left to the end

• building something that looks fine on desktop but awkward on phones

• forgetting what happens after launch, when prices, photos or services change

• assuming the builder will handle local search for you

DIY works best when you’re realistic about the work involved, not just the monthly fee.

Common mistakes when hiring

Hiring can go wrong too:

• choosing on price alone

• not asking what happens after launch

• assuming updates are included

• not clarifying who owns the domain

• paying for a big project when a simpler site would have done the job

A clear conversation about scope, support and ownership matters more than a fancy proposal.

How to decide

Ask yourself three questions.

1. Do I have time to build and look after this?

If not, DIY will cost you more than it looks.

2. Is the website mainly a brochure, or does it need to bring in enquiries?

The more important the site is to getting work, the more valuable clear design and ongoing support become.

3. Who will update it in six months?

If the answer is “hopefully me, when I get round to it”, that’s usually a sign you want someone else involved.

Where Subsite fits

Subsite is for small businesses that want a professional website without building it in Wix or Squarespace themselves, and without a large upfront agency bill.

I design, build, host and update your website on a simple monthly plan. You message me when something needs changing, and I take care of it.

Plans start from £79 per month.

It’s not the right fit if you enjoy DIY builders and want full control yourself. It is a strong fit if you’d rather focus on the business and have one person responsible for the website.