Ready-made website vs hiring a freelancer
A good freelancer is excellent value. The risk is capacity: one person, one calendar, and no cover when work, illness or a better contract gets in the way.
| Â | Wondercraft | a freelance developer |
|---|---|---|
| Typical spend | Fixed price, shown before you buy | £1,500 to £6,000, often revised during the project |
| Time to live | Days | Three to ten weeks depending on their queue |
| Risk | You see the finished site first | You are buying a promise and a portfolio |
| Cover if they are unavailable | A studio with a support desk and response times | None — the project pauses |
| Aftercare | Support desk, change requests and enhancement packs | Depends entirely on their availability |
| Documentation | Handover pack, licence certificate and documentation included | Rarely included unless you ask for it |
When a freelance developer is the better choice
- Ongoing hourly work on a site that already exists
- Very specific technical tasks with a tight brief
- Businesses with an in-house lead who can manage the work
Common questions
Can I hire the studio like a freelancer?
Yes — a custom build is exactly that, with a fixed scope, a stated delivery window and a team behind it.
Who owns the code?
You do, on handover, with a written licence covering the domains you register.
What happens if something breaks after launch?
Open a ticket from your customer area. Every order includes a support window, and it can be extended to twelve months.
Other comparisons
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