How Much Should You Be Paying for Web Design in 2025?

Whatever your web design goals may be; whether you’re refreshing an old and outdated website or creating a new one from scratch, one of the first questions you’ll ask yourself before you even start is:

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How much is this going to cost me?

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A valid question! Even a “barely-scratching-the-surface” dive into web design prices will show you a huge range of services from a couple hundred bucks to tens of thousands of dollars! So, what gives? Why is it so hard to get a ballpark price on the web design you need?

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Well, the ridiculous price gap is there for a reason and it’s not just about what kind of web design company you hire! 

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To help you make sense of it all, we’re going to break it down. Whether you’re looking for a simple site for your blogs or a huge eCommerce platform to run your business, today’s blog is walking you through all of the factors that go into web design costs to help you plan your budget better and avoid any unpleasant and expensive surprises.

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Let’s dive in!

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Factors That Affect Web Design Pricing

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When it comes to pricing out your web design costs (at least in 2025), there’s not a one-size-fits-all answer.

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The final price tag is going to depend heavily on the features you need, your goals, and your preferences. Here are 5 key factors that most influence how much your web design will cost:

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1. Scope and Structure

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The overall size and complexity of your website are the biggest cost drivers.

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Generally, the bigger and more customized your site, the more time, planning, and development hours are going to be put into your project, which will increase the final costs.

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Because of this, it’s a huge help to define the scope of your project from the start to help your web designers better estimate the time and resources they’ll need to get it done, which will help avoid surprises.

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Here are some ways the scope and structure of your website will impact the pricing:

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• Number of Pages — A simple five-page informational website (e.g., Home, About, Services, Blog, Contact) is relatively quick to design and build. On the other hand, a site with 50–100 pages— that each need unique layouts, content, and images — will increase costs.
• Navigation & Site Architecture — A flat structure with a few main pages is much easier (and cheaper) to organize than a deep, multi-tiered site with subpages, filters, and interconnected content. Expect to pay more for a more complex site.
• Content Layout Variations — If every page uses the same basic layout, that saves design time and costs. But if you need for your pages to have custom wireframes or multiple unique designs, that adds more working hours and increases the final price.
  Interactive Features or Workflows — Websites that need user flows like application forms, lead funnels, dashboards, or portals, often involve more than just visual design. These elements need to be mapped out, designed, and carefully developed to make sure they work and give your visitors a positive experience.
• Multi-Language Support — If your site needs to support more than one language, you'll be adding layers of translation, layout adjustment, and backend setup—raising the overall scope.

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2. Features and Functionality

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Beyond just the number of pages your site will need, the specific tools and features you want your website to have will also affect the final price tag.

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Functionality adds complexity to your design, not in just how your website looks, but in how it works for your users. Listed below are some commonly added features that make your website more effective but also impact pricing.

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• Online stores (eCommerce) — Selling products online takes product pages, a shopping cart, a secure checkout process, and payment integrations like Stripe or PayPal. These elements take more time to design and configure properly.
• Custom forms & booking tools — If your site needs appointment scheduling, multi-step forms, or custom logic that responds to user input, it will take longer to design and build than a standard contact form.
• User logins & member areas — Allowing users to create accounts or access exclusive content means setting up both the front-end design and secure backend functionality, which increases overall project complexity, hours spend on your project, and costs.
• Live chat or chatbots — Using real-time support features like chatbots are extremely useful but involve connecting third-party tools and designing them to match your site’s visual style.
• Advanced search features — A basic search bar is simple, but if your site needs filters, categories, or predictive search suggestions, the design and development time will go up.
• Animations & interactivity — Features like hover effects, sliders, scroll-triggered animations, and interactive maps create a better and more engaging experience for your visitors but also add more hours to the project.
• Accessibility enhancements — Designing for accessibility includes support for screen readers, keyboard navigation, and other ADA-compliant features, which take extra care and time to implement correctly.

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3. Platform or CMS Choice

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The content management system (CMS) or platform you choose to build your site impacts everything from how your site looks, how easy it is to manage, and how much you’ll pay for design and development.

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Some platforms are cheaper than others, ideal for quick setups and simple design, while other platforms offer more customization options at a higher price point. 

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Here’s a breakdown of the most popular options and what they’re best suited for:

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WordPress

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WordPress is one of the most widely used platforms out there.

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It’s flexible, relatively affordable, and works fro everything from blogs to business websites. There are tons of themes and plugins available to customize your site, but making them match your brand or adding advanced features might require a little more hands-on help from a web designer or developer.

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Ongoing updates and maintenance is also something to keep in mind.

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Best For: Businesses that want flexibility and room to grow, with a huge library of tools to play around with.

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Webflow

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Webflow is another very popular option that gives designers a lot of creative control without needing to code.

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It’s great for clean, responsive design and for brands who want something modern and unique. It is a bit harder to work with though, and a highly customized site will cost more.

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Best For: Brands looking for more creative freedom and a sleek, professional look.

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Shopify

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If you need an online store, Shopify is one of the easiest and most reliable platforms to work with.

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It’s got plenty of built-in tools for managing products, inventory, and payments, and it’s designed specifically for eCommerce, so it will have everything you need to help you run your business. Just know that if you want a more customized site or extra features you’ll need to bring in outside development help.

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Best For: eCommerce businesses looking for an easy to use and all-in-one solution.

Wix or Squarespace

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Wix and Squarespace are both popular drag-and-drop website builders that are great for getting your site up quickly without much technical know-how.

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They’re affordable and user-friendly, which makes them a great choice for smaller projects or personal brands. Just know that they offer less flexibility when it comes to adding features or unique design.

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Best For: Small businesses, startups, or individuals looking to launch a simple but professional-looking site.

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Custom-built platforms

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If you want complete control over how your website looks and works, the only choice is to go fully custom!

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This is usually the route for larger companies or brands with very specific website needs. Of course, it’s also the most expensive option, but choosing it will let you build your site from scratch and get you exactly what you want.

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4. Content and SEO

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Designing a website is half the battle — what you put in it matters just as much.

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Content and design go together hand-in-hand. The words, images, and videos on your site need to be designed around and shape how your final design will come together. If your content isn’t ready when your web design process starts, it can slow things down or lead to extra revisions. 

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On top of that, if you want your site to be found through Google (and you do.) then SEO also needs to be considered from the start.

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Here are some content and SEO-related factors that can influence your web design costs:

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• Copywriting — Writing effective headlines, product descriptions, and calls to action takes time and strategy. If your web designer or agency provides this service, expect it to be billed as an add-on or separate package.
• Image sourcing — What kind of images do you want on your site? If you need high-quality stock images or original graphics, gathering up those visuals and matching them to your brand adds time to the design process and may involve extra licensing fees or design hours.
• Content formatting — Even if you already have content ready to go, formatting it to look clean and professional within your design takes extra effort. Designers need to adjust layout, spacing, and style to match each piece of content from blogs to videos to embedded forms.
• SEO setup — Basic SEO includes things like setting up title tags, meta descriptions, alt text for images, and proper header structures (H1, H2, etc.). Some web design packages include this by default; others may charge extra for it.

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If you’ve got your content complete and ready to go before design begins, you’ll likely save time and money. But if you need help creating the content or want to improve your SEO, those services are worth the investment if your provider offers them.

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5. Long-Term Support and Maintenance

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Once you launch your website, you’re not done!

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To keep your new site running smoothly, you’ll need regular updates, a fix here and there, and possible ongoing design work to keep it looking up to date and professional.

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These services might be billed hourly, monthly, or offered as part of a support plan, all of which will affect your price.

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Here are some support-related factors to consider:

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• Platform updates — Many platforms (like WordPress or Shopify) need regular updates to themes, plugins, or software. Keeping everything up to date helps your site stay secure and functional.
• Bug fixes — Even well-built websites will have issues. Whether it’s a broken link or a layout glitch on mobile, having someone on hand to make adjustments saves time and avoids bigger problems later.
• Security monitoring — Ongoing protection against malware, spam, and hacking attempts is often part of a monthly maintenance plan and is especially important for eCommerce or other high-traffic sites.
• Content updates — Need to swap out images, add a new service page, or update your homepage banner or team? Ongoing support lets you make regular changes without having to start a new project every time.
• Backups & recovery — Routine backups help protect your content and design in case of errors, crashes, or cyberattacks. Restoring your site quickly can make all the difference in an emergency.
• Performance monitoring — Tracking your site’s speed, uptime, and user behavior over time can help identify areas for improvement and keep your experience consistent.

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How Do Web Design Companies Charge?

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Now that you’ve got an understanding of what goes into the cost of a website, the next step is understanding how a web design company prices its services.

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There’s not a one-size-fits-all answer here either. Different companies use different pricing models and can change depending on the scope, timeline, and level of services offered. Some companies might be a better fit for small, one-off projects, while others work better for bigger projects that need ongoing maintenance.

Here’s a breakdown of the most common pricing models in 2025:

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• Hourly Rates — You’re billed for the hours the designer or developer spends working on your site. This approach is very flexible and works well for smaller updates or projects where the scope might change.
• Flat Project Pricing — You agree on a set price for the entire website based on how long it will take and what the project includes. It’s a great option if you know exactly what you need and want to stick to a pre-set budget.
• Subscription-Based Pricing — You pay a flat monthly fee for ongoing services, which includes web design, content, branding, and more. A subscription-based setup is helpful for businesses that need consistent support or have multiple projects in the pipeline.
• Monthly Retainers — You reserve a certain number of hours or deliverables each month. It’s perfect if you know you’ll need regular updates, new pages, or design help on an ongoing basis.

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Each pricing model has its own pros and cons and the best fit for you will depend on how your business works, what kind of support you’ll need, and what your web design needs are.

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How Much Does an Average Web Designing Project Cost?

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Time to talk numbers.

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We’ve already discussed how web design costs can vary a lot depending on the size of your site, the features you need, and the platform you’re using. But we can narrow it down your costs a bit based on your project type. 

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Below are some of the most common pricing tiers you’ll find in 2025 for the kind of site you’re looking for, along with what kind of services are included with each level:

Basic Website ($500 – $5,000)

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This range typically covers simple websites with just a handful of static pages. Nothing crazy; think portfolios, landing pages, or basic sites.

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A premade template with minimal customization is all these kind of websites require, getting you a homepage, about page, contact page, and maybe one or two extras. Functionality will be limited to what your visitors see on the screen and there may be little to no SEO or mobile optimization (unless you request it).

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Best For: Freelancers, students, folks who just need a simple online presence.

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Small Business Website ($3,000 – $10,000+)

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This tier is designed for startups and small to medium-sized businesses.

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Websites at this level will include more pages, stronger branding, and a little more flexibility with their design options. This price range will typically get you features like a blog, service or product pages, mobile responsiveness, and maybe some light SEO, depending on your provider.

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You can also expect a more custom design (or at least a heavily customized template).

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Best For: Local businesses, consultants, teams looking for a more professional and functional online presence.

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Custom Business Website ($10,000 – $50,000+)

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Websites at this price range should be fully custom and designed based on your brand and goals.

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Since these are bigger projects, they will typically involve strategy sessions, more in-depth UI/UX planning, content creation, and integration with third-party tools like CRMs, booking platforms, or analytics dashboards.

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Depending on your provider, you might also get more advanced features like animations or custom forms.

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Best For: Established businesses that need a distinct website that can handle higher traffic, reflects their brand, and supports their marketing and business goals.

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eCommerce Website ($5,000 – $75,000+)

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eCommerce sites vary quite a bit and their pricing can vary as well, depending on the number of products, complexity of inventory and fulfillment systems, and the platform being used (i.e., Shopify vs. custom).

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This price point will get you plenty of product pages, shopping cart functionality, secure checkout, payment gateways, and mobile optimization at minimum. Higher-end projects could also include advanced search filters, separate customer accounts, or marketing automation tools.

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Best For: Retailers and brands that sell physical and digital products online and who need a user-friendly, secure, and scalable store.

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Enterprise-Level Website ($25,000 – $100,000+)

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The biggest price tags for the biggest jobs!

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An enterprise-level website is built for large companies, institutions, or organizations with bigger online needs. A lot will go into strategy, including in-depth discovery, multi-phase strategy work, custom development, and ongoing support. They may also support multiple user types, custom dashboards, more advanced security, multi-language support, and integrations with the company’s internal systems.

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Best For: Corporations, universities, healthcare providers, and other high-traffic organizations that require a powerful platform with custom functionality.

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How to Choose the Right Web Design Company?

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So, now that you’re up to speed on what you can expect to pay for your needs, it’s time to ask yourself another very important question:

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Who am I going to get to design my website?

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There are a lot of options out there — everyone from freelancers to web design agencies to subscription-based services. It’s crucial that you not only choose a partner who fits your budget but that you choose a reliable and credible provider that understands your goals and can deliver the website you need.

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Here’s a simple checklist to help you make the right call for your business:

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1. Research

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Don’t be afraid to start by casting a wide net.

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Look online or ask around for agencies or freelancers who specialize in your industry or have experience creating the kind of website that you’re looking for.

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Use sites like Clutch, Google Reviews, LinkedIn, or even Reddit to see what others are saying and recommending. 

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Tips:

• Read recent client reviews and testimonials.
• Ask for referrals from people you trust.
• Check how long they’ve been in business and what kinds of clients they typically work with.
• Then check out those companies’ websites and look at their offerings and their site itself. If a web design company has a slow, outdated, or confusing website, then that’s a huge red sign!

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2. Evaluate Portfolios

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A web design provider’s portfolio is a great place to get a feel for the designer or agency’s still, expertise, and range.

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Look at their visuals, but don’t forget to also check that their past work is user-friendly, optimized for mobile, and loads quicker. If you’re in a niche industry, you should also look for examples of similar websites to see if they’re familiar with features you will need.

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Tips:

• Look for variety in design, not just pretty visuals.
• Check out the live versions of sites in the portfolio to check functionality.
• Reach out and ask which projects involved custom design versus template.

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3. Check for Hidden Fees

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You can start by asking for a quote for your needs, but remember, not all quotes include everything.

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Some agencies charge for extras like content writing, image licensing, SEO, revisions, or ongoing support. Make sure you understand both how the agencies charge and what’s included in your proposal vs. what’s considered an add-on.

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Tips:

• Ask for a breakdown of what the price includes.
• Find out how changes or additional requests are billed.
• Make sure hosting, maintenance, and updates are clearly discussed.

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4. Ask the Right Questions

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When you’ve narrowed it down to a few potentials, then get ready to have a conversation and make sure you come prepared.

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Asking the right questions can tell you how your potential partner communicates, how organized they are, and whether or not they’re a good fit for your style and your brand. Here are some questions to get you started:

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• What’s your typical timeline for a project like mine?
• Who will be my main point of contact during the project?
• How do you handle revisions and feedback?
• What happens after the site launches—do you offer ongoing support or maintenance?
• Do you provide help with SEO or content creation, or do I need to handle that separately?
• How do you make sure the site is mobile-friendly and accessible?
• Will I be able to update the site myself, or will I need to come back to you for changes?
• What platform or CMS do you recommend for my needs, and why?
• How do you measure the success of a website project?
• Can you walk me through your design and development process from start to finish?
• How is your pricing structured, and what’s included in the quote? Are there any potential extra costs I should know about?

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Getting these questions answered will help you decide if an agency is a good fit for you as well as help you spot any potential red flags!

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How Designity Determines Website Pricing

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At Designity, we know that web design isn’t a one-size-fits-all service.

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So, our pricing isn’t one-size-fits-all either.

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Designity is an innovative Creative as a Service platform that uses a flexible, subscription-based approach to our web design services that lets businesses get exactly the services they need, when they need them, without having to commit to expensive retailers or juggle multiple freelancers.

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Choose from one of our three flexible and transparent plans:

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• Plus Plan — $5,995/month. Great for small businesses or startups who need consistent creative support with one active project at a time.
• Premium Plan — $8,995/month. Ideal for growing companies managing multiple projects at once, with faster turnaround and a larger creative team.
• Custom Plan — Custom Pricing for enterprise teams with complex or high-volume needs.

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If you're not sure what plan is best for you, book a demo call today and talk to one of our amazing Account Executives about your project’s complexity, design scope, content needs, turnaround, and any add-ons or support you think would be useful. They’ll be able to work with you to match your web design goals with the subscription plan that best fits you, so you’re never paying for more than what you need.

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Are you ready to elevate your web design in 2025? Because we’re ready when you are.