Web Design Agency vs. Freelancer: Which One to Choose

Which one should you choose, a web design agency or a freelancer?

Perhaps, if you want a quick and affordable solution, you’ll go with the latter.

But sometimes, you’ll encounter two dilemmas: hire a low-cost freelancer with a less-satisfactory output or hire a higher-cost agency that can provide high-satisfactory results.

At the end of the day, hiring a freelancer can cost as much as the service of a web design agency.

Confusing, right? No worries.

In this article, we’ll find out which one will give you more returns on your initial WordPress website cost.

Hiring a Freelancer: Pros and Cons

Do you know that there are 129k+ freelance website designers in the United States alone?

This means that there’s a large pool of talent who will happily work on your projects, but is this the right decision?

Let’s take a look at some of the best reasons why you should hire a freelancer.

Pros

• Affordability. Freelancers usually set lower-cost rates for WordPress web development, which can be a plus if you’re a small business owner. Some freelancers are billed per working hours, and some are billed per project. Make sure to get aligned.
• Flexibility. Usually, no matter where they live (except if they reside in a country with drastic time zones), freelancers will adapt their schedules to your needs. They’re even willing to work on the weekends or outside normal operational hours.
• 1-o-1 Communication. With freelancers, you can communicate with them directly through chats or email without the need for an intermediary or a project manager. This can be useful if you need your tasks to get done fast.

However, there are also drawbacks.

Cons

• Reliability. At the end of the day, a freelancer is a human. Meaning if they’re sick or in case of an unforeseeable circumstance, no one will back up their work for you. This can get frustrating if you’re on a tight deadline.
• Lack of Specialization. While freelancers can give outstanding work in the areas they’re well-versed in, you cannot expect the same to happen in the areas they don’t know much about.
• Longer Turnaround. As you’re working with freelancers, they have limited time and may take longer to finish your projects. Sometimes, you’ll need to look for other freelancers to cover up the remaining bandwidth, resulting in more expenses.

Here’s a quick summary of the pros and cons of freelancers for you:

Hiring a Web Design Agency: Pros and Cons

Think of a web design agency as an additional creative team to your organization.

At Intelivita, for instance, you’ll work with creative directors and designers who have years of experience handling diverse industries and case projects.

So, why should you go with a web design agency?

Pros

• Quality Guarantee. An agency with years of experience knows the right step-by-step to deliver a project that will not only wow you but also your customers. For reference, take a look at Intelivita’s latest portfolios, all of which are inline with the latest WordPress development trends.
• Project Management. With an agency, you’ll always know when to expect a task will be delivered without having to micromanage. This is because they have a dedicated project manager who will break down the project tasks and deadlines.
• Continuous Support. At Intelivita, we will provide long-term support even after the project ends. Let’s say you’re thinking of selecting a WordPress theme after the web design is ready, we’ll get the job done for you.
• Scalability. Web development is always about a race of time with constant changes in between. Along the way, you may need to expand your tech stack, and an agency with all-in-one services can surely complete the task for you.

However, there are also some aspects to deeply consider.

Cons

• Higher costs. This comes as no surprise, as hiring an agency is the same as letting in an entire team. However, agencies usually offer money-back guarantee if their work output doesn’t meet your key performance indicators (KPIs), so there’s a chance of a higher return on investment (ROI).
• Indirect Communication. The purpose of an agency is so you, as a busy business owner, can sit back and invest your energy toward more meaningful tasks. The downside? You’ll have less control. Sometimes, you’ll only talk with one person in charge (PIC) even if you’re asking for a team-wide alignment, which can result in a feedback loop.

All in all, here’s a quick summary: