InkySites vs hiring a freelancer

If your last website died when a freelancer stopped replying, you already know the risk. A good freelancer can do beautiful work, and for a one-off custom build they're often the right call. But the redesign is the easy part. The hard part is the next two years of small changes. InkySites redesigns the site you already have for free, then runs it for you for a flat $29 a month. A freelancer charges up front, bills per change, and may not be there when you email.

Prices checked June 2026.

The honest side-by-side.

  InkySites Hiring a freelancer
Upfront redesign Free. No card. $500 to $10,000, depending on who you hire and the scope.
Monthly upkeep $29 flat, everything in. $50 to $200 a month on a retainer, or $20 to $100 an hour.
Who makes ongoing changes We do - every change, done for you. The freelancer, if they're still around and have time.
How fast changes happen Most changes are live within the hour. All within 48. Days to weeks, negotiated per request.
Hosting Included. No separate bill. You arrange and pay for it yourself.
Domain and code Yours. One ask from your dashboard, any time. Usually yours, but read the contract.
If they go quiet Your domain and code are yours; ask any time and we send the files. You're back to an orphaned site and square one.

Freelance ranges from the Fiverr and Upwork cost guides, checked June 2026. InkySites's "most within the hour, all within 48" is our normal turnaround, not a contractual SLA. See how the whole done-for-you category prices up.

Who each one is right for.

Hire a freelancer if

You need a custom build with unusual requirements, a one-time project with a clear finish, or a specific person you already know and trust. With the budget and the time to manage the relationship, a senior freelancer is hard to beat.

Choose InkySites if

You have an existing small-business site that's gone stale, you want changes handled without re-hiring every time, and you'd rather pay one flat price than a stack of invoices. We make the site and run it for you. You don't manage a contract.

Questions people ask.

Is a freelancer cheaper than InkySites?

Up front, sometimes. Over two years, rarely. A $1,500 freelance redesign plus $100 a month in changes is about $2,700 in the first year alone. InkySites is free to start and $348 a year, with hosting and changes included. The freelancer also bills per change; we don't.

What happens if my freelancer disappears?

You're back where you started: an outdated site and no one to call. That's the exact problem we built InkySites for. With us, your domain and complete code stay yours, and we send you the files on request, any time, no questions - any developer could take over tomorrow.

Can InkySites do custom work like a freelancer?

For most small-business sites, yes: new pages, refreshed sections, light selling, and common integrations like Stripe or Calendly. A ground-up rebuild is a conversation rather than part of the monthly fee, and for a bespoke web app or a complex custom build a freelance developer is the better tool. We'll tell you so.

See your site redesigned. Then decide.

Paste your URL and we'll email you a fresh redesign in 48 hours. Free, no card. If you like it, it's $29 a month from there.

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