Site Sorted vs Hiring a Web Designer
Two ways to get a tradie website. One starts from $299 and takes 5 minutes. The other costs $3,000+ and takes 6 weeks. Here's how they compare.
Get Your Free PreviewFree preview · $299 to keep · No monthly fees
Side by Side
The full comparison
Same result, very different price and timeline.
| Site Sorted | Web Designer | |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront cost | From $299 | $2,000 - $8,000 |
| Monthly fees | $0 to us | $50 - $150/month |
| Year 1 total cost | $299 | $2,600 - $9,800 |
| Time to launch | 5 minutes | 4 - 8 weeks |
| Mobile-friendly | Yes, built in | Depends on designer |
| SEO optimised | Yes, local keywords built in | Varies, often costs extra |
| Tradie-specific design | Yes, built for tradies | Depends on designer |
| Revisions | 1 round included | 1-2 rounds, then hourly |
| You own the site | Yes | Check your contract |
| Ongoing changes | Self-serve or request | $50-150/hour |
| Free preview | Yes, before you pay | Rarely |
Honest Take
When to choose each option
Choose Site Sorted if...
- You want a professional site without spending weeks on it
- Your budget is under $1,000
- You need a standard tradie site (services, gallery, contact, about)
- You want SEO built in from day one
- You don’t want ongoing monthly fees
Choose a web designer if...
- You need custom functionality (quoting tools, customer portals)
- Your budget is $3,000+ and timeline is flexible
- You want a fully bespoke design
- You have specific integrations (booking systems, CRMs)
- You’re comfortable with ongoing maintenance costs
FAQ
Common questions
For a tradie website, yes. Trade businesses need a clean design, mobile-friendly layout, SEO, and a contact form. You don't need custom animations or e-commerce features. Site Sorted delivers everything a tradie needs at a fraction of the cost.
Site Sorted generates your site based on your trade, services, and style preferences. If you need something highly bespoke (like a complex quoting calculator or customer portal), a web designer may be a better fit. For most tradies, Site Sorted covers everything.
Yes. You pay $299, you own the site. No lock-in contracts, no monthly fees to us.
One round of revisions is included. After that, you can request changes or update the site yourself. With a web designer, changes often cost $50-150 per hour.
Absolutely. Many tradies come to us after getting quotes from web designers. We'll build you a new site from scratch in minutes.
See the difference yourself
Get a free preview of your tradie website. Takes 5 minutes, costs nothing. If you like it, pay $299 to keep it.
Get My Free PreviewNo credit card required