Last updated: October 5, 2026
Site Squad vs a freelancer
A good freelancer builds a custom site for roughly $1,500 to $6,000, in four to eight weeks, then charges by the hour for changes and separately for hosting. Site Squad builds a custom site for free in 24 hours and charges $99 a month for everything, including changes.
| a freelancer | Site Squad | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1,500 to $6,000 up front; senior specialists $4,000 to $12,000 | $0 up front, $99 a month |
| Time to launch | 4 to 8 weeks, depending on their queue and your feedback | First draft in 24 hours |
| Who does the work | The freelancer, with briefs and rounds from you | Site Squad, from a two-minute quiz |
| Changes | Hourly, when they are available | Within hours, included |
| Ownership | Usually yours on final payment | Built, hosted and maintained for you; your domain and content stay yours |
| Hosting | Separate, $10 to $200 a month, you manage renewals | Included, with backups and monitoring |
| SEO basics | Depends on the freelancer | Done for you on every page |
| Best for | Unusual requirements, custom functionality, a specific designer you love | Standard service-business sites done quickly and kept current |
Choose a freelancer if
- You need custom functionality or integrations.
- You have found a designer whose work you love.
- You want to own the files from day one.
- You have a specific brand system to follow.
Choose Site Squad if
- You want no upfront cost and no weeks of waiting.
- You want changes without an invoice every time.
- You do not want to manage hosting, renewals and backups.
- You want to see the finished site before you commit.
Verdict
A freelancer is the right call for unusual projects and for owners who want the files on day one. For the standard local-business site, Site Squad is faster, cheaper in the first year, and keeps the site current without hourly bills. The risk with a freelancer is the one who disappears; with Site Squad the site is maintained for as long as you want it, with no hourly bills.
What it costs and how fast it is
Answer a short quiz. Within 24 hours a first draft of your website is ready to look at on your phone or computer. If you love it, it is $99 a month, with hosting, changes and support included. If you do not, you pay nothing.
Get your website in 24 hours