InkySitesInkySites 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 your designer stays on for a flat $29 a month. A freelancer charges up front, bills per change, and may not be there when you email.
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 | Your designer, who stays. | The freelancer, if they're still around and have time. |
| How fast changes happen | Usually within a day, often within an hour. | Days to weeks, negotiated per request. |
| Hosting | Included. No separate bill. | You arrange and pay for it yourself. |
| Domain and code | Yours. Handed back any time you leave. | Usually yours, but read the contract. |
| If they go quiet | Your site keeps running; 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 "within a day" is our normal turnaround, not a contractual SLA.
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. The designer makes the site and stays on. 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You're back where you started: an outdated site and no one to call.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 code stay yours, the site keeps running, and we send you the files on request, any time, no questions.
Can InkySites do custom work like a freelancer?
For most small-business sites, yes: new pages, a full redesign, light selling, and common integrations like Stripe or Calendly. For a bespoke web app or a complex custom build, a freelance developer is the better tool, and we'll tell you so.
See your site redesigned. Then decide.
Paste your URL, pick a designer, 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.
No card. No commitment. 48 hours.