FastSites, a DIY builder, or an agency?
There are three common ways to get a small-business website. Here is how they differ on the things that matter: who does the work, what you pay up front, and what is covered.
Three ways to get a website.
The other two columns describe what is typical. Details vary from provider to provider.
Swipe sideways to see every column.
| What we compare | FastSitesWe build it for you | A typical DIY website builderYou build it | A typical agency buildThey build it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who builds it | We set it up for you, on a premium theme, with your words and photos. | You do. It is your time and your work. | The agency's team builds it for you. |
| Upfront build fee | None. You pay a monthly fee instead. | Usually none, but you do all the work. | A small-business site often costs £1,500 or more to build. |
| Your domain | Free every year, up to £15 (most .com and .co.uk names). Pay yearly: free from day one. Pay monthly: we pay it after your first year. | Many only give a domain free for the first year, then charge full price. | Varies. Ask who pays for it. |
| Theme | Every theme is premium and your theme is free. A design made from scratch is a paid extra. | Varies from one builder to the next. | Varies. Ask whether the design is custom, and what it costs. |
| Hosting, SSL and backups | Covered by the monthly fee, with theme updates and support. | Varies. Check what the plan includes. | Varies. Often arranged separately, so ask. |
| Cut of your shop sales | None. We take 0% and you only pay for hosting. Card payments coming soon. | Varies. Check before you sell. | Varies. Check before you sell. |
| Changing it yourself | Yes, with the FastEditor. Click anything on your page and change it. No code. | Yes. That is the point of a DIY builder. | Varies. Often you ask the agency to make changes. |
Other providers change their plans often. Check their websites for their current details.
Moving from Wix or Squarespace?
Pick a similar premium theme from our collection, free of charge.
- We do not rebuild your old site for you. You choose a theme that is close to what you had.
- Want your old design copied exactly? That is a paid theme port.
- Your domain then comes free (up to £15): from day one on yearly plans, from year two on monthly.
Want the full picture of what you get? See what is free, what the monthly fee covers, and how the FastEditor works.
Why FastSitesQuestions people ask
Which one is cheapest?
It depends on what you count. A small-business website from a UK agency often costs £1,500 or more to build. A DIY builder costs less, but you do all the work. With FastSites there is no build fee and we set the site up for you, so you pay only the monthly fee.
How does the free domain work?
Your domain is free up to £15 a year, which covers most .com and .co.uk names. Pay yearly and it is free from day one. Pay monthly and you pay the first year; after that we pay it every year while you stay with us. Pricier endings like .io get a discount instead of being free.
Is custom design included?
Every theme in our collection is premium, and the theme you pick is free. A design made from scratch (custom design) is a paid extra.
Do you take a cut of my shop sales?
No. We take 0% of your shop sales. You only pay for hosting. Card payments in the shop are coming soon. Until then, it takes orders and you collect payment yourself.
Skip the build. Keep the website.
Done for you, with no build fee. Monthly fee from £15 a month.