Free website, freelancer, agency or DIY builder?
The four routes differ in who pays for the build, who looks after the site afterwards, and what you own if you leave. Brandbasket builds the site free and charges a monthly plan that covers upkeep, with the domain in your name. Here is how it compares.
Questions to ask any of them
Put these to every option, ours included. The answers matter more than the first price.
- What do I pay at the start, and what do I pay every month after?
- Who looks after hosting, security, backups and updates, and is it written down?
- Is the domain registered in my name?
- Who owns the design and the content, and can I take them with me?
- What happens to the site if I stop paying or want to leave?
- What costs extra, and will you tell me the price before you start?
What you give up with ours
The design and the content we write stay with Brandbasket and are provided as a hosted service while you are subscribed. Your domain is yours either way. If that matters to you, choose an option where you own the files, and expect to pay for the build and the upkeep yourself.
The four routes side by side
General patterns, not quotes. Any one freelancer, agency or builder may work differently, so check each point.
| Free build with a monthly plan | Freelancer | Agency | DIY builder | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cost at the start | No build fee | Usually a one-time fee | Usually a project fee | Usually low, plus your own time |
| Cost afterwards | A monthly plan | Often agreed separately, or not at all | Often a separate monthly agreement | The builder's subscription |
| Hosting, security and updates | Included in the plan | Check what is covered | Check what is covered | Handled by the builder, in its own limits |
| Who builds it | We do, from your details | The freelancer | The agency team | You do |
| Domain | In your name | Check | Check | Check |
| Leaving | Cancel anytime, no notice period | Usually you keep what was delivered | Depends on the contract | Depends on the builder's export options |
Common questions.
Is a free website a trap?
It is free to build because the money comes from the monthly plan. The questions above, and our guide to what to ask an agency, show what to check before you sign anything.
Is a monthly plan cheaper than paying once?
It depends on what you need and for how long. A one-time fee often leaves hosting, security and updates to you. A monthly plan covers them. Compare the full cost over a year or two, not the first payment.
Can I move my site later?
Your domain moves with you. The design and the content we write are provided as a hosted service while you are subscribed, so they stay with Brandbasket.
Read next.
- Is a free website really free? What to ask an agencyWhere a free website fits, its catch, and what to ask an agency before you agree.
- How much does a website cost for a small business in India?What a small business website should cost in India, and what the price must include.
- PricingOur three monthly plans, what each includes, and how the package discounts work.
Let us fill your basket.
A 15-minute call, a clear plan and a price. No obligation.