Neither is always “better”
Freelancers and agencies both deliver good and bad work. The right fit depends on your project, budget, timeline, and how you like to work.
When a freelancer often fits
- Small to medium scope: A single site, a rebuild, or a focused project (e.g. performance fix, accessibility audit). One person can own it end to end.
- Clear specialism: You need someone who does one thing well (e.g. front end, accessibility, performance) and you do not need a full team.
- Tight budget: Freelancers typically have lower overheads. You pay for one person’s time, not a whole team’s.
- Direct relationship: You want one point of contact. You brief them, they deliver. No account manager in between.
- Ongoing support: You want the same person to maintain or extend the site over time, so knowledge stays in one place.
Downsides: capacity is limited. If they are ill or busy, you wait. They may subcontract for design or copy; clarify who does what.
When an agency often fits
- Large or multi-disciplinary scope: You need design, copy, development, and maybe strategy under one roof. One team can coordinate it.
- Need for cover: You want backup. If one person leaves or is unavailable, someone else can pick up the work.
- Structured process: You want a defined process, project management, and clear handover. Agencies are set up for that.
- Brand or compliance requirements: You need strict governance, sign-off chains, or formal contracts. Agencies are used to that.
Downsides: higher cost (you pay for the team and overhead). You may work with an account manager, not the person writing the code. Turnover can mean you lose the person who knew your project.
What to check either way
- Relevant work: Have they built or fixed sites like yours (size, sector, accessibility, performance)?
- Who actually does the work: With agencies, who designs, who codes, who writes? With freelancers, do they subcontract? Get names and roles.
- Process and communication: How do they brief, report, and handle changes? How often do you get updates?
- Accessibility and quality: Do they test with keyboard and screen readers? Do they care about performance and maintainable code? Ask for evidence.
- Contract and ownership: Who owns the code and content? What happens if you part ways? See website ownership and intellectual property and website project contracts.
For more on working with developers, see working with web developers and what to ask before you hire a web designer.
Summary
Freelancers often fit smaller scope, tighter budget, and a direct relationship; agencies fit larger, multi-disciplinary projects and a need for cover and process. Whichever you choose, check relevant work, who actually does it, how they communicate, and how they handle accessibility, quality, and ownership.