website-builder-vs-web-designer-cost3 min read

Renting a Website: What the Big Builders Charge, and What a Studio Charges

Compare website builder costs and studio prices

A gradient illustration of a website on a laptop screen, with a cityscape in the background
A gradient illustration of a website on a laptop screen, with a cityscape in the background
TL;DR Big builders like Wix and GoDaddy charge for self-service editors and one-time builds, while web design studios like Borg Sites charge for custom-designed sites and ongoing care and maintenance. Prices vary, but Borg Sites' entry paid plan starts at $9.99/month. Get a free estimate from Borg Sites to compare prices and plans.

What's the Difference Between a Big Builder and a Web Design Studio?

Big builders like Wix and GoDaddy offer self-service editors, where you build and maintain your website yourself. Web design studios like Borg Sites, on the other hand, design and build custom websites for you, and handle ongoing care and maintenance.

This means that with a big builder, you're responsible for creating and updating your website, whereas with a web design studio, a team of professionals handles everything for you.

What Do Big Builders Charge?

As checked on 2026-10-12, Wix charges $17/month for their Light plan, and $29/month for their Core plan. GoDaddy charges $9.99/month for their Starter plan on a 12-month term, and $19.99/month month-to-month. IONOS charges $6/month for the first year, and $14/month after that. Hostinger charges $2.99/month with 48 months paid up front, and $10.99/month after that.

These prices were read by hand from each company's public pricing page on 2026-10-12, and are subject to change. They also vary by country, term length, and promotion.

What Does a Web Design Studio Charge?

Borg Sites' pricing starts at $9.99/month for Spark Hosting & Care, which includes a custom-designed website, ongoing care and maintenance, and features like e-commerce and auto-blog. Our prices are transparent and publicly available, and we offer a free estimate to help you compare prices and plans.

We also offer a range of other plans, including Orbit Hosting & Care, Galaxy Hosting & Care, and Supernova Hosting & Care, each with its own set of features and pricing.

What's Included in a Web Design Studio's Plans?

Borg Sites' plans include custom-designed websites, ongoing care and maintenance, and features like e-commerce and auto-blog. We also offer managed edit time, booking and scheduling, and mail forwarding, depending on the plan. And with our Supernova, Nebula, Quasar, and Enterprise plans, you get unmetered traffic, so you never have to worry about surprise bills.

Plus, our plans include a free borgsites.com address, which stays yours forever, and the option to cancel at any time, with a 5-day money-back guarantee.

What to Do Next?

If you're considering renting a website, we recommend getting a free estimate from Borg Sites to compare prices and plans. Our team of experts will work with you to create a custom-designed website that meets your needs and budget.

We also offer a range of resources and tools to help you learn more about website design and maintenance, and to help you make an informed decision about which option is best for you.

Frequently asked questions

What's the difference between a big builder and a web design studio?

Big builders offer self-service editors, where you build and maintain your website yourself, while web design studios design and build custom websites for you, and handle ongoing care and maintenance.

How do big builders charge for their plans?

Big builders charge varying prices for their plans, depending on the features and services included. For example, Wix charges $17/month for their Light plan, and $29/month for their Core plan.

What's included in a web design studio's plans?

Borg Sites' plans include custom-designed websites, ongoing care and maintenance, and features like e-commerce and auto-blog, depending on the plan.

How do I get started with Borg Sites?

To get started with Borg Sites, simply visit our website and request a free estimate. Our team of experts will work with you to create a custom-designed website that meets your needs and budget.

What's the difference between Borg Sites and other web design studios?

Borg Sites offers a range of unique features and services, including custom-designed websites, ongoing care and maintenance, and features like e-commerce and auto-blog. We also offer transparent and publicly available pricing, and a 5-day money-back guarantee.

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