---
title: Should I Use a Website Template or a Custom Design?
description: "## TL;DR - **Choose a template for speed and a lower cost, or custom for a one-of-a-kind design.** A template is a ready-made premium theme we customize it with your brand colors and images. - **Custom:** a design created from…"
url: "https://webmasterforhire.us/knowledge-base/planning-a-new-website-or-redesign/website-template-or-custom-design/"
updated: "2026-10-20"
category: Planning a New Website or Redesign
---

# Should I Use a Website Template or a Custom Design?

## TL;DR

- **Choose a template for speed and a lower cost, or custom for a one-of-a-kind design.** A template is a ready-made premium theme we customize it with your brand colors and images.
- **Custom:** a design created from scratch, based on sites you like. More freedom, more time.
- **Templates have come a long way.** Good themes are far more flexible than they used to be.
- **Pick a theme that's still being updated.** An abandoned theme can force a redesign later.

## Template vs. Custom: What's the Difference?

- **Template (themed) site.** We start with a premium theme, a ready-made design, and brand it with your colors, logo, and content. You work within the theme's structure.
- **Custom site.** As we tell clients, "We start with the sites you like and then create a unique design for you based on those." No template limits, but it takes longer and costs more.

## When a Template Makes Sense

- **You need to launch soon.**
- **Budget matters.** A template skips the design fee.
- **You're redesigning and reusing your content.**

Themes have improved a lot, and good ones offer far more layout choices than they used to. You still work within the theme's structure, so if you need a layout it can't do, custom is the better fit.

## When Custom Makes Sense

- **You want a one-of-a-kind design** based on sites you like.
- **You have time to refine.** Custom projects take longer because you see designs and make changes along the way.

## How to Choose a Theme or Demo Design

1. **Kickoff call.** We talk through your business, your goals, and sites you like.
2. **We send options.** A short screen recording and links to demo designs to look through.
3. **You pick a favorite.** We confirm it fits your needs.
4. **We build it** on a development site, a private workspace your visitors can't see.

## What Webmaster For Hire Recommends

- **Choose a theme from a long-standing developer** that's still being updated.
- **Skip custom code where a proven plugin works.** See [Why Avoid Custom-Coded Features on a WordPress Site?](/knowledge-base/working-with-webmaster-for-hire/avoid-custom-code-wordpress/)

## :: Common Questions ::

### Are Design Changes Included With a Template Site?

See [What's Included in a Website Design or Redesign Project?](/knowledge-base/working-with-webmaster-for-hire/website-design-redesign-included/)

### Which One Costs Less?

A template. See [How Much Does a New Website or Redesign Cost?](/knowledge-base/planning-a-new-website-or-redesign/new-website-redesign-cost/)

## Not Sure Which Fits Your Business?

See examples in our [website design gallery](https://webmasterforhire.us/website-design-gallery/), or [request a consultation](https://webmasterforhire.us/request-a-consultation/).