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
- Kickoff call. We talk through your business, your goals, and sites you like.
- We send options. A short screen recording and links to demo designs to look through.
- You pick a favorite. We confirm it fits your needs.
- 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?
:: Common Questions ::
Are Design Changes Included With a Template Site?
See What’s Included in a Website Design or Redesign Project?
Which One Costs Less?
A template. See How Much Does a New Website or Redesign Cost?
Not Sure Which Fits Your Business?
See examples in our website design gallery, or request a consultation.
