Free website for your business vs a DIY website builder
There are two ways to get a small business website without paying an agency a big fee up front: build it yourself on a website builder, or have someone build it for you on a monthly plan. Both can work. This page compares them honestly, including when a DIY builder is the better choice.
The short answer
If you enjoy doing things yourself, have a few free evenings and your needs are simple, a DIY builder is a good option. If you would rather spend that time running your business, and want someone else to handle hosting, updates and fixes, a done-for-you plan makes more sense.
Side-by-side comparison
Builder prices change often and depend on the plan, so we have not quoted them here. Check each builder’s own pricing page for the current figure.
| Option | Who builds it | Time to launch | Cost | Upkeep | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mecverse free website | We build it for you | 7 days from receiving your content | Build free; ₹499/month in year one, then ₹24,999/year (plus GST) | Hosting, updates, backups and support included | Owners who want a finished site without learning a tool |
| Wix | You build it in a drag-and-drop editor | A weekend to a few weeks, depending on experience | See their current plans | Hosting by Wix; you make the edits | Owners who enjoy design and want full control |
| Google Sites | You build it from simple blocks | An afternoon for a basic page | See their current plans | Hosted by Google; limited design and SEO controls | Very simple information pages and internal sites |
| Hostinger Website Builder | You build it, with AI-assisted layouts | A day to a few weeks, depending on experience | See their current plans | Bundled with a Hostinger hosting plan; you make the edits | Owners comfortable with tech who want hosting and builder together |
What a DIY builder does well
- Control: you can change a photo or a price at midnight without asking anyone.
- Speed for simple pages: a one-page site with your address and number can go up in an afternoon.
- Learning: if you want to understand how websites work, building one teaches you.
- Templates: the good builders have hundreds of layouts to start from.
Where a DIY builder costs more than it seems
The subscription is only part of the cost. The rest is your time, and it adds up in places most owners do not expect:
- Writing: the words on the page take longer than the design. Most DIY sites stall here.
- Photos: resizing and choosing images that load fast on a phone.
- Search set-up: page titles, descriptions, your Google Business Profile and the link between them.
- Upkeep: when something breaks or looks wrong on a new phone, you are the support team.
- Renewals and add-ons: custom domains, removing builder branding, forms and email can each sit on different plans.
What you get with a free website from Mecverse
We design and build the site for you in 7 days, from a short call and the photos and details you send. The build, worth ₹15,000, is free. You pay ₹499 a month for hosting, updates, backups and support, as one of our first 10 clients, for the first year. After that the standard rate is ₹24,999 a year. Prices exclude GST.
- A design built around your business, that works on every phone.
- SSL security, and set-up so the site can be found on Google.
- A WhatsApp button for enquiries.
- Changes made for you: send them on WhatsApp.
- The domain registered in your name. If you leave, we hand over the files.
For a full breakdown of what websites cost, see our guide to website design and maintenance charges in India.
Which one should you choose?
Choose a DIY builder if:
- you enjoy design and do not mind learning a new tool;
- you need a very simple page, quickly;
- you want to make every change yourself.
Choose a done-for-you website if:
- your time is better spent with customers than with a website editor;
- you want one person to call when something needs changing;
- you want the site set up properly for Google from day one.
Wix, Google Sites and Hostinger: quick notes
Wix has the most design freedom of the three and a large app market, which also makes it the one with the most to learn. Google Sites is the simplest: quick to set up, but with limited layouts and few controls for search. Hostinger Website Builder pairs a builder with Hostinger’s hosting and uses AI to suggest a first layout, which you then edit yourself.
All three are real options. If you try one and find it is taking more of your week than you hoped, we can take the site over.