Compare
Which kind of website fits your business?
Straight comparisons, and where a managed website comes out ahead.
A website builder, WordPress or an agency each leave something on your plate: the building, the upkeep, or the overhead. Pick a comparison to see what each one asks of you, and what SDP handles instead.
Pick a comparison
A managed website, beside the usual alternatives
Each one covers cost over time, who does the work, ownership, security, speed and search, and where SDP pulls ahead.
Wix vs a managed website
A drag-and-drop builder you run yourself, beside a site built and looked after for you.
Read the comparisonSquarespace vs a managed website
Polished templates you set up yourself, beside a site designed and run for you.
Read the comparisonWordPress vs a managed website
Open-source flexibility you maintain yourself, beside a site that's kept up for you.
Read the comparisonHiring an agency vs a managed website
A large team on a project contract, beside SDP building, hosting and improving your site directly.
Read the comparisonSide by side
The short version
A do-it-yourself builder, a traditional agency, or a website built and managed for you. Here's where a managed website comes out ahead.
| Question | Sims Digital Partners | DIY website builder | Traditional agency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who builds it | Sims Digital PartnersDesigned and built for you, start to finish, with no hand-offs | DIY website builderYou do, from a template | Traditional agencySplit across designers, developers and managers |
| Design | Sims Digital PartnersCustom, written around your business | DIY website builderA template you adjust | Traditional agencyUsually custom |
| Search setup | Sims Digital PartnersDone at launch: titles, structured data, sitemap, Search Console | DIY website builderSEO settings you fill in yourself | Traditional agencyVaries by agency |
| Leads | Sims Digital PartnersEvery quote request by email and in your client portal | DIY website builderForm notifications you set up yourself | Traditional agencyUsually emailed to you |
| Speed & security | Sims Digital PartnersStatic build on Cloudflare: fast on phones, very little to attack | DIY website builderSet by the platform | Traditional agencyDepends on the platform they build on |
| Upkeep | Sims Digital PartnersHosting, SSL, backups and security updates handled for you | DIY website builderThe platform hosts it; content and upkeep are on you | Traditional agencyOften a separate maintenance plan |
| Client portal | Sims Digital PartnersVisits, leads and change requests in one place | DIY website builderThe builder's own dashboard | Traditional agencyRarely included |
| Contract | Sims Digital PartnersNone. Month to month | DIY website builderMonthly or annual subscription | Traditional agencyOften a project contract or retainer |
| Own your domain | Sims Digital PartnersYes, registered in your name | DIY website builderUsually, but the site stays on their platform | Traditional agencyVaries by agency |
| Who you talk to | Sims Digital PartnersThe team that built your site, directly | DIY website builderHelp docs and support tickets | Traditional agencyUsually an account manager |
| Price | Sims Digital PartnersA fixed price in writing, from $249; $49/month to manage | DIY website builderLow monthly fee, plus your time | Traditional agencyHigher, to cover agency overhead |
Other products change their features and pricing often, so we describe them, not quote them.
How to choose
Three questions that settle most of it
Whichever option you lean towards, ask these before you commit.
- 01
Who will do the work?
Builders and self-managed WordPress need your hours. A managed site or an agency needs a conversation and your feedback.
- 02
Who keeps it secure?
Someone has to own updates, backups and SSL after launch. Find out who that is before you choose, not after.
- 03
Can you leave?
Your domain should be in your name. Ask what you can take with you if you move on, and get it in writing.
Want the numbers behind it? Read how much a website costs in 2026, or see our pricing: from $249 to build, $49/month to host and manage.
No contracts · Your domain, your site
Not sure which fits? Ask us.
Tell us what your business needs. If a builder or another option suits you better, we'll say so. If we're a fit, you'll get a fixed price before anything starts.