You have decided to build or rebuild your website. The first crucial question: freelance or web agency? That choice has a direct effect on the quality, the budget and the timeline of your project. There is no universal answer, the best choice depends on your project, your budget and what you expect over the long term.
At ConvertiLab we sit in an unusual position: we have worked with more than 150 business owners on projects ranging from 300€ to 10 000€, and we regularly see clients arrive after a bad experience with a freelance or a large agency. This guide gives you the keys to getting the choice right from the start.
For a point-by-point head to head (prices, lead times, guarantees, ongoing support), see our [web agency versus freelance comparison](/en/comparisons/web-agency-vs-freelance). This article focuses on the decision itself: which supplier for which project and which budget.
What are the pros and cons of a freelance compared with an agency?
The advantages of a freelance:
The drawbacks of a freelance:
The advantages of an agency:
The drawbacks of an agency:
Freelance versus agency rates in 2026:
| Service | Freelance | Agency |
|---|---|---|
| Simple brochure site | 1 500 to 4 000€ | 3 000 to 10 000€ |
| Advanced brochure site | 3 000 to 8 000€ | 8 000 to 25 000€ |
| E-commerce site | 4 000 to 15 000€ | 10 000 to 50 000€ |
| Web application | 8 000 to 30 000€ | 20 000 to 100 000€+ |
At ConvertiLab we offer a third way: agency expertise with the responsiveness and budget of a freelance, with brochure sites from 990€ and payment spread from 39€ a month. See our prices.
When is a freelance the better choice?
Choose a freelance if:
The best use cases for a freelance:
How to find a reliable freelance:
Which projects really call for a web agency?
Choose an agency if:
A complex e-commerce project shows the limits of a solo freelance well: it needs UX design, back-end development, payment integration (Stripe, PayPal), e-commerce SEO, stock management, security and support. A freelance will have to subcontract 3 or 4 of those skills, and you become the de facto coordinator.
Criteria for assessing a web agency:
Get in touch with the ConvertiLab team to talk about your project, with a reply in under 24 hours.
Freelance, traditional agency or fixed-price agency: the comparison
Over the past few years a third option has settled in between the freelance and the traditional agency: the fixed-price agency, with a published price, a fixed scope and the option to pay monthly. Here is how the three compare on a 5-page brochure site.
| Criterion | Freelance | Traditional agency | Fixed-price agency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Typical price | 800 to 2 500 € | 3 000 to 8 000 € | 890 € (spread payment available, 39 € a month over 24 months) |
| Lead time | 3 to 8 weeks | 6 to 12 weeks | 7 to 14 days |
| Mockup before you commit | Rarely | Paid for, or covered by the deposit | Free within 48 h |
| People you deal with | One person | A project manager, then a designer, then a developer | One person, from quote to delivery |
| Main risk | Unavailability, dropping the project part way | Cost, slow pace, high maintenance fees | Fixed scope: heavy bespoke work does not fit |
| After delivery | Depends on their availability | A monthly maintenance contract | First year of hosting included, then a monthly plan or hosting only |
| Best for | A small, simple project, tight budget, flexible deadline | A large account, a complex project, several teams | Micro-businesses, sole traders and local shops that want a professional site quickly at a known price |
The alternative to a traditional agency: a fixed price with spread payment
A fixed price is not a subscription: the site belongs to you, the price is the one on display, and spreading it over 24 months simply smooths the payments. That is the model we apply at ConvertiLab: brochure site at 890 €, landing page at 490 €, redesign at 690 €, with a free mockup before you commit to anything. If your project falls outside those boundaries (a business application, a large catalogue, complex integrations), we will tell you at the first conversation, and a traditional agency may well be the right choice.
Frequently asked questions about choosing between a freelance and a web agency
Can a freelance handle a complex e-commerce project?
It is possible but risky. E-commerce needs design, development, SEO, payment integration and security. A freelance will have to subcontract parts of it, and you become the coordinator between people who have never worked together. For a catalogue of more than 50 products, or advanced features (subscriptions, B2B, multi-store), an agency or a collective of freelances with a project manager is safer.
Can I change supplier part way through a project?
Yes, but it is expensive and time-consuming. Make sure your contract covers ownership of the code and the assets from the outset, that point is non-negotiable. Picking up a project in progress is always more complex and costly than a fresh one, because the existing code has to be understood before it can be changed. To avoid the situation, set clear delivery milestones with payment tied to each stage.
How long does a web project typically take with each type of supplier?
Simple brochure site: 2 to 4 weeks (freelance) or 4 to 8 weeks (an agency with a more structured process). E-commerce site: 2 to 3 months (freelance) or 3 to 6 months (agency). Web application: 3 to 6 months minimum either way. At ConvertiLab our brochure sites are delivered in 2 to 3 weeks thanks to a process built for small business owners, as fast as a freelance, with the safety net of a team.
Do you need a contract with a freelance or an agency?
Absolutely, in both cases. A signed quote is not a contract, it needs a document alongside it setting out: ownership of the code and the designs, the number of revisions included, termination terms, payment arrangements (milestones, not the full amount up front), and hosting and data (who owns your database). Without a contract you have no protection in a dispute. Unresolved disputes with web suppliers are the leading reason small French businesses turn to the conciliateurs de justice, the free dispute conciliators, on digital matters, and a clear contract protects you as much as it protects your supplier.
Can you start with a freelance and move to an agency later?
Yes, and it is often the natural path for a growing business. Many of our ConvertiLab clients had a first site built by a freelance, and when their business grew and the site was no longer enough, they moved to a professional solution. The key is that you own the code from the start, which makes the transition straightforward. Plan from day one for a full export of the source files, the database and the hosting credentials, because a good supplier will have no objection to handing them over at final delivery.
