Freelancer or agency.
The honest comparison.
You’re looking for someone to build your website. Two options: a web agency or a freelancer. Here’s an honest comparison to help you choose.
Freelancer vs agency, point by point.
Price ranges observed on the French market (Codeur.com price guide, 2025). Freelancer column: my actual packages. Timelines are average figures, and vary with scope.
Why such a gap in price?
It’s not that agencies inflate their quotes, it’s structural. An agency bills for offices, sales staff, project managers and its margin, on top of the developer who actually builds your website.
On a typical agency day rate of €700, around 59% pays the consultant working on your project. The rest funds the structure (around 15%), idle periods between contracts (6%) and margin (20%).
1 euro out of 3 doesn’t fund the production of your site at an agency. With a freelancer, your budget pays for the work.
- Production, 59%
- Structure, 15%
- Between contracts, 6%
- Margin, 20%
Source: ForTeam IT, IT staffing agency business model.
The price gap is real. What is left to work out is whether your project is one a freelancer handles better.
Talk it through in 30 minutesFreelancing, in numbers.
increase in freelance missions at large French companies between 2022 and 2024.
Malt, Freelancing in Europe 2024of freelancers are former employees. More than half have at least 7 years of corporate experience.
Malt, 2024independent workers in France at the end of 2024, up 5.6% year over year.
URSSAF, 2025of small and medium businesses say digital tools increase their revenue.
France Num barometer, 2025The myths about freelancers.
“A freelancer is less reliable.”
A good freelancer has their reputation on the line with every project. No account manager between you and the developer: issues get solved directly, within 24h.
“An agency is more complete.”
For a business website or a shop, a full-stack freelancer handles everything: design, development, SEO, hosting. You don’t need 5 people for 5 pages.
“What if they disappear?”
Clean code, documentation and training mean you are not dependent on me. Your website belongs to you, and you can hand it to anyone.
“A freelancer is an amateur just starting out.”
93% of freelancers are former employees, and more than half have at least 7 years of corporate experience (Malt, 2024). Freelancing is a career choice, not a waiting room.
“Freelancers are only for small projects.”
Freelance missions at large French companies grew 73% between 2022 and 2024 (Malt). If big corporations trust them with critical projects, your website is in good hands.
Already shipped for
Two missions invoiced directly, and one ecosystem in production since 2025. Each card states the exact scope.
Not sure about your specific case? I’ll tell you honestly whether a freelancer is the right fit.
Book 30 free minutesHonestly, when should you choose an agency?
An honest comparison cuts both ways. There are cases where an agency is the right choice.
- Your project exceeds €30,000 and requires several disciplines running continuously: development, design, content, advertising.
- You need an interchangeable team, available under a service contract with a continuity guarantee.
- You’re looking for a partner to run your ad campaigns and media strategy, not just a website.
- Your procurement department requires contractual guarantees that a one-person business can’t offer.
For everything else, business site, reasonably sized e-commerce, internal tools: a senior freelancer does the same work, faster, for less.
A freelancer is ideal if…
You’re a small business, a craftsperson or a startup
Your starting budget is between €690 and €3,000
You want your site live in 3 weeks, not 3 months
You’d rather talk to a real person than a process
You want to be able to edit your site yourself afterwards
You’re looking for a long-term technical partner, not a disposable vendor
And the third option?
Freelancer, agency, or yourself on a platform. That last case deserves its own comparison, and it is sometimes the right call.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a website cost with a freelancer?
On the French market, a business website built by a freelancer costs between €500 and €3,000 depending on scope, versus €2,000 to €10,000 at an agency (Codeur.com price guide, 2025). My setup fee ranges from €690 for a signature page to €1,190 for a showcase site, then a €59 to €79 monthly plan covering hosting, domain and upkeep. Fixed price agreed before the project starts.
Is a freelancer less reliable than an agency?
No. A freelancer stakes their reputation on every project, and 93% of freelancers are experienced former employees (Malt, 2024). Reliability depends on the person, not the status: check the portfolio, client reviews and how clear the quote is.
How long does it take to build a website with a freelancer?
A business website generally ships in 2 to 6 weeks with a freelancer, versus often 2 months or more at an agency, where your project moves between several contacts and a queue. With me: 2 to 3 weeks for a business website, timeline confirmed in the quote.
What happens if my freelancer becomes unavailable?
Clean work protects you: documented code, a website you own, full access handed over at delivery and training included. Any other developer can pick up the project without starting from scratch.
Why are agencies more expensive?
Because part of your budget funds their structure: offices, sales staff, project managers, margin. On a typical agency day rate, roughly a third doesn’t pay for the production of your site (ForTeam IT). With a freelancer, you pay for the work.
Freelancer or agency for an e-commerce site?
For a reasonably sized shop, a full-stack freelancer handles everything: design, development, payments, SEO. Expect €2,000 to €20,000 with a freelancer versus €4,000 to €50,000 at an agency (Codeur.com, 2025). Beyond that, or if you need a permanent team running continuously, an agency can make sense.
Sources: Codeur.com price guide (2025) · Malt, Freelancing in Europe (2024) · URSSAF, Stat’UR n°409 (2025) · France Num barometer, DGE (2025) · ForTeam IT, IT staffing agency business model.
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for yourself?
30 minutes on a call. You’ll leave with an honest opinion, a clear scope and a fixed price. No commitment.