If you are here, the odds are fairly good that you want to build or revamp your WordPress website. Without a doubt, WordPress is the best platform to craft a mobile-ready, SEO-friendly and beautiful site for free.

Now, the bigger question is, who do you choose to create or redesign your WordPress site: a freelance developer/designer or a web design agency? Each choice comes with its advantages and a fair share of challenges.

In this article, we’ll go through the pros and cons of a freelancer versus an agency for WordPress website development.

Freelancer

A freelance developer is a development expert who isn’t part of a web design firm. Some freelancers work with cohorts who offer copywriting, marketing or design service. There are many benefits of working with such an individual, but here the top two:

Cons

(1) Fewer resources and manpower

When you hire a freelance developer, you know one person will be taking care of everything. Unlike agencies that have several tools and many experts, a freelancer has little resources on their side, which means it can take longer for your project to be completed.

(2) Slower turnaround

Again, a freelance developer works alone. If the professional has a backlog of other websites to create, you will have to wait a little longer for yours to be created. Nonetheless, there some freelancers who can get the job done right, fast, and within your budget.

Pros

(1) Freelancers offer lower rates

This is perhaps the biggest draw why most businesses choose freelance developers. They are cheaper than agencies because they can set their own pricing. Freelancers generally do everything themselves, from design to development to support and more – and as such may not specialize in one specific field.

(2) You can be more involved in the creative process

When it comes to the freelance option, you are often working with that individual on every single aspect of the project. You can talk to just one person throughout the entirety of the project to get your ideas across.

Agency

This is a company that specializes in several areas including WordPress development, web design, and more.

Cons

(1) Less personal due to larger teams 

When a team is working on your WordPress project, you may not see the exact person that is doing the work as agencies often rotate specialists on and off projects depending on what is needed. This means that you may end up talking to a project manager instead of the developer directly.

(2) More expensive

It’s a well-known fact that agencies are priced higher than freelancers for WordPress services. They have multiple specialists working on a single project, and the pricing is reflective of that. Certain departments may have higher rates, causing the average or blended rate to increase

However, although they charge a premium for their services, agencies often work faster and more efficiently due to their expertise, and ability to handle multiple tasks at once.

Pros

(1) More experts working on your WordPress site

Agencies have several experts who can be available to do superior work on your website. These include copywriters, developers and web designers. With more expertise, you can expect your website to come out just the way you envisioned it to be.

(2) More trustworthy and credible

Agencies are usually more credible companies with a long-standing reputation to uphold and trust to protect. As such, agencies tend to be more accountable, offer better support, and will adhere to your deadlines.

If you would like a fast turnaround and high quality work for your WordPress project, hiring an agency can work out in your favor as compared to hiring a freelancer.