Inexpensive, with costs typically ranging from free to $30 per month

Fast to launch, often within a few hours

Website is hosted for you automatically

Safe with security handled by the website provider

Attractive, with professional designs included

Packed with industry templates, sample verbiage and images

Easy to use — some tools literally as easy as “drag and drop”

Easy to update on your own with no delays or added cost

Enhanced with basic SEO and traffic analytics tools

Capable of using your domain name, though perhaps with a bit of extra cost

Have limited customization options

Don’t let you own your website design — so if you switch website providers, you must start over

May include ads with their “free” plans and have other limitations removable only if you upgrade to a paid plan

May offer only limited use of advanced marketing tools and advanced SEO

May offer support limited to online help with telephone support only available if you upgrade or pay extra

Take some time to use even if they are easy to master

Pros

Full design customization possibilities

Personal set-up attention, including someone to talk to and everything done for you

Personalized support by someone you know and trust

Use of any advanced marketing tools and add-ons you wish, not limited to the tool provider’s choices

Use of your own domain name

Ownership of your design, if the contract with the designer so states

Cons

Are more expensive than DIY sites, typically $2,000 and up

Take a longer time to launch, typically one month or more

Require communicating your needs from scratch to your designer — this can be overwhelming if it’s your first website

Require you to get your own hosting arrangements (your designer may help with this, but still it requires a separate arrangement)

Make security your responsibility, including disruption from and clean up of hacked websites

Require more ongoing expenses to operate, including hosting, updating, support requests, etc.

Require time to find, evaluate and hire a web designer

Require you to draft and review designer contract documentation

Pros

Cons