Adelaide Website Options Compared
DIY Builder
Wix, Squarespace, GoDaddy
Template-based. Looks generic. Limited SEO. You do all the work.
$200-600/yr
1-4 weeks (your time)
Pros
- ✓Cheapest option
- ✓Full control
- ✓No waiting on a designer
Cons
- —You write all the copy
- —You design every page
- —No SEO strategy included
- —Looks like a template, not a business
- —No local Adelaide support
- —You maintain it yourself
Verdict: Only if you have zero budget and lots of free time.
Budget Web Shop
Affordable Websites Adelaide, DigiWebCraft
Basic template site. A few pages. Minimal customisation. Often overseas-built.
$395-999
1-2 weeks
Pros
- ✓Very cheap
- ✓Faster than DIY
- ✓Someone else builds it
Cons
- —Template designs — your site looks like 50 others
- —Copy is often generic or AI-generated junk
- —No SEO strategy
- —No ongoing support
- —Often built offshore — no local context
- —You get what you pay for
Verdict: Fine for a business card site. Won't generate leads.
AI Adelaide
RecommendedStarter, Business, Growth tiers
Custom-designed, locally-written, SEO-ready. Built by Adelaide locals who understand the market.
$699-2,499
2-14 days
Pros
- ✓Custom design — not a template
- ✓Professional copywriting included
- ✓SEO foundation built in from day one
- ✓Local Adelaide support — call us anytime
- ✓AI automation-ready (missed calls, bookings)
- ✓No lock-in contracts
- ✓Live in days, not months
Cons
- —More expensive than template shops
- —Not full agency-level custom development
Verdict: The sweet spot for small businesses. Best value for money.
Boutique Agency
WebAdelaide, Digital Nomads HQ, StudioHawk
Custom design, strategy sessions, multi-round revisions. Professional but expensive.
$5,000-15,000
4-12 weeks
Pros
- ✓Fully custom design process
- ✓Strategy and brand workshops
- ✓Multiple revision rounds
- ✓Team of specialists
Cons
- —Expensive — 5-20x what most small businesses need
- —Long timelines (weeks to months)
- —Ongoing costs for changes
- —Often too much process for a 5-page site
Verdict: Great if you're an established business with budget. Overkill for most tradies.
Premium Agency
National agencies, award winners
Full custom build with animations, integrations, enterprise architecture.
$15,000-50,000+
3-6 months
Pros
- ✓Top-tier design and development
- ✓Full team
- ✓Enterprise capabilities
Cons
- —Massively expensive
- —Months of process
- —You're a small fish to them
- —Way more than a local business needs
Verdict: Only for established companies with real budgets. Not for small business.
What You Actually Pay For
Every website has the same building blocks. Here's what each one really costs — whether you use us, an agency, or do it yourself.
| Item | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Domain name | $20-50/yr | Your .com.au address |
| Hosting | $15-30/mo | Where your site lives |
| SSL certificate | Free | Included with all modern hosting |
| Design & build (one-off) | $699-2,499 | Our pricing — see /website-pricing |
| Ongoing maintenance | $0-100/mo | Basic changes usually included with us |
| SEO (optional) | $399+/mo | Only if you want to rank on Google |
Real Example: A Plumber in Norwood
A plumber in Norwood needs a website. Here's what it actually costs with AI Adelaide:
- ✓Website (Business tier): $1,299 one-off
- ✓Domain (.com.au): $22/year
- ✓Hosting: $20/month ($240/year)
- ✓SEO retainer (optional): $399/month
Year 1 total: $6,559 (with SEO) or $1,761 (without SEO)
Compare that to $10,000-15,000+ at a boutique agency — and you get the same or better result for a local tradie site.
Website Cost FAQs
How much does a basic website cost in Adelaide?
A basic 3-page website from AI Adelaide costs $699. Budget template shops charge $395-600 but you get a generic template with no SEO. DIY builders like Wix cost $200-600/year but you do all the work yourself.
Why are agency websites so expensive ($5,000-15,000)?
Agencies include strategy sessions, brand workshops, custom design from scratch, multiple revision rounds, and a team of specialists. For a local tradie or small business, this is usually overkill. You're paying for process, not just a website.
What ongoing costs should I budget for?
Domain name ($20-50/year), hosting ($15-30/month), and optionally SEO ($399+/month). With AI Adelaide, basic maintenance and text changes are included — no extra monthly fees unless you add SEO or automation.
Is the $699 website any good?
Yes. It's a real custom-designed website — not a template. 3 pages, mobile-first, contact form, basic SEO, Google Business Profile setup. It's designed to get you online and looking professional fast. You can upgrade to Business ($1,299) or Growth ($2,499) anytime.
Do I need to pay for hosting separately?
Yes, hosting is $15-30/month and domain is $20-50/year. We help you set these up but you own them. No lock-in — if you leave, you take your domain and site with you.
Can I get a website for free?
Technically yes — Google Sites, free Wix plans, Facebook pages. But free sites look free. They have ads, limited features, no custom domain, and Google ranks them poorly. A $699 investment in a real website pays for itself with one or two new customers.
Get a Real Website for $699
Stop comparing quotes. Book a free chat and we'll tell you exactly which tier fits your business — no upsell, no pressure.