If you’re trying to decide between buying a Showit template or hiring a designer to build a custom website from scratch, this post is for you.

This is one of the most common questions I get asked as a website designer, and it’s important to consider both options carefully to make the right decision for your business.

Each option can be good. But which is best for where you’re at and where you want to be?

In this post, we’ll compare both options to help you make the decision. Looking at your timeline, budget, and how you like to work to help you finally move forward.

Let’s get started…

1. Time: How quickly do you want to launch?

Templates are usually the fastest way to build and launch your website. The structure is already done. The layout is designed. And you’re essentially just replacing the demo content with your own.

If you hire a designer to customize a template for you, your site can be live in a week or two.

If you DIY the template it can take longer but the timeline depends entirely on you. Your capacity, your design skills, and your motivation. Some people buy a template and get their site live in a weekend. Others can still be working on it six months down the line. No judgement. It happens more than you think, and it’s easy to lose momentum once the excitement wears off and you have 100s more things on your to-do list.

Custom websites obviously take longer because everything is built from scratch. The strategy, layout, and design are all bespoke to your business. Most custom builds take anywhere from a couple of weeks to a couple of months depending on the number of pages you have and whether you have advanced features like a shop.

Questions to ask yourself –

Do you want your website live quickly, or are you happy to wait a little longer for something custom?

If you want a quick launch, do you have the capacity to DIY, or would you rather hand it over to a pro?

Now to the next point…

2. Your vision: Do you want a specific style? Or are you flexible?

If you already have a solid vision for how you want your website to look and function, custom design usually makes more sense. This way you don’t need to hunt for one perfect template, and everything can be built around your brand, your goals, and how you want visitors to move through the site.

Templates work really well if you’re happy to start with an existing design. There’s thousands of great templates out there but it can be hard to find one that fits everything you need. You can change colors, fonts, images, and content, but the overall layout has already been designed.

Some people love that because it removes a lot of decision making. Others find it frustrating if they have a very specific vision in their head.

So ask yourself honestly.

Do you want full creative freedom, or do you want a strong starting point?

3. Budget: What makes sense for you right now?

Custom websites are usually a higher investment because of the extra time and work that goes into a custom build. Most designers charge between $3000-$5000+. That said, many businesses start with a smaller site and add extra pages and features as they grow. You can get a custom landing page or a simple 1–3 page site from $1200.

Templates are often the most affordable option if you plan to do it yourself. You can get good quality templates from $500-$1000. However, if you want to hire a designer to customize and launch the template for you, that’s an extra cost to consider. Some designers charge between $1000-$3000 for template customization.

Sometimes, by the time you factor in the template cost and the DFY investment, it can be the same price as a custom website.

4. Ability: Are you confident to DIY?

Now it’s time to be honest with yourself on whether DIY is a good choice for you.

If you enjoy learning and have the time to prepar your content, customize your template, and implement the essentials required to launch a website, DIY could be a good fit.

Showit is known for being intuitive. A lot of people describe it as feeling a bit like Canva for websites, just more powerful. But customizing your template is more than just moving things round a screen.

You’re also thinking about things like:

• copywriting
• layout and spacing
• mobile design
• SEO basics
• page structure
• image optimisation
• connecting domains, forms and tech
• making sure everything actually works

Some people genuinely enjoy learning this stuff. Others would rather do literally anything else.

Neither is wrong. Just be realistic about which one you are.

5. Template quality matters

Not all templates are created equal, and I hate to say it but there’s a lot of bad templates out there.

Some are designed with clear page structure, good mobile layouts, and enough space for copy. Others look beautiful in the demo but are a pain to update and a mess behind the scenes.

Before buying a template, it’s worth checking things like:

• The designer’s reputation – Do they have good reviews? Are they a design partner?
• How old the template is – Show constantly bring out new features, is the template up to date?
• If the pages are structure for SEO
• Is there enough room for all your copy?
• If fonts and images are included
• Whether it includes tutorials or support

A good template can make your launch quick and easy. A bad one can make it a total chore.

6. Functionality: What does your site actually need to do?

Most businesses can run perfectly well on a template. But if your website needs more complex features, working with a designer can be helpful.

Things like:

• ecommerce shops
• membership areas
• client portals
• booking systems
• custom integrations

If your site needs very specific functionality, custom might make more sense.

5. Semi-custom website: The best of both worlds

The middle ground works really well for a lot of businesses. You buy a template, but hire a designer to customize it for you. You still get the speed and cost benefits of a template, but the site is tailored to your brand and set up properly from the start.

This is actually how many businesses launch their first website before eventually moving to a fully custom build later.

So which option should you choose?

There isn’t a one fits all choice but most decisions come down to four things:

Time – how quickly you want to launch

Vision – how specific you are about design

Budget – what you want to invest right now

Ability – whether you want to DIY or hand it over

Sometimes the choice isn’t about which option is better. It’s about what fits your situation right now.

Plenty of businesses start with a template and upgrade to a custom site later. Others know from the start they want something completely bespoke.

The goal is simple. Get a website that works for your business and actually gets launched.

The best option is the one that actually gets your website live instead of stuck in planning mode for the next year. Because an imperfect site that’s live will always beat a perfect one that never launches!

Quick comparison table

Typical investment	DIY Template	Template + Designer	Custom Website
Typical investment	Lowest cost. You buy the template and customize it yourself.	Mid-range. You buy the template and hire a designer to customize it.	Highest investment because everything is designed from scratch.
Launch timeline	Depends on you and your time / ability / motivation	Usually 1–2 weeks	2-6 weeks
Design flexibility	Limited to the template structure unless you redesign sections yourself.	More flexibility. A designer can adjust layouts and refine the design.	Fully flexible. The design is built around your brand and goals.
Strategy and structure	Mostly DIY. You’ll need to research layout, SEO basics, and page structure yourself.	Some strategic guidance depending on the designer.	Strategy is usually part of the process. Layout and user journey are planned intentionally.
Learning curve	Higher. You’ll need to learn the platform, customize design, and set everything up.	Lower. The designer handles the setup and technical side.	Very low. The designer does everything for you.
Uniqueness	Other businesses may use the same template design.	Still based on a template, but customized to your brand.	Completely bespoke to your business.
Best for	Business owners who enjoy DIY and want the most affordable option.	People who want something quick but done-for-you.	Businesses wanting a fully tailored website experience.