Five ways to get a small-business website. Honestly compared.
There's no single right answer for everyone. Here's how the common options stack up for a busy owner who wants a good site that brings in customers. (We sell one of the options, so weigh our view accordingly.)
| Question | DollarSite | DIY website builder | AI app builder | Agency or freelancer | Stack of separate tools |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Who does the work? | Chip builds it; you chat to change it | You drag, drop and write everything | You prompt, test and debug | They do, on their schedule | You, across several dashboards |
| Time to a first site | A full draft when the chat ends | Days to weeks of evenings | Hours to days | Weeks to months | Weeks of setup |
| Bookings, reservations, forms | All included, sharing one customer list | Often paid add-ons or higher tiers | You build (and maintain) them yourself | Extra quote, extra plugins | One subscription each |
| How changes work | Say it in a chat, or click the text | Find the right panel, then edit | Prompt and hope; each try may cost credits | Email, wait, pay by the hour | Different in every tool |
| Pricing model | $7 per month flat, $5 per month for each extra site | Tiered monthly plans | Monthly plans metered in credits | Project fee plus retainers | Typically $133 per month or more combined |
| Keeping your site online & secure | Included, nothing to set up | Included | Varies; often your problem | Often a separate monthly bill | Website only |
DollarSite compared with one builder at a time
Dated price checks, from each builder's own pricing page, and where each one is stronger.
Why DollarSite
Why not just use an AI app builder?
They're impressive, and they're built for making software. A small business needs a dependable website with booking, reservations and a customer list that already work, not a codebase to babysit. And with credit-metered pricing, every “can you move that button” costs money. With DollarSite, there are no credits to buy and a generous fair-use AI allowance is included.
Why not a traditional website builder?
They give you a blank canvas and a weekend of decisions. Then bookings, forms and email marketing are usually extra. We start from your business, write the first draft for you, and include the tools.
When something else is the better choice
- You need a large online store with hundreds of products, inventory sync and shipping rules. Use a dedicated e-commerce platform.
- You're building a software product, not a business website. An AI app builder or a developer is the right tool.
- You want a bespoke brand experience with custom illustration, photography and strategy. Hire a good agency. It's worth it.
- You love designing pixel by pixel. A drag-and-drop builder gives you more knobs to turn.
We make DollarSite, so we're biased. We've tried to describe the alternatives fairly. Prices and features of other options vary widely, so check them yourself.
Try the chat. Decide afterwards.
Building and previewing is free. If it isn't right for you, you don't pay anything.