Guides · 7 min read
Web design in Ireland: agency, freelancer, DIY or AI?
Search "web design Ireland" and you get hundreds of agencies, thousands of freelancers and a wall of ads. Before you request a single quote, decide which of the four routes fits you. That choice matters more than which company you pick.
Route 1: agency
Strongest option for complex builds: online shops, member areas, custom booking flows. Expect €1,500 to €5,000+ for a small business site and a 4 to 8 week timeline. Questions to ask: who writes the text, what does a change cost after launch, and who owns the domain. That last one bites people. Make sure the domain is registered to YOU.
Route 2: freelancer
Ireland has excellent freelance designers at €500 to €1,500 for a local business site. The build quality can match an agency. The gap shows a year later, when you need edits and the freelancer has moved on. Agree an update arrangement in writing before the project starts.
Route 3: do it yourself
Wix, Squarespace and friends cost €10 to €30 a month and give you full control. Budget 20 to 40 hours for a first site you are proud of, and a few hours a month after. Good fit if you like the craft. Most business owners do not, and the site shows it.
Route 4: AI builder
The new route, and the one we build. Instead of starting from a blank template, an AI builder starts from data that already exists: your Google Business Profile, your Instagram, your reviews. beopages turns one pasted link into a finished draft in about 10 minutes, with your real photos and reviews already placed. The preview costs nothing. Live plans run €5 to €35 a month, and edits are a chat message. The trade-off is control: you are choosing from what the AI proposes rather than pixel-placing everything yourself. See how it works for the exact flow.
Quick decision guide
- Selling online, custom features, budget above €2,000: agency.
- Standard site, some budget, you know a good person: freelancer.
- You enjoy building and have the evenings: DIY.
- Local service business that needs to exist online this week: AI builder.
Whichever route you pick, the free 10-minute draft is a useful first step. Worst case it becomes the brief you hand your designer. Start from the homepage.