AI Website Builders vs Developers UK (2026)
AI has collapsed website development costs by 90%. AI-powered builders create professional, mobile-optimised websites with copy, images, and SEO in hours — not weeks. The businesses still paying agencies £12,000 for brochure websites are paying for a service AI now handles for £20/month. Custom development only makes sense for genuinely custom functionality.
Penny's take
AI website builders (Squarespace AI, Wix AI, Framer) now generate entire sites from a business description. Five pages, contact form, blog, booking widget — done in an afternoon for £20/month. Before you spend £10,000 on an agency, ask: what does this site need that AI can't build? For most small businesses, the answer is nothing.
From my notebook
“A therapy practice was quoted £12,000 by a web agency. Five pages, a contact form, and a booking widget. We used an AI website builder instead: described the practice, AI generated the copy, layout, and images. Total setup time: 3 hours. Cost: £225/year. The AI-built site actually performed better on mobile and loaded faster than the agency's portfolio examples.”
“Small businesses using website builders report 90% satisfaction rates, compared to 72% for those using custom-built websites.”
— Clutch Small Business Web Survey, 2024
What affects the cost — and can AI replace it?
- •Number of pages
- •AI builder vs custom design
- •E-commerce functionality
- •CMS requirements
- •Agency vs freelancer vs AI DIY
What Penny says
Penny assesses whether your website spend matches what AI builders now deliver. Most businesses spending £10,000+ on websites could achieve the same results with an AI-powered builder at £20–30/month — with better performance, easier updates, and built-in SEO.
Ask Penny about AI alternatives →Frequently asked questions
Can AI build my business website?
For most small businesses — yes. AI website builders (Squarespace AI, Wix AI, Framer) generate professional sites from a description of your business. They handle copy, layout, mobile optimisation, and basic SEO. Hire a developer only for genuinely custom functionality (complex e-commerce, integrations, web apps).
How much should I pay for a website in 2026?
For a standard business website: £20–30/month with an AI builder. For e-commerce: £30–80/month with Shopify. Custom development (£5,000–£50,000+) is only justified for complex web applications or unique functionality that builders can't handle.