Sign up now

The 5-Day Gut Check Your Brand Email Challenge

free resource

Using Templates
Technical How-Tos
Biz Strategy & Growth
Design & Aesthetics
Messaging & Copy
Categories:

Growing your business is hard enough without trying to DIY your brand and website alone. 

Hey. I'm Jess.

Welcome to the Blog

Brand Quizzes

Custom vs. Template: Finding the Perfect Fit for Your Website

Biz Strategy & Growth, Technical How-Tos, Using Templates

If you’re looking to upgrade your website, you’ve probably found yourself at a crossroads: do you go fully custom or stick with a ready-made template? It’s a classic debate, and honestly, both routes can lead to a stunning website—but which one is the perfect fit for your business? Let’s dive into the pros and cons of each to help you make a confident decision.

First, Some Definitions

When it comes to building your website, understanding the different design options can feel like navigating a maze. To make things easier, here are some quick definitions of common terms you’ll encounter—from templates to fully custom web design—so you can confidently choose the right approach for your business.

  • Template: A website template is a pre-designed layout that anyone can use as a foundation for building a website. It includes basic structure, style elements, and sometimes built-in features. You can customize things like colors, fonts, and images, but the overall layout and design framework remain the same. Templates are great for businesses looking to get online quickly and affordably.
  • Template Customization: Template customization involves hiring a designer to take a pre-built website template and modify it to better fit your brand and business needs. This can include changing colors, fonts, images, and layouts. It’s a way to personalize a template without having to build something from scratch, and it’s usually more budget friendly than a semi-custom or custom design. Plus, you don’t have to do all the work yourself.
  • Semi-Custom Web Design: Semi-custom web design blends the convenience of templates with the flexibility of custom design. At Huckleberry Creative, the way we do semi-custom design is that we start with strategy and pull from our years worth of internal templates, which are highly customized for each individual brand’s needs. Instead of simple DIY changes, we customize our templates to feel custom and elevated. We might employ some custom code or create entirely custom features or functionalities, depending on the timeline and the needs of the business we’re working with. It’s perfect for businesses that want a more tailored look without the price tag of fully custom work.
  • Fully Custom Web Design: Fully custom web design is a website built entirely from scratch, designed specifically for your business and its goals. Every element is crafted to fit your brand, from layout and navigation to functionality and aesthetics. This option gives you the most control and flexibility, allowing you to create a one-of-a-kind website that perfectly matches your vision. It’s a bigger investment but ideal for businesses that need something truly 100% unique and scalable.

Why Templates Are a Game-Changer (and Not a Shortcut)

Templates have come a long way from the cookie-cutter days of generic designs. Modern templates, especially ones that are thoughtfully and professionally  designed, offer a polished look that can be customized to reflect your brand. If you’re on a budget or just starting out, this route might just be a no-brainer.

Here’s why templates might be your perfect match:

  • Speed: If time is money, templates are a fast-track to launching your site so you can get revenue rolling in. You can get your website live within days (or even hours), rather than weeks or months.
  • Affordability: No need to break the bank. Templates are often much more cost-effective than a fully custom design, allowing you to allocate your budget elsewhere (like killer copy or paid ads).
  • Professional Polish: You don’t have to sacrifice quality. Premium templates, especially ones tailored to your industry or brand vibe, can give you a stunning, professional look without the heavy price tag of custom work.
  • DIY-Friendly: If you’re comfortable with some minor tweaks and adjustments, templates offer a level of autonomy that lets you make changes on the fly without waiting on a designer.

But templates aren’t perfect for everyone.

Free vs. Premium Templates: Is Free Really Free?

If you’ve been exploring templates, you’ve probably seen both free and premium options. And hey, who doesn’t love free? But before you jump on a free template, let’s break down the difference between free and premium.

Free Templates: The Catch Behind “Free”

Free templates can be tempting, especially when you’re bootstrapping or just starting out. However, as the old adage goes, you often get what you pay for – or don’t pay for, in this case.

  • Limited Customization: Free templates often come with fewer options for personalization, making it harder to stand out from the crowd.
  • Generic Designs: A free template might look sleek at first, but chances are, you’ll find multiple other sites with the exact same design—bye-bye, uniqueness.
  • Basic Functionality: Free templates typically offer limited features. Advanced integrations, custom fonts, or seamless mobile responsiveness? Not usually included.
  • No Support: When something breaks (and it will), you’re on your own. Free templates usually come with no customer support from the creator,  which means you’re duct-taping your site together as you go.

Premium Templates: Worth the Investment

On the flip side, premium templates are a step up in both design and functionality. For a relatively small investment, you get more features, better customization, and access to support when you need it.

  • Higher-Quality Design: Premium templates often have a more unique, polished look, crafted by experienced designers.
  • Customization Options: You can make a premium template your own without coding from scratch, giving you flexibility while still keeping the process simple.
  • Built-in Functionality: Features like SEO optimization, responsive layouts, and faster loading speeds are often baked right in.
  • Support and Updates: With a premium template, you usually get access to support if you need it.

While free templates can be useful in a pinch (and are great for those just getting started), premium options save you time and frustration—and they’re less likely to hold you back when your business starts scaling.

When Custom (or Semi-Custom) Is Worth Every Penny

While templates are a fantastic option for many businesses,, custom and semi-custom designs take it to the next level. Whether you opt for a highly-customized semi-custom site or a completely custom design, these professional-designer-developed deliverables will be handcrafted to reflect your business’s unique goals, brand, and audience. 

Here’s where semi-custom and custom design shines:

  • Total Flexibility: You want it, you got it. From complex functionality to pixel-perfect layouts, a custom site is tailored to meet your specific needs. There’s no forcing your business into a pre-designed box.
  • Unique Branding: Templates can look great, but there’s always the possibility that someone else is using the same design. Custom and semi-custom sites are one of a kind—like a signature brand move. It’s the ideal way to stand out in a crowded market.
  • Scalability: If you’re planning on scaling fast, a custom or semi-custom website gives you the foundation you need to grow. No worrying about outgrowing the template’s capabilities or wrestling with limitations as your business expands.
  • Comprehensive Strategy: A semi-custom or custom site isn’t just about pretty visuals. It’s built with a strategy that takes your business goals, audience, and user experience into account. This approach helps to boost conversions, SEO, and your bottom line.

However, with great power comes great responsibility—and a higher price point. Semi-custom and custom websites are an investment, but for businesses ready to go all in, they can make a massive impact.

Choosing Between Custom and Template

So, how do you decide between custom/semi-custom and a template? It boils down to a few key questions:

  1. What’s your budget?
    • If you’re just starting out or running lean, a premium template could give you the polished look you need without blowing your budget. If you’re ready to make a bigger investment, custom is the way to go.
  2. How soon do you need your website live?
    • If time is of the essence, a template will usually get you up and running faster.It’ll take time to get on any designer’s schedule for a custom or semi-custom build, but that extra time often pays off in a site that’s exactly what your business needs.
  3. How complex are your needs?
    • If your website is straightforward (think simple service pages, a blog, and maybe a few products), a template could be all you need. If you’re looking for custom integrations, advanced features, or unique layouts, custom or semi-custom will be the better fit.
  4. How important is branding to you?
    • If standing out from the crowd is non-negotiable, custom and semi-custom designs are going to give you that edge. Templates can be tweaked and customized, but if your brand needs to be wholly unique, custom is your friend.
  5. How tech savvy are you?
    • Many entrepreneurs I know are great at what they do, but when it comes to tech – not so much. There’s value in admitting tech is just not your thing and outsourcing the design of your site so you don’t have to spend tons of time trying to figure it out on your own.

The Hybrid Approach: Let’s Talk About Template Customization

Not quite ready to jump into a fully custom or semi-custom site, but feeling like a template won’t quite cut it? There’s a middle ground—template customization. You can start with a template and work with a designer (like yours truly) to personalize it further. This approach gives you a more tailored look without the full price tag or the pressure of having to stand up the site all on your own.

At the end of the day, whether you choose custom or template depends on where your business is now as well as where you’re headed. If you’re looking for speed and simplicity, templates are perfect. If you want something uniquely yours, custom is worth the investment. And if you’re somewhere in between, semi-custom or a template customization may give you the flexibility and affordability you need without sacrificing your brand’s vibe.

Either way, the most important thing is that your website feels legit—and fits your business like a glove.

Ready to Find Your Fit?

Whether you’re thinking about buying a template or going fully custom, I’m here to help. Let’s chat about how we can take your website from basic to brilliant. After all, mediocre is not your vibe.