Clad vs. the alternatives.
Clad is the right answer for most small businesses. Not all of them. Here's an honest look at the trade-offs.
| CladFrom $49/mo | DIY builders (Wix, Squarespace) | Web designer / agency | |
|---|---|---|---|
Time to launch | Under 10 min* | Hours-days (DIY) | Weeks-months |
Monthly cost | From $49/mo | From ~$30/mo | Varies ($0-200/mo) |
Upfront cost | $199 design fee (waived on annual) | $0 | $2,000-$15,000+ |
Design | Bespoke (built for you) | Template-based | Custom (human) |
Own the site files | Yes (full export) | Usually yes | |
Site quality | Professional | Proprietary | Varies |
Checked by a person | Every build | Depends | |
Ongoing changes | Plain English + visual editor | DIY editor | Pay per change |
SEO | Included | DIY setup | Depends |
Australian focus | Yes | Varies | |
Lock-in | None | High | Low-medium |
*Your website is built in under 10 minutes. Total delivery time depends on review availability.
Head-to-head.
How Clad stacks up against specific platforms.
Which is right for you?
Every business is different. An honest take.
Choose Clad if…
You want a bespoke website without having to build it yourself. You value getting online quickly, owning the files, and making changes without fighting an editor.
Choose a DIY builder if…
You enjoy hands-on design, have time to learn the tools, and are happy building pages from templates. Budget is your primary concern.
Choose an agency if…
You need complex custom functionality — e-commerce, booking systems, member portals — beyond a marketing website. You have the budget and timeline for a custom build.
No lock-in. Cancel anytime.