Question 1

How much does it cost to build a website with a UK agency in 2026?

Accepted Answer

UK web development pricing splits by project type. A brochure or small WordPress site from a proper agency runs £2,000-15,000. Custom React or Next.js builds, usually paired with a headless CMS, sit at £10,000-50,000. Mid-size ecommerce lands between £8,000 and £50,000 depending on integrations. Complex web apps and SaaS platforms start around £50,000 and climb past £150,000 for enterprise work. Maintenance retainers are separate and typically run £150-2,000+ per month.

Question 2

How long does a web development project take from start to launch?

Accepted Answer

A brochure or small marketing site is usually 4-8 weeks. Ecommerce builds take 8-16 weeks depending on catalogue size, payment flows, and integrations. Complex web apps and SaaS platforms run 4-9 months or more. The phases are roughly the same shape regardless of size: discovery and scoping, design and prototyping, build, QA, and launch. Content readiness and approval speed on the client side are usually what push timelines, not development.

Question 3

What is the difference between web design and web development?

Accepted Answer

Web design is the visual and UX work: research, information architecture, wireframes, brand application, UI design, and prototyping. Web development is the technical build: writing code, configuring the CMS, integrating third-party tools, hitting performance and accessibility benchmarks, and shipping to production. Some UK agencies do both under one roof. Others specialise. Either model is fine, but it is worth knowing which discipline is actually being commissioned before signing.

Question 4

Should I choose WordPress, custom React or Next.js, or a headless CMS?

Accepted Answer

WordPress is still the cheapest and most flexible default for content-led marketing sites. Custom React or Next.js, usually paired with a headless CMS like Sanity, Contentful, or Storyblok, costs more up front but wins on performance, Core Web Vitals, and long-term flexibility. Headless is overkill for a brochure site and a strong fit for content-heavy brands, multi-channel publishers, or anything that needs to feed a mobile app or storefront alongside the website.

Question 5

What are the main red flags when hiring a web development agency?

Accepted Answer

Refusal to hand over source code or repo access at launch. Proprietary CMS or hosting that locks the brand in. Hidden offshoring with no named technical lead. Vague proposals that can't break down deliverables, revisions, or what happens after go-live. Inability to discuss Core Web Vitals, Lighthouse scores, or WCAG 2.1 AA accessibility (now mandatory for any UK site selling into the EU under the European Accessibility Act). Low fixed-price quotes that skip discovery usually mean rework later.

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What brands ask about web development agencies.