Comparisons
Best website for tradies in NZ: DIY builders vs done-for-you
Search "best website builder for tradies" and you'll get a wall of names: Wix, Squarespace, GoDaddy, Shopify, on it goes. But the real question isn't which builder has the nicest templates. It's whether you should be building the thing yourself at all. Here's the honest version.
The three real options
Forget the brand names for a second. As a Kiwi tradie you've got three genuine paths, and each asks something different of you.
DIY builders (Wix, Squarespace, GoDaddy)
Best if: you enjoy the tech, have evenings spare, and want the lowest possible monthly cost.
They're cheap, $30 to $60 a month, and you own the login. The problem is the word "builder": you're the builder. You pick the template, write every word, source the photos, connect a domain, and keep it patched. Most tradie DIY sites end up half-finished, because a full day on the tools doesn't leave much in the tank for wrestling a page builder. And template sites rarely rank on Google without local-SEO work most people never do.
A one-off agency build
Best if: you can wear a few thousand up front and want something bespoke you won't touch again.
A designer builds you a proper, custom site, often $1,500 to $6,500 depending on SEO and features. Great result. Just know that once it ships, updates, hosting renewals and fixes are usually back on you, and changes can be billed by the hour.
Done-for-you, managed monthly
Best if: you want it handled and you want it to actually bring in work, without a lump sum or a second job.
Someone builds the whole site for your trade and runs it for a flat monthly fee. No page builder, no plugins, no maintenance. You approve it, it goes live, and enquiries land on your phone. This is what Ted does.
DIY vs done-for-you, head to head
| What matters | DIY builder | Done-for-you (Ted) |
|---|---|---|
| Who builds it | You, after work | We do, you approve |
| Time from you | Many hours, ongoing | A few minutes to brief |
| Words & photos | You write & source | Written for your trade |
| Found on Google | Only if you do the SEO | Built in from the start |
| Hosting & SSL | Your job to manage | Included & managed |
| Upkeep & fixes | Yours | Handled for you |
| Cost | $30 to $60/mo + your time | $39.95/mo, all in |
Rather not be the builder?
Ted builds a professional site for your trade (words, photos, hosting and SSL) and runs it for $39.95/month incl. GST.
So what's the "best" website builder for a tradie?
If you genuinely enjoy the project and have the time, a DIY builder is the cheapest way to get online. Just budget the hours honestly, and commit to finishing it. If you want something one-of-a-kind and can pay up front, a good NZ agency will do you proud.
But if you're like most tradies (flat out, wanting more work, and with no interest in becoming a part-time web developer), the best option isn't a builder at all. It's having it built and run for you.
Why tradies pick Ted
- Done for you. We build and run it. No page builder, no plugins, no monthly faff.
- Found on Google. Clean, indexable pages with your trade and suburbs, so locals find you first. On Pro, we add a local page for each area you name.
- Built to book. One-tap call and quote buttons on every page (WhatsApp if you use it), and job-intake chat that catches enquiries while you're on the tools.
- Kiwi & managed. Built by Airea, a New Zealand company with 10+ years designing for the trades. Real people, real support.
- $39.95/month incl. GST. Hosting and SSL included. Your own .co.nz for $39.95 a year, or bring yours free.
Let's build yours
Tell Ted your trade, the suburbs you work and your number. You'll review the finished site on staging before it ever goes live.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best website builder for tradies in NZ?
For tradies who want to build it themselves, Wix and Squarespace are the most popular choices. For tradies who would rather not spend their evenings on it, a done-for-you service that builds, writes and runs the site for a monthly fee is usually the better value once your time is counted.
Should a tradie build their own website?
If you enjoy it and have the time to write the content, sort the photos and do the local SEO, yes. If not, a DIY site that never gets finished or updated tends to cost more in missed work than paying someone to do it.
What does done-for-you mean for a website?
Someone else builds the whole site for your trade, writes the words, sets up hosting and the domain, and looks after it afterwards. You approve it before it goes live and ask for changes when you need them.
