NTG STUDIO WEBShort answer
Doing it yourself suits a tiny budget and someone with time. A freelancer works for a simple site if you check their past work and keep your logins. An agency or studio is better as soon as the site must bring clients, integrate payments or tools, and be looked after over time.
Key takeaways
- The real criterion is continuity: who will look after the site in two years?
- Always ask for live examples and references you can call
- Keep domain ownership and logins whoever the provider is
- A specialised studio often combines freelancer prices with agency reliability
To build your website, you have three paths: do it yourself, hire a freelancer, or work with an agency or studio. None is bad in itself. The right choice depends on your budget, your time and above all what you expect from the site.
Doing it yourself
Tools like Wix, WordPress.com, Shopify or Google Sites let you build a site without code.
Pros: low upfront cost, full control, learning.
Cons: 30 to 60 hours for a decent result; monthly subscriptions often in euros or dollars with a bank card; generic design; SEO rarely mastered; Orange Money and MTN MoMo payments harder to integrate.
Best for: someone testing an idea, with more time than budget.
The freelancer
An independent developer or designer, often found by word of mouth or on Facebook.
Pros: often lower prices, direct contact, flexibility.
Cons: one person, so a risk if they fall ill, change jobs or disappear; skills sometimes limited to the technical side (no copywriting, no SEO); few written guarantees.
Best for: a simple showcase site, as long as you keep all your logins.
The agency or studio
A team with a method, several skills (design, development, copywriting, SEO) and ongoing follow-up.
Pros: continuity, written quotes and contracts, advice beyond the technical, maintenance and upgrades.
Cons: higher prices at large agencies, sometimes longer timelines, changing contacts.
Best for: businesses whose site must bring revenue: clinics, firms, construction, hotels, e-commerce.
NTG Studio Web does it for you (Custom website design, Website redesign). Free 30-minute audit, reply within 24 hours, payment by Orange Money or MTN MoMo.
The comparison at a glance
| Criterion | DIY | Freelancer | Agency / studio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upfront cost | Low | Medium | Medium to high |
| Your time | High | Low | Low |
| Design | Generic | Variable | Professional |
| SEO | Rare | Variable | Included or optional |
| Continuity | You | Risky | Ensured |
| Mobile Money | Hard | Variable | Mastered |
The deciding question
Ask yourself: who will look after the site in two years? A website lives: security updates, new services, new prices, new photos. If the answer is "nobody", choose a simple static site with no heavy maintenance. If the answer is "someone reliable", choose a provider offering a clear maintenance contract.
Where we stand
NTG Studio Web is a studio: a single point of contact, Noé Mbwang, who answers directly on WhatsApp, with an agency method (written quote, approved mockup, dated delivery, maintenance). We offer Essential sites at freelancer prices to get started, and Premium sites for businesses that want to lead their market. To choose your provider well, whoever it is, use our list of questions: Choosing a web agency in Douala or Yaoundé: 12 questions to ask.
Frequently asked questions
Is a freelancer cheaper than an agency?
Often, on the initial quote. But if the freelancer becomes unavailable, having someone else take over the site can cost more than you saved.
Can I build my site myself with Wix or WordPress?
Yes. Expect several dozen hours for a decent result, plus a monthly subscription for Wix. The hard part isn’t the tool; it’s design, copy and SEO.
How do I check a provider is reliable?
Look at sites they have actually launched, call a past client, ask for a written quote and check the domain will be in your name.
Founder of NTG Studio Web in Douala. Master’s in international public law, IBM Data Analytics and Anthropic AI Fluency certified. He designs websites and visibility strategies for African businesses. Learn more →