Freelancers cost less per hour; agencies cost less per finished, supported year. The maths:
Head to head
- Cost: freelancers 30–60% cheaper upfront; rework and stalls erase it on complex builds.
- Continuity: agencies survive illness, attrition and festivals; freelancers are single points of failure.
- Range: design+build+SEO+care under one roof vs assembling individuals.
- Verdict: sub-₹25k brochure tasks suit vetted freelancers; stores and anything revenue-linked suit agencies.
Middle path
Dedicated developers give freelancer pricing with agency management — see dedicated hiring.
FAQs
How to vet a freelancer?
Live portfolio, client references, milestone-based pay, code in your repo from day one.
How to vet an agency?
Visit or video-audit the team, demand staging workflows and sample reports.
Can we mix?
Yes — agency architecture with freelancer execution works when managed tightly.