Comparison
Have an agency build your site, or AcenteSitem?
A site built by a web agency is made for you, but behind the one-off payment come yearly upkeep, hosting and a separate fee for every new feature. Bookings and payments are often developed on top.
Start-up cost
- AcenteSitem
- None; free trial
- Agency-built site
- A large one-off payment
Time to go live
- AcenteSitem
- The same day
- Agency-built site
- Weeks
Bookings, payments, calendar
- AcenteSitem
- Ready
- Agency-built site
- Developed separately
New features
- AcenteSitem
- Ongoing and free
- Agency-built site
- Each one extra work and cost
Hosting, SSL, backups, security
- AcenteSitem
- Included
- Agency-built site
- Usually extra every year
Lock-in
- AcenteSitem
- Cancel any time; download your data
- Agency-built site
- Code and hosting tied to the agency
| Feature | AcenteSitem | Agency-built site |
|---|---|---|
| Start-up cost | None; free trial | A large one-off payment |
| Time to go live | The same day | Weeks |
| Bookings, payments, calendar | Ready | Developed separately |
| New features | Ongoing and free | Each one extra work and cost |
| Hosting, SSL, backups, security | Included | Usually extra every year |
| Lock-in | Cancel any time; download your data | Code and hosting tied to the agency |
Competitor details are based on what the companies publish on their own sites (October 2026). They may have changed; check the company’s site for the latest.
Where An agency-built site is better
- Design and features made entirely for you
- One-off payment, no subscription
- Working face to face with the agency
Which one suits you?
If you need a very particular design or feature, an agency may be the right choice. If you want to start selling now without dealing with upkeep and updates, AcenteSitem gives you more features for less.
Start with a card check; cancel before the trial ends and you pay nothing.