Do you need a website designer OR a website developer?

If you’re a new business building your first website, or an established one planning a redesign, you’ve probably come across people calling themselves website designers or website developers. They sound like they do the same thing, right? Not quite.

Think of it like building a house: the developer is the builder who makes sure the structure stands, the wiring works, and everything functions the way it should. The designer is the interior decorator—the one who makes the space inviting, beautiful, and aligned with your style.

Before platforms like WordPress, Squarespace, and Shopify came along, designers would only create the visuals and then hand them off to developers to code. Today, those roles overlap a little more thanks to user-friendly tools, but the skill sets are still distinct.

Let’s break down what each one does and how to know which you need for your project.

The differences between web designers and web developers

Web Designers

Designers are the “front-facing” folks. They focus on how your website looks and feels. They bring together your branding, content, and user flow into mockups or layouts that show what the final site will look like. A good designer will also think about user experience: how people move through your site, where their attention goes, and how to make the process smooth and enjoyable.

Thanks to modern website platforms, many designers can now build the site as well. They often know enough CSS* to tweak templates and themes—so colors, fonts, and layouts match your brand instead of looking like a cookie-cutter site.

*Quick nerd note: CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) is just the behind-the-scenes code that controls things like colors, fonts, and spacing. You’ll probably never need to touch it yourself, but it helps designers make sites look polished.

One thing to keep in mind: just because a designer can put together a drag-and-drop website doesn’t mean they’re a developer. That’s a different skill set. If someone calls themselves a developer but only offers template-based design, make sure their pricing matches the level of work they’re actually doing.

Web Developers

Developers are the back-end experts. The ones who make your website actually work. They can also be found in their natural habitat: a dark office with the A/C cranked to “igloo” while feverishly typing on very loud keyboards. Just kidding… kind of.

These are the builders who take a designer’s vision and turn it into a functional website. If something isn’t possible with a template or theme, developers are the ones who can make it happen. They know programming languages like HTML, JavaScript, PHP, Ruby, and more, which lets them customize your site, add special features, or integrate it with other tools.

Developers don’t just build websites—they maintain them too. They handle updates, fix bugs, troubleshoot problems, and ensure everything runs smoothly behind the scenes. Basically, they make sure your site isn’t just pretty, but also reliable and functional.

When to hire a designer vs. a developer

Knowing when to hire a designer versus a developer can have a big impact. Not just on how your website turns out, but also on your budget. Developers typically cost more than designers because their skills are highly specialized. I don’t want to throw shade at anyone, but the truth is: almost anyone can put together a pretty website, but ask someone to edit a .php file, and their head might just explode. So before you decide to foot the bill for “developer” pricing, make sure it’s something you actually need.

Hire a Website Designer When:

• You need a simple website—think basic pages, a blog, or a straightforward online store—without lots of extra bells and whistles.
• You want guidance on branding, colors, fonts, and overall visual style.
• You need help planning how users move through your site (user flow / user experience).
• You want assistance deciding what content is important and where it should appear.

Hire a Website Developer When:

• Your website requires functionality that a theme, template, or plugin can’t provide.
• You need to customize a theme or plugin beyond colors, fonts, and spacing.
• You want a fully custom-built theme tailored specifically to your needs. (Remember though, you’ll still need someone to do the design.)
• You need to integrate your website with external tools like CRMs, learning management systems, booking systems, or other specialized software.

For most small businesses just starting out, a web designer is all you need to get a professional, functional site up and running. In fact, it’s usually best to start with a designer first, and then bring in a developer later if you need custom functionality or more advanced features.

In Conclusion

So, can someone be both a designer and a developer? Yes.
Do you need both to build a website? No.
Can they work together? Absolutely.

Knowing when to hire one versus the other can help you plan your website, get the best results, and set yourself up for long-term success. Good luck, and happy building!

P.S. If you’re getting ready to build or rebuild your website and aren’t sure where to start, I’ve got a couple of resources to help. The Website Warmup is a quick guide that walks you through five key things to think about before you start. And for the ultimate prep, the Fearless Website Workbook is like your secret weapon: a full six-step process, complete with worksheets, that helps you gather everything you need so that when it’s time to build your site (or hire someone to do it for you), you can do it confidently.