AI builders vs. done for you
AI website builder or a done-for-you site?
AI builders like Durable, 10Web, and Wix's AI tools make a draft in minutes. The rest is up to you. We build it, write it, and hand you the files for $497, one time.
Side by side
Upfront cost
- FlatRateSite
- $497 one time
- AI website builders
- Free plans on some, like Durable and Wix; paid from $10/mo billed yearly
Ongoing cost
- FlatRateSite
- Optional care plan from $99/mo, or host it yourself
- AI website builders
- Monthly or yearly subscription
Who builds it
- FlatRateSite
- We do
- AI website builders
- AI drafts it; you finish it
Who writes the copy
- FlatRateSite
- We do, from your intake answers
- AI website builders
- AI, from a short prompt
Who checks the facts
- FlatRateSite
- A person edits every word
- AI website builders
- You do
Pages
- FlatRateSite
- Up to 3
- AI website builders
- Many; unlimited on some plans
Time to launch
- FlatRateSite
- First draft 7 business days after intake approval
- AI website builders
- Draft in minutes; live when you finish
SEO basics
- FlatRateSite
- Done for you
- AI website builders
- Built-in tools; more on higher plans
Domain
- FlatRateSite
- Stays in your name
- AI website builders
- Subdomain on free plans; domain credit on paid
Leaving later
- FlatRateSite
- Your files, no export fee
- AI website builders
- Site lives on their platform
What AI builders do well
They're fast and cheap to start. You type a few details and get a full draft in minutes, sometimes on a free plan.
For testing an idea, or for a site you don't mind tinkering with, that's a good deal.
What AI can't do for you
The AI only knows what you type into a short prompt. It doesn't know your license number, the towns you cover, or the jobs you want more of. It can also fill gaps with claims that sound right but aren't, like a warranty you don't offer.
So you check every claim, rewrite what's generic, pick photos, connect a domain, and keep the subscription going. The draft is quick. Finishing it is on you.
Platform risk comes with the subscription
On a builder, your site runs on the company's servers, under its terms. Plans, prices, and export rules can change, and leaving usually means rebuilding.
Builders can also shut down. Hocoos, an AI builder, deleted its customers' sites after April 23, 2026. Our post on what happens when a website builder shuts down covers what those owners could save.
With us, your domain stays in your name and your site's code is yours. No export fee.
How we use AI
We use AI to speed up first drafts of your copy. A person edits every word, builds your site, and checks it before you see it.
Your first draft arrives within 7 business days after we approve your intake, and you get 2 rounds of revisions.
Choose AI website builders if…
- You want a site today and don't mind editing it yourself.
- Your budget is near zero, and a free plan is enough for now.
- You're testing a business idea and may change direction soon.
- You want AI tools for blog and social posts in the same subscription.
- You need more than 3 pages.
Choose FlatRateSite if…
- You'd rather review a finished draft than fix an AI one.
- You want every line checked by a person before you see it.
- You don't want your site tied to one platform's subscription.
- You want your domain and code in your name, with no export fee.
- You want a set first-draft date and a full refund if we can't build it.
Questions
Are AI website builders any good?
For a fast draft, yes. The draft only knows what you type into a short prompt, so expect to rewrite much of it. If you have time for that, a builder can work well.
What's the best AI website builder?
It depends on what you need. Some bundle a CRM and bookings, some run on WordPress, and some add AI to a regular editor. Before you pick one, check what happens to your site and domain when you cancel.
Is an AI builder cheaper?
At first, often yes. Paid plans start around $10 to $25 a month. We charge $497 one time for the build. To go live on your domain, pick a care plan from $99 a month, or take your code and host it yourself.
Do you use AI too?
Yes, to speed up first drafts of your copy. A person edits every word, builds your site, and checks it before you see it.
What happens to my site if an AI builder shuts down?
It goes offline, usually after a deadline to download your data. You keep what you control: a domain in your name and copies of your text and photos.
What if you can't build what I need?
You get a full refund. We review every intake within 1 business day, before we start building.
Keep comparing
Sources
- Durable pricing (opens in new tab) (checked 2026-09-25)
- 10Web AI builder pricing (opens in new tab) (checked 2026-09-25)
- Wix plans and pricing (opens in new tab) (checked 2026-09-25)
- Hocoos shutdown notice (opens in new tab) (checked 2026-09-25)
One form. One price. Your site, built.
$497, one time. If we can't build it, you get every cent back.
Questions? hello@flatratesite.com