6 min Read

The Top 25 Best Web Design Companies of 2023

Mike Sayenko

by Mike Sayenko

6 min Read

The Top 25 Best Web Design Companies of 2023

Mike Sayenko

by Mike Sayenko

There’s thousands of web design companies out there, which makes finding the best ones pretty tough. But no worries, we’ve done the heavy lifting and ranked the best web design companies out there that deliver on clients’ expectations consistently. The keyword here is consistently. Year over year, month over month. So, what makes Sayenko Design qualified to formulate a list of 2023’s best web design companies?

Sayenko Design has 170+ five-star reviews, has designed 1,000+ custom WordPress websites, and has partnered with enterprises such as Linkedin, Icertis, DefinedCrowd, Erickson, MicroVision to name a few.

How do we determine who deserves the “Best web design company” title? The criteria include budget, timeline, reviews, and delivering results. Whether building from scratch or redesigning, it’s important to work with a partner who is capable of delivering on everything you can think to ask, and many things which you may not think to.

Read ahead to find out how to choose the best agency. Or, if you’d like, speak with one of our professional web designers or call 206-659-8955.

Web Design Cost Calculator

Why is Good Web Design Important?

Web design is the number one factor in determining the credibility of a business

Digital transformation has accelerated thanks to the pandemic. People are no longer looking for the best local web design company. This allows for more choices and opportunity to pick a web design agency that truly knocks your socks off with their creative, engaging and modern design. You need this, because a digital presence creates a positive impression of your company, regardless of industry. 48% of Internet users consider web design the number one factor in determining the credibility of a business.

Lead Generation

If your business website is made to capture leads, it’s your main marketing tool. 90% of users bounce from a website that is badly designed, thus playing an important role in achieving your business objectives of generating business leads. (HubSpot).

Ecommerce

For Direct to Consumer (DTC) and ecommerce, your website is the only real sales channel you can own—social media channels often change and are hard to predict. Besides owning your sales channel from a technical perspective, you also are able to generate your greatest sales margins, thus providing your best opportunities for the business to grow.

Mobile-First

Mobile devices generated 51.53% of the total website traffic in the second quarter of 2020. (Statista) A well-optimized mobile experience is critical, especially for consumer brands that sell directly to consumers.

Page Speed

SolarWinds conducted a page load test that showed websites that loaded within two seconds had a bounce rate of only 9%. Pages that loaded within five seconds had a bounce rate of 38%. As the page speed increased, the bounce rate soared and reached up to 73%. All this to say that website page speed is very critical to a well structured web development process.

Top Mistakes in Web Design

Put the visitor needs before your wants

Mismatched Voice

What leads users away from your website include things like unclear voice and brand, so make sure you know your audience! It’s important to understand who you’re speaking to If you’re not sure, test and validate.

Difficult Navigation

Confusing navigation prevents visitors from having a smooth user journey, and decreases the discoverability of content deeper in your site. Disconnected, outdated and hidden information adds to confusion and frustration.

Overused Ads

Too many ads on some sites creates a bit of a turn off for some and slows down the performance of your website for everyone.

Too Much Text

Information overload is critical to recognize—marketing pages are different from resources and articles, and should be short and sweet. People really scan content rather than read long-winded sections, unless it’s an article page. Even then people still skim through for the most part.

Poor Design

Visual mistakes are critical to address, such as clashing colors, use of white space, disproportionate scale, no call to action or one that blends into the page.

Bad Mobile Experience

If your site is mostly used by consumers, it’s critical you have mobile-first design. Oftentimes the mobile experience is the least thought through, it’s important to prioritize above the fold content, make sure the call to action isn’t buried down the page, and that it loads quickly.

How Much Does it Cost to Hire a Web Design Company?

Website cost varies wildly. It can be anywhere from $2,000 – $100,000, depending on the size of the team, their experience, the number of custom-designed pages, and the complexity of its design and development.

Freelancer (website Cost of $4,000 – $10,000)

Pros:

  • There’s a lower cost of services because of their low overhead.
  • Speed – usually freelancers move quickly, make revisions faster, and because some like to work long hours means you might get your project done faster.
  • Streamlined communication, since you’re dealing with one person. They may know your project better since information isn’t passed down from team member to team member.

Cons:

  • They might be a junior, learning on the fly as oftentimes people freelance to get experience.
  • Since they’re just one person, they aren’t going to be great at everything you need for a website, such as content writing, SEO, custom development, web design, etc.

Pro tip: If you have a limited budget, figure out the one service you need most and hire a freelancer that knocks it out of the park. For example if you care about web design the most, hire a freelancer that has a stellar design portfolio.

Offshore Agency (Website Cost of $10,000 – $35,000)

Pros:

  • Usually you should be able to get more services for your buck.
  • You’re providing opportunities to people that may live in a very poor environment.

Cons:

  • Communication typically breaks down, especially if English is not their primary language.
  • Setting meetings might be a challenge across different time zones.
  • Need a refund? If you already paid them, don’t count on getting your money back.
  • If hoping on a quick call to talk through an issue or a task is important, then hiring an offshore agency is prolly not the best fit.
  • They may require more communication as you “tell them” how to build the website.
  • If the site breaks, it might be days or weeks before it gets fixed.

Pro tip: Work out a payment plan that forces the company to deliver first. For example: pay 10% deposit to start, 30% after completion of the design phase, 30% after delivery of a functional website demo, remaining amount after going live.

US/ Western Europe Web Design Company (Website Cost of $20,000 – $100,000)

There are things to look for when trying to hire the best US web design company.

Pros:

  • They speak English and should be able to communicate well.
  • They typically have a dedicated project manager.
  • They’ll bring a team of experienced experts.
  • You get the ability to call and check their references, especially if they’re a US-based company.
  • Most likely their work hours overlap with yours, which is always useful for meetings.
  • They’re most likely a one stop shop for all your website project needs from SEO, branding and copywriting, to professional web design and website development.

Cons:

  • A team member that may not speak english well, for example a developer that could lead to a lower quality developed website with lots of quality assurance bugs.
  • A bigger budget is required.
  • Your project start date might be pushed out as far as 1-3 months, and the timeline might take longer if the agency is well known.

Pro tip: Ask for team bios and their experience. Know who will handle your website from the project manager, strategy, to design and development.

Curious what your website cost might be?

Web Design Cost Calculator

How Long Does it Take a Web Design Agency to Build a Site?

12-16 weeks is standard

If you’re dealing with a web design company, expect roughly a 12-16 week timeline. Make sure to also ask what the lead time might be for your project. Sometimes an agency can be really backed up for as much as 2-6 months. That is a significant amount of time to wait to start your website redesign project.

A freelancer might be able to turn something around much faster, in 6-10 weeks depending on their availability and lead time.

  • Example: simple information site
  • Example: enterprise-level marketing and conversion site
    • https://www.definedcrowd.com/
    • Timeline: 14 weeks
    • 14 Complex page templates
    • SEO
    • Resource center with Salesforce integration
    • Pardot integration, Google Tag Manager, Google Analytics, Google Search Console
    • Custom shopping cart for lead generation – Data Catalog 
    • High-end interactions, custom illustrations, and animations
    • Branding voice & tone
  • Example: eCommerce site
    • https://hangrykits.com/
    • Timeline: 16 weeks
    • Build your kit – custom shopping cart with add-ons
    • 8 simple page templates
    • SEO
    • Copywriting
    • WooCommerce

What to Look for in the Best Web Design Agencies

Experience. Process. Meet Customer Expectations.

  • Award-winning portfolio – now with that said if you don’t love the portfolio then don’t expect the web design company to produce something wildly different if you end up working with them. Award-winning sometimes means the agency paid to get reviewed by a panel, such as Awwwards, or simply they win an award for having paid for a directory slot, for example on Upcity Excellence Award. This is a bit deceptive because the award is given out to anyone that advertises and has good reviews.

  • Codified Approach – the agency is process-driven. Any good business masters this concept—less efficient = less profit for the web design agency, but also might mean more work for you to catch bugs / mistakes. An agency should have a buttoned-down approach. See our various web design processes.

  • Team experience (each member should have 5+ years) – This really sets a web design company apart, as often a company will have a junior staff member handling an aspect of your project. Make sure to get bios of all team members and how long they’ve been at their craft. Top web design companies deliver high quality work and that only happens with well-experienced team members.

  • A large portfolio, with examples in your industry/vertical – if you don’t see anything you like, don’t hire them. If you like 1-2 items, reach out and see if they might have more examples. Sometimes web design agencies become so busy that they have left their portfolio looking stale and dated.

  • Reviews – read 3rd-party reviews—a company that delivers on expectations should have some reviews on the web. Clutch is the best resource for this as they conduct phone interviews with their clients, and write a case study about the project, how much the project cost, what went well, not so well, and the results.

  • Comprehensive services in-house – the best web design companies have a team with an end-to-end solution, and members that can handle branding, content writing, analytics, SEO, advertising, web design, and web development.

  • Case studies with real data – the best web design agencies usually will have 6+ in-depth case studies with data to back up their key performance indicators.

  • Company growth – it’s a good sign if the company is on such lists like the Inc 500 which indicates growth. Ask them how many team members they had at the start vs. now.

  • A long-standing history in business – There’s a better chance the company will be around if you know they’ve already been in business for 10+ years.

  • Strong communication – Vital in any relationship, communication is key to web design projects. You should get an idea of how well they communicate during the sales process. How quickly did they get back to your inquiry? Do they explain things well? Are their proposals detailed? What do their clients say about their communication?

  • Honest expectations / mutual understanding – Don’t be wooed by the sales guy. Make sure they are honest with expectations. If a company promises an end result that is out of their control, that is a big warning sign. Oftentimes a good web design agency will tell you expectations upfront on expected results, how quickly you can expect a response from them (for example within 2 business days), who will take responsibility for mistakes, and how do those mistakes get resolved.

What is the Web Design Process an Agency Should Use?

Agile. Phased. Proven.

  • Discovery – This might include asset gathering, an interview or questionnaire, a kickoff meeting to go over expectations, onboarding to a system for project management, and a chance to unpack any red flags from the interview / questionnaire. The goal here is to get a deeper understanding of your business to build a road map for results.

  • Research – This involves in-depth look into competitors, analytics and interviews, and will result in the creation of a sitemap and target audience along with a strategy to capture and convert them.

  • Wireframing / UX / Usability Testing – Think of this as the strategic blueprint for the website. This covers top level menus, footer links, placeholders for images and videos, call to action, and high-level messaging. If there is enough budget and time, it’s always good to validate those assumptions by user testing your target audience.

  • Content creation – Once the wireframe layout is approved, at this stage it’s good to start drafting and finalizing the content. A big mistake inexperienced agencies make is working with dummy text in the design phase, which always leads to rework.

  • Visual design concepts / user testing – This covers the look and feel of your website, typically presented starting with the homepage concept(s). Once nailed down, move on to the internal pages. If there is time and budget, validating your design assumptions with your target audience is a smart move.

  • Design production – This involves breaking out all the design assets for the developer like the logo, icons, images.

  • Web development – A developer takes the visual design concepts (mockups) and turns those into a functional website. The best web design companies typically develop custom websites, rather than work off a pre-built template. They know how to handle API calls, condition logic, dynamic content, custom post types, etc.

  • Quality assurance testing – The best web design companies have a thorough quality assurance process, sometimes with a dedicated quality assurance specialist. They will test the site on all the devices and current browsers.

  • Website training – This should be included in your website project, even if you don’t plan on making content updates. The whole point of building your website on a content management system is to provide you a turn-key solution, a website that can be updated by anyone with no coding experience. Learning how to use this system without the need to pay a developer or agency anymore is key to having a complete project.

  • Ongoing services – This is often something best web design companies offer as they know you need a lot more than just building a website to achieve high-level results in goals like lead generation, direct sales, and brand awareness. Things like ongoing content marketing, SEO, pay per click advertising, and maintenance are important in achieving your business goals.

See our in-depth article on Website Redesign Project Plan: The Ultimate Guide with Templates.

What is the Process for Finding and Hiring a Web Design Agency?

Trust but verify.

Start your search in Google or Clutch. Clutch is nice because it includes all web design companies globally. Most of those companies have a detailed background check such as business license(s), bankruptcy if any, judgment filings, business entity and jurisdiction, along with in-depth case studies written after Clutch conducts a phone interview with the client. The reviews cover quality, schedule, cost, willingness to refer, challenges, scope of the work, team, performance, areas they could improve, advice for future clients.

  • Review their website & portfolio – you probably wouldn’t hire an agency whose work you don’t like, so make sure to review this in-depth. If you do like some but want to see more, ask if they have other projects that haven’t hit their website portfolio yet. Beyond that, do they have a clear process? An experienced team?

  • Define your budget – Make sure to get approval on the budget range before potentially wasting your and the agency’s time. If you’re serious about hiring a top tier web design company, you need to plan for a minimum budget of $20,000. Try our website cost calculator for a better idea!

  • Review best agency lists – Clutch has the best “top web design companies” list. These are companies that are ranked on:

    • Review rating (clients review the quality, schedule, cost, willingness to refer and the overall experience)
    • Clients & experience (Case studies that demonstrate the company’s experience in different areas such as projects, services, industries along with type and quality of clients)
    • Market presence (this includes reputation in the industry, accolades, social media presence, thought leadership and whether the company presents itself clearly and professionally online)

    Other lists are often compiled on low level details, thus producing a listing that isn’t indicative of the absolute best web design companies. Examples are: Google My Business, Upcity, Yelp.

  • Review local agencies with the right talent – You might be able to get a recommendation or referral. Sometimes if you like a website you see (maybe like that of a local competitor),  the web design company will add a link to their website in the footer. In big markets there will usually be at least one agency that is well known regionally, and possibly nationally.

  • Check reviews and references – Do they deliver on client expectations? Reference calls are critical if the company doesn’t have many reviews, are mixed, or it’s been a long while since a new review got posted. Reviews and awards that are a year old or more are irrelevant because the team might have changed, processes might have improved, and the product either got better or worse.

The Top 25 Web Design Agencies

1) Razorfish

Razorfish web design company

Why? This long-running digital agency, acquired by Publicis Sapient in 2016, offers global creative design solutions from its 34 offices across five continents. Their clients include household names like Mercedes-Benz, Walmart, Southwest Airlines, and Audi.

Size: 20,000+
Founded: 1995
Location: Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Budget: $25,000+
Key Clients: Acura, SleepCountry, Days & Ross
Google Rating: 4.6/5

https://www.publicissapient.com/

2) Deloitte Digital

Deloitte Digital web design company

Why? Primarily a consultancy, this company also serves its clients as a technology firm and creative agency. Their integrated digital solutions include aspects like strategy, user experience, creative and development, carried out by teams of consultants.

Size: 9,000+
Founded: —
Location: New York, New York, USA
Budget: $10,000+
Key Clients: Acura, SleepCountry, Days & Ross
Google Rating: 4.7/5

https://www.deloittedigital.com/

3) 22squared

22squared web design company

Why? As one of the nation’s top independent ad agencies, 22squared combines smarts, leadership, and creative talent to impact business and culture.

Size: 350+
Founded: 1922
Location: Atlanta, Gorgia, USA
Budget: $10,000+
Key Clients: AdCouncil, Baskin-Robbins, Dunkin’ Donuts, Publix Super Markets Inc., Southeast Toyota Distributors, and The Home Depot
Google Rating: 4.3/5

Clutch Profile
https://www.22squared.com/

4) Tiny Frog Technologies

Tiny Frog Technologies web design company

Why? Founded in 2003, Tiny Frog is a San Diego web design agency, specializing in WordPress web design and development, and secured hosting and maintenance. They have 170+ five star reviews, a deep bench of expertise, work with affordable budgets, and have built over 1,100 websites.

Size: 20+
Founded: 2003
Location: San Diego, California, USA
Budget: $5,000+
Key Clients: Cox Communications, Lee & Associates, Sycuan, Rady Children’s Hospital, UCSD, Ken Blanchard Companies
Google My Business Rating: 4.9/5

Clutch Profile
https://tinyfrog.com/

5) Grey Global Group

Grey Global Group web design company

Why? This old, impressive NYC agency counts the NFL, Soundcloud and Volvo among its major clients—along with 20% of the Fortune 500. They offer media, ads, and digital technology solutions across devices.

Size: 2400+
Founded: —
Location: New York, New York, USA
Budget: $25,000+
Key Clients: Bose, Pfizer, Nestle, Coca Cola, Applebee’s, Marriott
Google Rating: 4.5/5

https://www.grey.com/en/global/

6) R/GA

R:GA web design company

Why? Starting in the 70s, this ad agency has grown into a digital transformation consultancy, with a specialty in web design and user experience.. From marketing websites and progressive web apps to full fledged rebrands, they bring a human touch to first class companies.

Size: 2500+
Founded: 1970
Location: New York, USA
Budget: $25,000+
Key Clients: Airbnb, Nike, Converse, Google, HBO, Hyundai, Johnson & Johnson, Air Jordan, Samsung
Clutch Rating: —

https://www.rga.com/

7) Huge

Huge web design company

Why? Huge is one of the world’s most huge web design agencies. They bring the same user-centric approach to websites, mobile apps, and platforms, getting their major clients work that combines creativity with data for big results.

Size: 1200+
Founded: 2000
Location: Los Angeles, California, USA
Budget: $25,000+
Key Clients: Google, AMC Theaters, Gucci, Hulu, Nike, LG
Clutch Rating: 4.8/5

Clutch Profile
https://www.hugeinc.com/

8) Clay

Clay web design company

Why? Clay is a full-service UI/UX design and development agency in San Francisco. You might have heard of some of their clients—Google, Facebook, Samsung—sound familiar? With that said, if you’re a tech giant they seem to be a great fit, but not so much for small businesses.

Size: 10 – 49
Founded: 2009
Location: San Francisco, California, USA
Budget: $50,000+
Key Clients: Google, Facebook, Coinbase, Slack, Samsung, T-Mobile, ADP, Toyota, Nokia, Huawei, Uber, SendGrid, Nutanix, VMware, Fossil.
Clutch Rating: 4.8/5

Clutch Profile
https://clay.global/

9) Fresh Consulting

Fresh Consulting Web Design Company

Why? Founded in 2007 in Bellevue, Washington, this company quickly became The #1 Fastest-Growing Private Company on Seattle’s Eastside in 2019, and secured a spot on the Inc 5000 list. Under the leadership of Jeff Dance, they have a very strong company culture, vision, mission and of course a stellar portfolio.

Size: 200+
Founded: 2007
Location: Bellevue, Washington, USA
Budget: $50,000+
Key Clients: Google, Nike, Microsoft, Facebook, CBRE, TMobile, Philips, Oculus, University of Washington
Google My Business Rating: 4.9/5

Clutch Profile
https://www.freshconsulting.com/

10) 360i

360i web design company

Why? 360i is an award-winning, strategic, and creative agency that helps drive changes in the marketplace for their brands. They combine curiosity with data to deliver results in media, search, social, and web design.

Size: 250-999
Founded: