Aposlo vs the rest — side by side
We have nothing to hide. Here is how Aposlo Studios compares to the page builders (Wix, Squarespace, GoDaddy) and trade-specialist platforms (Built4Trades) that UK tradespeople most commonly weigh us against. All competitor data is sourced from their published pricing pages.
| Aposlo Studios | Wix | Squarespace | GoDaddy | Built4Trades | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Setup / build fee | £0 (free build) | £0 (DIY) — bring your own time | £0 (DIY) — bring your own time | £0 (DIY) or from £19.99/mo for 'managed' | Custom quote, typically several hundred £ upfront |
| Lowest monthly fee with hosting | £24.99 | From ~£13/mo (Light) — limited features | From ~£13/mo (Personal) — limited SEO | From ~£8.99/mo + addons | Subscription model, typically £30–£50/mo |
| Build approach | Hand-coded from scratch (Next.js) | Drag-and-drop on a generic template | Drag-and-drop on a template | Template-based builder | Template-based platform |
| Built by | Charlie Thompson (founder, named on every project) | You | You | You or unnamed builder team | Builder team |
| SEO & schema markup | Local SEO + Organization, LocalBusiness, Service, FAQ, BlogPosting schema baked in | Basic SEO controls, limited schema | Basic SEO, no granular schema control | Limited SEO controls | Trade-focused SEO addon |
| Mobile load time | Sub-1.5s targeted on mid-range Android | Often 3s+ on mobile (template overhead) | Often 3s+ on mobile | Variable — depends on template | Variable — platform-dependent |
| Content updates | Email us — done within 2 working days (£34.99 plan) | DIY | DIY | DIY or paid extra | Included on subscription |
| Domain ownership | You own it (registered in your name) | You own it (free first year then renewal) | You own it | You own it (their primary business) | Varies by package |
| Cancellation | 30 days notice, exit help included | Self-serve cancellation | Self-serve cancellation | Self-serve cancellation | Subscription terms apply |
| Source code handover on exit | Yes — full source code on request | No (platform-locked) | No (platform-locked) | No (platform-locked) | Platform-dependent |
Pricing and feature data sourced from each provider's public pricing page, accurate as of May 2026. We do our best to keep this current — if you spot something out of date please email hello@aposlostudios.com and we will correct it.
Test the speed claim yourself
We claim our hand-coded sites load faster than template-built alternatives. You can verify it in 2 minutes — no need to take our word for it.
- Open pagespeed.web.dev in a new tab.
- Paste in
https://aposlostudios.comand click "Analyze". Note the mobile Performance score and Largest Contentful Paint. - Now paste in any Wix, Squarespace, or GoDaddy site you can find for a UK tradesperson. Compare the numbers.
- Pick one of our client portfolio sites at /portfolio and run that too.
PageSpeed Insights is run by Google and is the same tool the search algorithm uses to assess Core Web Vitals — which means the score directly affects your ability to rank locally. This is not a vanity metric.
Where each option genuinely wins
Wix and Squarespace
If you genuinely want to build the site yourself and have the time to learn a builder, Wix and Squarespace are reasonable choices. They give you control and are cheaper at the entry tier than any managed service. The trade-off is your time, the speed and SEO ceiling, and a generic template look that other businesses in your trade are also using.
GoDaddy
Best for buying domains — that's their core business. The website builder is a bolt-on, and the SEO controls and speed are weaker than Wix or Squarespace. Most trades who start here end up migrating to something stronger within 18 months.
Built4Trades and other trade-specific platforms
These are credible niche providers with strong reputations among UK trades. If you want a templated platform-based site that's been used by hundreds of similar trades and is supported by a larger team, they are a defensible choice. We differ on hand-coded build approach, transparent SLA, and source code ownership at exit.
Aposlo Studios
Best for tradespeople and small UK businesses who want a properly built, fast, hand-coded website without the upfront cost and without committing to a long contract. We are intentionally a small studio — that's a feature, not a bug, and it is why we are explicit about continuity and exit.
See it for yourself
The fastest way to assess any web design service is to look at the websites they have actually built. Browse our portfolio, run them through PageSpeed Insights yourself, then come back and decide.