Best Web Design Companies 2020

In order to accurately assess a company’s worth, we’ve come up with guidelines and defined criteria that the best web design service providers must meet.

We believe that being transparent about what’s behind our choices and rankings is extremely important. We want to help you not only identify the top website designing companies, but also understand how we came to these conclusions.

Our evaluation process takes into account elements such as portfolio assessment, client retention rate, and project management methods. We analyze each company’s previous work for responsiveness and user experience, among other factors.

Read on for a step-by-step guide to our evaluation process.

We take responsive design very seriously because, well, so does Google! With mobile device use constantly on the rise, it’s no surprise the world’s biggest search engine is introducing mobile-first indexing.

So what are we looking for? Making sure the mobile version of your website is on point is paramount, which is why we consider this to be one of the factors affecting our decision. We take into consideration previous work and how well these websites perform on mobile when we look for a top-notch responsive website design service.

Apart from the aesthetics of a website and how well it performs when viewed across different platforms, it’s crucial to consider how users will interact with the website’s interface. This is where user experience comes in.

The ultimate goal of UX is to make a visitor’s interaction with a website as intuitive, smooth, and pleasant as possible. Depending on the purpose of your website, the user experience could be the deciding factor that makes or breaks your online operation.

This is why we carefully examine how each web design firm we assess approaches UX and whether the services offered include those of a UX design agency.  

Who better to ask about a company than the very people who have already used its services.

Apart from encouraging them on our own page, we carefully consider reviews and testimonials from trusted sources and analyze the data to form a more accurate overview of a web design company’s operations.

To ensure objectivity prevails, whenever possible we turn to case studies of projects a web design firm has completed in the past.

Case studies can help us analyze the performance of a website in more quantifiable ways. These studies allow us to systematically approach web design and see how well it helps achieve concrete goals.

Together with client reviews, case studies help give us comprehensive insight into just what a particular web design firm is capable of creating.

While a case study spotlights a website design company’s single project, assessing their portfolio paints a broader picture of their range, style, and strongpoints.

A portfolio also shows us what type of design a company is particularly proud of and wants to showcase.

When it comes to project management methods, we approach the issue head-on by contacting the website design companies directly. If they are unwilling to disclose the details of the process, the alternative is contacting former clients and interviewing them on the topic.

It’s not just the quality of the final product that can be affected by project management—it also influences the entire course a project takes and its duration. This is why we include project management in our evaluation methodology.

Communication is one of the key ingredients of any collaboration. Even if you’re working with one of the top web design companies, faulty communication can sabotage the entire experience.

Getting your ideas and expectations across to your web design team is extremely important, but so is a clearly presented solution proposal on their end.

Apart from clarity, time is of the essence when communication is concerned. Getting answers and getting them on time is the goal.

The easiest way to gain insight into the communication style of a web design service provider is to, well, communicate with them! We contact each company anonymously to inquire about their services, and we analyze the process for the following:

• How easy their responses were to understand
• How timely their responses were
• The level of patience exhibited

As an additional source of information about the quality of web design services a company provides, we interview their former clients whenever possible.

This is an excellent opportunity to learn the details of what it’s like to collaborate with the company directly from someone who’s been there.

The final factor we take into account is the web designers themselves. Does the company in question hire in-house designers or are they outsourced remotely?

While both options have their benefits and downsides, it’s something that’s important to understand before hiring a web design agency. Companies sometimes outsource when faced with a large number of projects and close deadlines.

Hiring remote designers could cause discrepancies in the quality of work delivered when compared to an agency’s previous projects. On the other hand, outsourcing doesn’t always have to have an adverse outcome: there are numerous highly skilled offshore web designers out there. At the end of the day, what’s important is transparency. Knowing who you’re working with and what you can expect eliminates unnecessary issues during the course of the project.

While you can rest assured that all of the companies listed on our website are top of the line, ultimately it’s up to you to make the final choice. You’ll be the one deciding which one of these contenders is the best fit for your company’s unique needs. Here are some tips on what you as a client should be aware of:

Being aware of what it is that you’re looking for in terms of web design is half the battle. The more closely you’re able to define your expectations and convey your goals, the better the outcome. Even the best web design companies won’t be of much help if you don’t communicate your requests to them well.

So how do you make sure you’re prepared? Start by asking yourself the right questions.

What are your goals for your website?

Ultimately, what is your website trying to achieve? You could be promoting a service, selling a product, or perhaps looking to drive organic traffic. Be clear about this.

What is your brand all about?

Having a clear vision of your brand’s direction is critical. A website is one of the focal points of your brand, so making sure it’s a good representation of the brand as a whole is crucial. What is a web designer meant to do if they don’t receive a proper introduction to the essence of your brand? The best way to convey this information successfully is to have a clear plan for the brand beforehand.

What is your website’s core message?

Define what it is that you’re trying to impress upon your website’s visitors. Where would you like to direct the focus?  

What makes your company different?

Know what makes you and your business unique. When accented well with the help of your website, this could end up being your main selling point.

What kind of websites do you like?

Consider what kind of websites catch your eye. Minimalist, loud, subdued, creative—web design comes in a wide variety of forms. Designers appreciate creative freedom, but they still need you to steer them in a general direction. After all, this is a service you’ll be paying for, and having preferences and opinions is entirely expected. That being said, always keep an open mind and remember that they are professionals who know what they’re talking about. Stay flexible. If a designer is saying they can’t do something or recommends avoiding it, they probably have a valid reason.

There’s a number of additional services provided alongside web design in many agencies. Many of the top web development companies in the world provide web design, and vice versa. However, it’s important to note that the two are not one and the same. If you’re interested in finding out the difference, there’ll be more on that later.

Apart from web development, the other areas your site and/or company may need help in could include branding, SEO, graphic design, UX design, UI design, or mobile app development. These are all services that are sometimes included within the scope of the top web design companies. Defining additional services you might need can help you make the right choice.

These are two crucial factors to consider. Be realistic—how much money and time do you have to dedicate to your website’s design? The amount of time you’re able to allot for the design process will determine the possible scope of the project.

As far as the budget’s concerned, the cost of web design can vary significantly, so it’s something you should plan for and define early on. The budget is often a deciding factor when it comes to picking a provider of website design services, which is why we’ve included easy access to information about hourly rates in our table.

When money is concerned, be sure to iron out all the details of an offer before accepting it. Make specific deadlines and agree on what you can expect at which stage of the process, as well as how many revisions they are willing to make if any are needed.

You’ll save a lot of time and hassle by recognizing which category your web design needs fall under. Perhaps you’re looking for a personal website or a blog, or maybe you’re in the market for a website that will showcase your artist’s portfolio, resume, or author’s bio. Sites such as these will have significantly different goals and requirements than those showcasing a business or promoting a product or service.

One of the major types of professional web design services deals specifically with eCommerce. If you’re looking to build an online store, you’ll want to look for a company that specializes in this type of design.

Time is of the essence, so rather than starting your search from scratch and having to shoulder all the research and head-scratching yourself, find a reliable source with transparent criteria.

Sounds familiar? Here at DesignAdvisor, we’re dedicated to making the process of matching you up with the best website design company the USA has to offer. So let our trusty reviews be your guide, and you’ll be on your way to getting the website of your dreams in no time.

A common assumption people have when hiring a web design firm is that the best thing to do is opt for one located near them. While having your designer in close vicinity might seem like the best option intuitively, it doesn’t necessarily work that way in reality. The main benefit of working with a local web design team is being able to meet them in person and discuss the project.

Depending on where you live, the quality of web design that’s available locally could be lacking. For instance, hiring a New York web design company might be a much wiser choice if you live in an area without a well-developed digital marketing culture. The quality of work you’re likely to get outweighs the slight inconvenience of having to communicate with the designers online or meeting less frequently.

On the other hand, if you’re operating in a city with a highly competitive web design market and steep rent and cost of living, a marked-up web designer hourly rate is likely to reflect this. If you can’t afford local prices, it might be well worth looking into what’s offered somewhere else. With a little bit of research, you could end up finding quality services without the shock factor of the price tag.  

One final thing to bear in mind when considering working with a remote team is the time difference. An inconvenient time zone could make it difficult to schedule meetings that work for everyone.

Once you’ve narrowed it down to a few potential options, take a careful look at who these web design agencies have worked for in the past. It’s a great way to see what their strong points are and how well this fits into your expectations for the project. It’s a glimpse into what the company is capable of and who it caters to. It can offer some insight and help you make the final decision.

While all this may sound like a lot of work, the truth is that all it takes is some smart preparation. We’ve already done half the work for you, so check out the best web design company names, list your top three contenders and take the next step: get in touch.

In your initial conversation, try to get your objectives and goals across and see what their proposals are. The initial conversation will also enable you to evaluate the quality of their communication as well as their transparency. Don’t underestimate the importance of this step—communication plays a major part in what makes a good website design company. Finally, find out whether your timeframe and budget are in alignment with what the website design agencies are offering.

Not everyone is familiar with the basic terminology related to web design and online marketing in general. Understanding some of these concepts can be of great help when looking for a company to create your website. In this section, we’ll cover some frequently asked questions and aim to give concise and informative answers to help guide you in your quest for quality, creative web design.