A WordPress web design company is a company that designs custom, functional, and visually appealing websites using the WordPress platform, one of the world’s most popular content management systems (CMSs). With a specialized focus and expertise in WordPress architecture, it typically comprises UI/UX designers, graphic designers, frontend and backend developers, content marketers, digital strategists, and project managers. 

WordPress web design companies handle everything from design aesthetics to technical functionality to ensure WordPress websites are user-friendly, optimized for search engines, and responsive across all devices. They also provide ongoing maintenance and keep sites secure, up-to-date, and high-performing over time as the business needs to expand. 

The key services offered by WordPress web design companies include: 

• Custom theme design and development 
  Creating fully customized WordPress themes that are unique to the client’s brand rather than relying on pre-built themes for a distinctive look and feel 
• Theme customization 
  Modifying existing WordPress themes to better align with brand guidelines or add unique design features while maintaining compatibility with the core WordPress structure 
• WordPress site architecture and navigation planning 
  Enhancing user experience and SEO performance within WordPress’s framework 
• Plugin selection and configuration 
  Recommending, installing, and configuring essential plugins for various needs, such as SEO, social media integration, analytics, security, and performance optimization 
• Custom plugin development 
  Tailoring plugins to extend WordPress functionality for specialized requirements 
• WordPress SEO 
  Implementing SEO best practices specific to WordPress, such as configuring Yoast SEO or Rank Math plugins, optimizing images, and creating SEO-friendly URLs 
• WordPress security hardening 
  Configuring security plugins like Wordfence and iThemes Security, implementing two-factor authentication, and performing regular security audits 
• Content migration 
  Moving content from other CMS platforms like Wix, Squarespace, or Joomla to WordPress, including post and page setup, image transfers, and link preservation 
• Advanced blog functionality and design 
  Setting up custom blog layouts, author profiles, and category-specific styling to create a unique blogging experience on WordPress 
• WordPress performance optimization 
  Using caching plugins such as WP Rocket and W3 Total Cache, image compression, and database optimization to ensure fast load times 
• Ongoing maintenance and updates 
  Regularly updating the WordPress core, themes, and plugins to protect the site against vulnerabilities and ensure compatibility 
• WordPress training, support, and documentation 
  Providing in-depth training for clients to independently manage their WordPress sites, along with guidelines on specific processes and best practices 

The difference between a WordPress developer and a WordPress designer lies in their focus and skill sets: 

• WordPress designer focuses on the look and feel of a website. Designers create the visual elements, layout, and user experience (UX), selecting colors, fonts, and imagery to make the site visually appealing and user-friendly. 
• WordPress developer focuses on the functionality and technical aspects of a website. Developers work with code to build, customize, and maintain features, plugins, and back-end systems, ensuring the site performs well and meets technical requirements. 

In short, designers shape the site's appearance and user experience, while developers handle the code to make it functional and dynamic. 

Below is a table that breaks down the key differences between a WordPress developer and a WordPress designer: 

A WordPress web design company charges between $5,000 and $200,000+ for fully customized themes, copy, assets, and support. The total fees will depend on the agency's reputation, experience, project scale, and level of ongoing maintenance required.  

Agency location also plays a role in pricing, as market demand and competition vary by region. Namely, US designers on average charge $93 per hour, whereas those in UK offer services for £48 per hour (~$59). 

Additionally, the type of design can significantly impact the overall cost — the more complex the design, the higher the price. Here are some average rates: 

• DIY website builder: $10 to $50/month 
• Template-based design: $1,000 to $5,000 
• Custom design: $5,000 to $30,000+ 
• Enterprise website: $50,000 to $200,000+ 

You should hire a WordPress web designer because it creates unique and cohesive branding. Plus, you can build your site to your specific requirements, unlike generic off-the-shelf designs, which limit your aesthetic and functional choices.  

Collaborate with professional WordPress web designers because they:

• Can integrate your business's logos, color palette, and typography into the site's aesthetic 
• Craft a credible and professional website  
• Easily scale and accommodate changes as your business grows  
• Implement SEO best practices  
• Optimize the UX for your audience  
• Ensure legal and security compliance  
• Generate more quality leads and conversions  

Success story 

The following case study reveals how professional WordPress web design solutions can amplify user engagement and online visibility, making your site a leading driver for sales: 

• Challenge: SILVERCAST Media required a website to capture its visually impactful brand and drive engagement through an innovative web experience. 
• Solution: Lounge Lizard incorporated interactive representations of SILVERCAST’s billboards into its WordPress website. The website offered an immersive UX with its non-traditional navigation style and high-resolution animated visuals across all pages. The WordPress web designer's strategy also included an SEO audit for optimal functionality and search visibility. 
• Results: The redesigned website became SILVERCAST Media’s top source for generating sales leads. The client’s remarkable growth is shown in the following metrics: 
  • 74% rise in sales leads 
  • 82% longer time on site 
  • Over 20 targeted keywords reached Google’s first page 

Choose the best WordPress web design company for your business by balancing technical expertise, creativity, and business alignment criteria. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you in the process: 

• Define your WordPress design requirements 
  Clearly outline your website requirements and goals. Determine the type of design, must-have features, and functionalities you need for your business. 
• Research possible agency partners 
  Search online and credible directories like DesignRush for WordPress design companies you can collaborate with. Look for companies with a solid online presence and positive reviews from past clients. 
• Evaluate experience, expertise, and portfolios 
  Find companies with experience in your industry and a successful track record of handling similar projects. Review the portfolios and look for versatility in their previous work.   
• Go to the websites they've designed 
  See if they are professional-looking, easy to navigate, highly customized, and optimized for search engines and conversions. Observe the style variations and check whether they've been copied from a template.  
• Request cost breakdowns and proposals 
  Contact the top candidates for detailed quotes and requests for proposals (RFPs). Ask specifically for the scope of work, timeline, deliverables, and pricing. 
• Assess technical competencies 
  Check what latest design tools, technologies, and coding languages (e.g., JavaScript, CSS, API, PHP) they use.   
• Inquire about post-project support 
  Consider the extent of after-launch support plus maintenance services they can provide. These should include ongoing assistance, troubleshooting, and security updates.   
• Negotiate the contract 
  Review the contract and finalize the project scope, deadlines, list of deliverables, payment terms, and the ownership of work. Ensure there are clauses that allow you to exit the partnership without severe penalties if it does not meet your expectations. 

Ushi Patel, Founder and Creative Head at Ushi Ink, has shared the following insight on how to choose the right agency partner: 

“Before hiring an agency, get clear on who you are, what you value, and where you're headed — otherwise, the process becomes ineffective and frustrating. Look for a firm that incorporates clarity into its onboarding to ensure the work aligns with your goals and moves your business forward. Creativity is about bringing elements into harmony, and businesses thrive when they align their strategies and data with a clear, well-defined vision.” 

Looking for the ideal WordPress web designer? Head to our Marketplace, share key details about your project, and we'll match you with five top agencies that fit your needs — for free. 

To find the best WordPress web design company on DesignRush that fits your budget, use our sorting options. Filter agencies by the budget range, from $1,000 to $50,000+, or refine by hourly rate preferences. 

Our platform presents comprehensive agency profiles where you can review agencies based on location, expertise, client feedback, and team size — helping you thoroughly compare and choose the best match for your business needs. 

When hiring WordPress web designers, watch out for the following red flags: 

• Limited WordPress portfolio 
  Avoid firms showcasing generic websites or projects without WordPress-specific elements, such as custom themes, plugin integration, or eCommerce features. 
• Heavy reliance on pre-made themes 
  Veer from agencies that quickly push pre-made themes without discussing the specific goals or branding needs. 
• Insufficient SEO knowledge specific to WordPress 
  Watch for companies that don’t discuss search optimization and WordPress settings in detail. They should understand the role of SEO plugins, proper site structure, permalinks, image optimization, and custom metadata in WordPress design. 
• Being pushy on unnecessary plugins 
  It may be a red flag when an agency proposes adding so many plugins without explaining why. Reliable designers will know when to build custom code solutions or use minimal plugins for performance and security. 
• Lack of emphasis on website security 
  Vague responses about post-launch updates and security tools are another red flag.  
• Absence of insight into maintenance and update plans 
  Avoid companies that charge excessively for minor updates without guiding you to manage basic upgrades and fixes independently  
• Inflexibility to future scalability needs 
  Avoid designers lacking a long-term growth vision or scalable options. Instead, they should show genuine interest in building a foundation for future expansion. 
• Inexperience with WooCommerce 
  If eCommerce is essential to your website, your choice of agency partner should discuss past WooCommerce projects, their setup, maintenance, and unique functionalities. 

Before hiring a WordPress web design company, consider asking these critical questions about its experience, portfolio, technical capabilities, project pricing, and deliverables to determine its fit for the project:  

Its Relevant Background 

1. What is your experience working with similar businesses? What other company types do you work with? 
2. What industries do you specialize in? 
3. Which case studies can you share that demonstrate your familiarity with our industry
4. What are your most recent successes?   
5. What do your past and existing clients have to say about your work for them?  
6. Can you share case studies with quantifiable results? 

Its Services and Processes 

1. What SEO best practices do you implement when designing WordPress websites?  
2. What's your process for testing the site before it goes live?  
3. How will you guarantee cybersecurity?  
4. How do you approach custom WordPress development compared to using pre-made themes? 
5. Do you offer continuous maintenance and security updates? 
6. How do you assess the success of a website once it’s live? 

Relevant to Your Project 

1. What's your approach to reviewing our existing WordPress website design before designing a new one?  
2. How will you align the website design with our branding and messaging?  
3. Based on our objectives, how many pages and sections do you think our website should have?  
4. How will you ensure good UX and mobile responsiveness?  
5. Which CMS do you suggest we use for creating and organizing content? Is it scalable to support business growth? Can we maintain and update it on our own?  
6. Who will provide the written copy and images for the website?  
7. Which online marketing strategies will you use to convert website visitors into leads and generate sales?  
8. What type of training and support will you provide after the project's completion?  
9. In which formats will we receive the original Photoshop or Illustrator and other design files?  
10. What does your pricing cover? 
11. How many design revisions are permitted? 
12. What reporting metrics will be provided post-launch? 

The best WordPress web design companies in the US are: 

1. IT Monks Agency 
   • 4.9 stars on DesignRush (19 reviews) 
   • 5.0 stars on Google (3 reviews) 
   • Top clients: Mulax, Ruuvi, ValorX, Daily Nourish 
2. Clique Studios 
   • 4.8 stars on DesignRush (9 reviews) 
   • 4.6 stars on Google (13 reviews) 
   • Top clients: McDonald's, IFANCA, Bitly, Northwestern University 
3. 3 Media Web 
   • 4.5 stars on DesignRush (2 reviews) 
   • 5.0 stars on Google (32 reviews) 
   • Top clients: Americares, Hamill Galleries, Pacific Legal Foundation, The Blood Project 
4. WPRiders  
   • 4.8 stars on DesignRush (6 reviews) 
   • 5.0 stars on Google (11 reviews)
   • Top clients: Versace, Panasonic CZ, Bitdefender, Technics 
5. Digital Silk 
   • 4.9 stars on DesignRush (38 reviews) 
   • 4.7 stars on Google (12 reviews) 
   • Top clients: IBM, NASA, Sony, Microsoft