2020 Rankings: Best Web Design Firms

Are you looking for a great company to design or redesign your company’s website? Look no further! We’ve compiled the best web design firms in the world, based on the quality of their work and the extent of the services they offer. Whether you want an entirely new brand identity for your business or just a few new features added to your site, at least one of these top 10 website design companies here will be able to meet your needs.

Top 10 Web Design Companies

1. WebFX – Harrisburg, PA

WebFX is a full-service Internet marketing agency that combines web design, Internet marketing, and SEO to create comprehensive digital marketing strategies. This means that their award-winning sites aren’t just nice to look at – they’re personalized marketing tools. Each site is optimized to attract new visitors and turn those visitors into customers. They also take a client-focused approach, and design according to each individual company’s brand, meaning that each site has its own unique look and feel.

2. Doejo – Chicago, IL

Doejoe is a self-described “growing collective of talented folks” that began as a startup over a decade ago and grew to become an award-winning digital agency. They help organizations innovate, design, and build cutting-edge products, services, and experiences. This means that in addition to web design, they also provide services like video, motion graphics, mobile apps, and product packaging. With only 23 employees, the company is still fairly small, but that doesn’t stop them from competing with companies like Groupon and Cox Media.

3. Level Level – Rotterdam, Netherlands

With only 11 employees, Level Level is the smallest company on our list. That said, this allows them to work closely with clients and focus on building extremely customized sites for each of them. They primarily create and work with WordPress sites, but come up with specialized design and strategy for each site. If you take a look at their portfolio, no two sites are even remotely the same – and that’s a good thing when it comes to branding.

4. Global Point – New York, NY

Global Point has a simple, straightforward list of capabilities on their site – design, digital, strategy, and UX. However, their designs appear far from simple and have won them numerous awards over the past few years. In addition, their focus on user experience allows them to build sides that work well with each client’s audience and objectives. This blend of design and strategy has earned them the business of clients like Ferrari, Nike, and Maybelline.

5. HMG Creative – Austin, TX

HMG Creative is a full-service marketing agency that does more than just web design. Instead of working solely with the online elements of each client’s marketing, they offer brand development from start to finish. They strive to learn the ins and outs of each company they work with, then develop tailored branding ideas and objectives. This means that unlike most of the companies on our list, who work with established brands and businesses, they help develop clients’ marketing strategies from the ground up.

6. Wholegrain Digital – London, UK

Wholegrain Digital is a relatively small company whose name stems from the claim that they build “sites that are good for you.” They specialize solely in WordPress sites and cover all aspects from development to design to plugins to copywriting. They offer advanced services like eye tracking for conversion rate optimization, but are comprehensive enough to include the basic services some companies leave out, like a dedicated team of copywriters that claim to make any site “so well-polished it sparkles.”

7. Lounge Lizard – New York, NY

Companies looking for off-the-wall creativity are well-suited to work with Lounge Lizard. They are a digital agency that specializes in brand development and creative strategy, and also works with website, app, and mobile development, social media, and SEO. This may sound like what most of the other agencies on this list do (and it is), but Lounge Lizard claims to add a “generous splash of creative juices” to every project. Their logos and branding are certainly unique, and their clients’ sites are far from boring.

8. Alley Interactive – New York, NY

Alley Interactive’s top priority is providing solutions to all of the challenges that arise as the digital media landscape continues to change. Their team is made up mostly of developers, and they work primarily with publishers in the business and editorial industries. This means that their clients’ sites typically have a straightforward, professional appearance. Want an example? Check out NYPost.com.

9. Brown Owl Creative – Essex, UK

Brown Owl Creative is a creative agency that works with companies on all aspects of their branding, from brand identity and logo design to packaging and print brochures. This means that all of their clients’ marketing materials work together to create a unified identity, and that carries over into their websites. The agency bases all of its projects around a five-step process: brief, plan, create, refine, and deliver. Between this process and their goal of harmonious branding, clients know that they will have an efficient, streamlined experience with Brown Owl.

10. Bright Bright Great – Chicago, IL

Bright Bright Great is a design agency that takes projects from “ideation through execution.” Their art direction and development process includes brand identity, photography, videography, and illustration, among many other things, meaning that regardless of their clients’ visual goals, they are able to deliver. They strive for innovative, aesthetic, unobtrusive, and thorough design, and their impressive client list (including Nike, McDonald’s, and Crayola, just to name a few) proves that they must be doing something right.

Honorable Mentions

TimeForCake – Frisco, CO

TimeForCake provides strategy and consulting, web design, online marketing, and site maintenance. They help their clients increase traffic, conversions, cost-effectiveness, and the overall results of their marketing strategies. What sets them apart, however, is their approach. Instead of advocating complete site overhauls or starting from scratch, they focus on small, continual improvements. And while they can design and build new sites, they prefer to identify changes that can be made to existing ones to meet their clients’ goals.

Imulus – Boulder, CO

Imulus is a full-service digital agency that strives to focus on people instead of technology. They work closely with clients to build strategies that are based on original ideas and capture people’s emotions. From brand identity to art direction to digital graphics, their focus is always on user experience. Because of this, they also place a lot of emphasis on functionality, which is critical to ensuring that site visitors have a pleasant experience not just looking at their sites, but using them, too.

Buildrr – Syracuse, NY

Buildrr manages all aspects of its clients’ digital presence, including web design, app development, and SEO, and marketing. Most of their projects operate on a 10, 20, or 40-week system, and follow the notion that the company has the process of successful site builds down to a science. They claim to have developed the most efficient and cost-effective ways to build, maintain, and promote websites, and have the advantage of being a large enough company to work with hundreds of talented designers.

CMS – Washington, DC

CMS’s name is an acronym for what they do – create, manage, and succeed. They are a creative agency made up of designers, developers, and web strategists, and focus on working with small and medium businesses to create and strengthen their brands. What sets them apart from most agencies is their emphasis on personal communication with each client. They meet with businesses in person and take the time to understand their goals, objectives, and expectations for each project.

RSQ – Mobile, Alabama

According to their homepage, RSQ provides, “small-batch, hand-crafted, gluten-free, artisanal advertising,” and while they obviously don’t specialize in home cooking or baked goods, their designs have a similar level of attention to detail. They understand that while advertising takes place online, it cannot rely on technology alone. Because of this, they put creativity first, and have used their skills to work with clients like Hilton, Jack Daniels, and Exxon Mobil.

DotcomWeavers – Paramus, NJ

DotcomWeavers is a web design company that specializes in ecommerce and custom web applications. They are a business-oriented company, and while their designs tend to be less intricate and eye-catching than those of creative agencies, they pay strict attention to detail and analytics. By constantly monitoring and testing projects, they are able to deliver functional and customer-friendly sites.

Intechnic – Chicago, IL

Intechnic is a high-end design company that specializes in ecommerce and mobile development. They’ve been in business for 16 years, which is longer than most companies on our list, and with over 2,700 clients, they’re one of the largest. Because of this, they’re able to employ some of the world’s leading programmers and developers and cover a wide scope of services like video & motion graphics that other companies can’t.

Big Drop Inc. – New York, NY

Big Drop Inc. wants to “rock your world” with their web design capabilities. They emphasize creativity and personalization in every aspect of design and aim to create unique digital experiences for each client. Their own site is a testament to their success, as it is visually stunning and full of complex functionality – and the fact that they create custom animated videos for clients is just the cherry on top.

Maxburst – Farmingdale, NY

Maxburst is a web design, development, and marketing company that specializes in graphic design, custom programming, and database integration. They offer both redesign services and completely new sites and have a goal-oriented approach to both. Because of this, they focus on purpose – whether their clients want to generate more revenue, get more customers, or increase profit margins, they design sites around those goals. Their approach is a blend of style and technology, and their clients’ sites have a clean, professional feel.

MPC Studios – Harlingen, TX

MPC Studios is an advertising agency that combines Internet marketing and traditional advertising to create comprehensive marketing strategies. And although web design is only a small part of what they offer, their clients’ sites have similar levels of quality to those who go to design-only agencies – with the added bonus of already being optimized for search engines and up to date with the latest marketing strategies. Although some businesses choose to go to different companies for design and marketing, the convenience of finding an agency that does both is hard to argue with.

Choosing the Best Web Design Agency

Finding the best web design agency is tough.

The field features so many talented web designers. Any one of the companies on this list could likely do great work for your brand or business. How do you narrow your choice and find the best web design firm for your organization, though?

Start your search for the top web design companies with this checklist:

1.       PROJECT

Are you looking for a new brand identity or a few minor updates? An off-the-wall site, or one that is simple and professional? Are you only concerned with the design, or do you want full-service Internet marketing?

The requirements of your project can have a tremendous impact on your choice of agency. If you need a web design firm that can get creative, focus your research on the top web design companies with an expansive portfolio of challenging, yet original sites.

2.     BUDGET

The budget is significant, and you should always consider it before hiring a web design agency. You should be aware of your budget and work to find an agency that offers everything you’re looking for while staying within your price range.

If you’re looking to work with one of the best web design companies, however, your team will need to invest more. These agencies, due to their experience and skill, often have higher prices. Keep this factor in mind when researching and comparing companies.

3.     LOCATION

You should also consider the location of the agency.

Though it may not seem like a make-or-break circumstance, if you require in-person meetings to go over detailed plans, you should consider an agency within reasonable traveling distance — especially if you feel strongly about meeting your designers before working with them.

The top website designing companies often operate in metro areas, like New York City, Chicago, or Austin. If you partner with an agency that’s a significant distance from your business, this feature can help.

Travel, for example, is easier because of the location of airports, train stations, and more in these areas. While you’ll still need to pay for your team’s travel, you have the opportunity to work with one of the top 10 website design companies.

4.     VALUES

As you compare the best web design firms, it’s worth considering how the agency fits with your company’s needs and personality. In some instances, meeting with an agency before hiring them is extremely beneficial in determining whether they are a good fit.

While you can browse each agency’s website to learn about their values and approach, meeting with their team face-to-face can help your business decide if they mesh well with your team. If they don’t, consider another one of the top web design companies on our list.

5.       TIMELINE

Depending on your business strategy and your website’s current status, you may have an expedited schedule for designing or redesigning your site. This factor can have a big impact on not only your budget but also your choice of agency.

In some cases, a web design company may even decline to work with your business. As one of the best website design firms, they place significant value on the quality of their work. Delivering a website in a short amount of time can affect the work of their designers.

As a result, they’ll turn down the chance to work with your business.

That’s why your team should disclose your desired deadline as soon as possible. You don’t want to waste your time or the agency’s, so be upfront about your expectations. It’ll decrease your research time. Plus, it’ll help you find the best web design agency for your business faster.

The above factors should all play a role in your choice and will help you narrow our list down to a more manageable number to contact. And no matter which one you end up with, you can trust that your business is working with a top web design company.

FAQs About Web Design and Web Design Agencies

If you have some questions about not only web design, but also finding the best web design agency, you’re not the only one. Take a look at some of our most frequently asked questions about web design and website designing companies below.

Q: What does a web designer do?

A: A web designer is responsible for making your website a reflection of your brand, in a way that engages and delights visitors.

That means they’re responsible for things like the color scheme, page layout, graphics, videos, and other interactive elements.

They’ll also design things like your navigation bar and your sitemap so that users can find what they need on your website.

When you work with one of the best website design firms, you get to partner with some of the most talented web designers and developers in the industry. Their experience is what makes your website design or redesign amazing.

Q: Why is professional web design important?

A: If you’re looking for support from company decision-makers, then you’ll need to answer this question. Whether you’re redesigning your website or wanting to part with one of the top web design companies, you need to show the value of professional web design.

Some of the biggest reasons why professional website design matters include:

• Expertise: Hire one of the best web design firms, and you get access to some industry-leading expertise. This kind of skill isn’t something you can bring in-house, as the top designers can demand high
• Time: If you have an in-house developer or designer, they already have a ton of responsibilities. It’ll take them months — if not longer — to redesign or launch your website. With a top web design company on your side, you can make the most of your team’s time.
• Cost: Professional web design also saves your business money. If you hire an in-house team, it costs significantly more than partnering with one of the best website design firms. Plus, an in-house team also requires onboarding, which delays your site’s launch.

With a top web design company, your business saves time and money. You also get access to some of the industry’s best web designers. The result is a well-designed website that captures the attention of not only your target market but also your competitors.

Q: How long does a website take to complete?

A: The answer to this question depends on whether you’re launching a brand-new website, or if you’re updating an existing site.

If you’re simply updating an existing website, you can probably guess that the time frame is exponentially shorter — of course, depending on how many updates you have.

If you’re only looking to freshen up your website with new colors and a new look, a few weeks is an adequate time frame.

However, if you’re looking for a new website from the ground up, you’ll likely be looking at a few months until the site is up and running.

That’s because there is a lot that goes on behind the scenes that you don’t see — things like wire-frames, edits, development, design elements, testing, and more.

If you partner with a top web design company, expect them to provide your team with estimated turnaround time. While the actual time may vary, their estimate provides your business with a date to reference.

Q: How much does a website cost?

A: It’s nearly impossible to put an exact price tag on web design. That’s because every agency charges something different for the unique services they provide. Even the rates of the top 10 website design companies varies widely.

As a general rule of thumb, though, the more bells and whistles you want for your website, the more expensive it’ll be. That’s why a simpler design is less expensive.

In general, for a top-to-bottom website design, you can expect to pay anywhere from $5,000-$75,000 — depending on the number of pages, the special features, the navigation, and more.

For a redesign, you can expect a little less.

While the price is a critical factor for your business, it shouldn’t be the decision-maker when it comes to choosing a top website designing company. Your site is a core part of your online presence, so you want it to create a fantastic first impression on visitors.

That doesn’t mean you should overspend on web design. What you should do, however, is to consider the worth of your website to your company. If you invest in great web design the first time, you won’t have to redesign your site for a while.

Want to know more about the top website design companies?

If you have any questions about how we determined our rankings for the top 10 website design companies, feel free to contact us! We’re more than happy to discuss them with you, although we do not accept payment to alter (or add to) our list.