Most comparison pages are marketing fluff. This one isn't. We'll tell you exactly where we win, where we lose, and when you should pick someone else. We'd rather lose a sale than have a customer regret hiring us.
The 4 options for web design in Kenya
Before comparing, here's what you're choosing between:
1. DIY (Wix, WordPress, Carrd)
You build it yourself. Cheapest option (KES 0–15,000). You own the time and the problems. Good for testing an idea, bad for a real business.
2. Junior freelancer
KES 15,000–30,000. Quality varies wildly. Some are talented, some are learning on your budget. Hard to tell the difference before you pay.
3. Professional studio (Orbit)
KES 28,999–49,999. Custom design, copy, native M-Pesa, speed tuned, SEO setup, post-launch support. The sweet spot for most Kenyan SMEs.
4. Agency
KES 80,000–250,000+. Team of specialists, brand system, project management. Overkill for most SMEs, but right for complex needs.
Head-to-head: the 6 criteria that matter
1. Price transparency
| Option | Price | Transparency |
|---|---|---|
| DIY | KES 0–15,000 | You pay for templates, plugins, your time |
| Junior freelancer | KES 15,000–30,000 | Often vague — "it depends" |
| Orbit | KES 28,999–49,999 | Fixed prices, exact deliverables, no hidden costs |
| Agency | KES 80,000–250,000+ | Detailed proposals, but often padded |
Winner: Orbit. We publish our prices. We tell you exactly what's included. No surprises.
2. Speed to launch
| Option | Timeline | What that means |
|---|---|---|
| DIY | Your pace | Could be days, could be months — depends on you |
| Junior freelancer | 2–6 weeks | Often juggling multiple clients |
| Orbit | 5 days – 2 weeks | Starter 5 days, Business 1 week, Master 2 weeks |
| Agency | 4–12 weeks | Process, meetings, revisions — thorough but slow |
Winner: Orbit. We're the fastest professional option. 5 days for a business site is unheard of at this quality level.
3. M-Pesa integration
| Option | M-Pesa | Quality |
|---|---|---|
| DIY | Plugin or redirect | Breaks on update, feels slow |
| Junior freelancer | Varies | Some do native, some don't know how |
| Orbit | Native Daraja API | Till + Paybill, test payment before launch |
| Agency | Native or plugin | Depends on the team — ask specifically |
Winner: Orbit. Native Daraja API on every e-commerce build. We test a KES 10 payment before launch. You own the Till/Paybill.
4. Speed on mobile (PageSpeed)
| Option | PageSpeed mobile | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| DIY | 40–70 | Templates are heavy, you don't know how to optimize |
| Junior freelancer | 50–80 | Depends on their technical skill |
| Orbit | 90+ | We optimize for 3G/4G, not fibre |
| Agency | 70–90 | Varies by team |
Winner: Orbit. 87% of Kenyan internet traffic is mobile. Most of it is on 3G/4G. We optimize for the phone in your customer's pocket, not the fibre in your office.
5. Ownership
| Option | Who owns what | Risk |
|---|---|---|
| DIY | You own everything | None — but you also do everything |
| Junior freelancer | Varies | Some hold your site hostage |
| Orbit | You own everything | Domain, content, files, M-Pesa credentials — your name |
| Agency | Usually you | Read the terms — some lock you in |
Winner: Orbit (tied with DIY). You own everything from day one. We don't hold your site hostage. See our Terms for an example of what fair looks like.
6. Post-launch support
| Option | Support | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| DIY | You | You fix everything yourself |
| Junior freelancer | "WhatsApp me" | If they reply, you're lucky |
| Orbit | Orbit Care | Hosting, SSL, security, updates, backups, WhatsApp support — 4,999–9,999/mo |
| Agency | Retainer | Monthly fee, often KES 20,000+ |
Winner: Orbit. Orbit Care is the most affordable managed option in Kenya. Cancel anytime, site stays yours. Or DIY with our care guide.
When NOT to hire Orbit
We're not the right fit for everyone. Here's when you should pick someone else:
- → You need 20+ pages and a custom ERP. That's an agency job. We'd refer you to someone else.
- → You want the cheapest possible option. DIY on Wix or hire a junior freelancer. We're not the cheapest — we're the best value.
- → You need it tomorrow. Quality takes 5 days minimum. If you need it today, use a template.
- → You want a brand system, not just a website. Logo, guidelines, brand book — that's a design agency. We do websites.
The bottom line
If you're a Kenyan SME that needs a professional website, store, or booking system — and you want it fast, at a fair price, with M-Pesa wired in — we're the right choice. If you need something more complex, we'll tell you honestly and refer you to someone better.
The best way to evaluate us is to read our reviews, check our pricing, and ask us anything on WhatsApp. We'll give you a straight answer.
Quick answers
Is Orbit Web Designs the best web design company in Kenya?
We're the best fit for Kenyan SMEs that need a professional website fast (5 days to 2 weeks) at a fair price (KES 28,999–49,999). If you need a 20+ page custom ERP, an agency is better. If you just need a business site, store, or booking system, we're the right choice.
How is Orbit different from other web designers in Kenya?
Three things: (1) Speed — Starter live in 5 days, not weeks. (2) Transparency — fixed prices, exact deliverables, no hidden costs. (3) M-Pesa native — Daraja API wired from day one, not a plugin added later.
What are the cheapest web design options in Kenya?
DIY on Wix/WordPress (KES 5,000–15,000), junior freelancers (KES 15,000–30,000), or template sites. You get what you pay for — slow support, plugin M-Pesa, and you own the problems.
Should I hire a freelancer or a web design company in Kenya?
For a standard business site (1–10 pages), a professional freelancer or small studio is the sweet spot. Agencies make sense for 20+ pages, brand systems, or complex integrations. For most Kenyan SMEs, a studio like Orbit is the right fit.
Does Orbit Web Designs offer SEO services?
Yes. Every package includes SEO setup (titles, descriptions, structured data, Google Business Profile). Ongoing SEO (content, reviews, rankings) is available as a monthly service. We also have a dedicated <a href='/seo-services-kenya'>SEO services page</a>.
Still deciding?
Send any competitor quote — we'll score both honestly, even if the answer is "they're fine, hire them."
WhatsApp the quote