I’ve been getting this question a lot lately from designer friends and people looking to break into the freelance web design field. With all the AI buzz and drag-and-drop website builders everywhere, it’s fair to wonder if there’s still room for freelance web designers to make good money.
Here’s my take: Yes, freelance web design is absolutely still profitable, but the game has definitely changed.
The Current State of Freelance Web Design in 2025
Look, I won’t sugarcoat it. The freelance web design market looks different than it did five years ago. But different doesn’t mean worse. I’m still seeing plenty of web design projects, and so are most freelance web designers I know who’ve adapted their approach to modern client needs.
The thing is, businesses are getting smarter about web design needs. Sure, anyone can throw together a Squarespace site in an afternoon, but that’s not really competition for what professional web designers do. When a company wants custom web design that actually represents their brand and converts visitors into customers, they still hire freelance web designers.
Challenges Facing Freelance Web Designers
Yeah, there are some hurdles freelance web designers didn’t have to deal with before:
AI web design tools are everywhere. I’ve tried ChatGPT for copywriting and those AI image generators for web design projects. They’re impressive, but they’re tools, not replacements for skilled web designers. At least not yet. The clients who think AI can replace a freelance web designer usually figure out pretty quickly why they were wrong.
Price competition in web design is intense. Thanks to global freelance platforms, there’s always someone willing to do web design work cheaper. But here’s what I’ve learned as a freelance web designer: competing on price is a losing game anyway. The clients worth having understand that quality web design costs more.
Web design clients expect more services. These days, freelance web designers aren’t just designing. You’re handling SEO, writing copy, maybe even running their social media. It’s annoying sometimes, but it also means you can charge more for comprehensive web design services.
What Actually Keeps You Busy
The freelancers I know who are thriving aren’t just “web designers” anymore. They’re problem-solvers who happen to use design as their main tool. Here’s what seems to work:
Understanding SEO well enough to build sites that actually get found. Knowing how to make a site that looks good AND converts visitors into customers. Being comfortable with tools beyond just Photoshop—WordPress, Webflow, maybe some React if you’re feeling ambitious. And honestly, just being easy to work with makes a huge difference.
The Money Question
I hate giving salary ranges because they’re all over the place, but most freelancers I know are making anywhere from about $40k to well over $100k. The ones making more aren’t necessarily better designers—they’re better at positioning themselves and finding the right clients.
E-commerce sites, SaaS companies, and local businesses that actually have budgets seem to be where the money is right now.
So… Should You Do It?
If you’re thinking about getting into freelance web design, or you’re already doing it but wondering if you should bail, here’s my honest advice: It’s still a solid career, but only if you’re willing to keep learning and evolving.
The days of just knowing HTML and CSS and calling yourself a web designer are over. But if you can combine design skills with some marketing knowledge, understand your clients’ actual business problems, and communicate well, there’s definitely still money to be made.
My Final Thoughts
Freelance web design isn’t going anywhere, but it’s not the same job it was in 2015. AI and website builders have changed things, sure, but they’ve mostly just weeded out the low-end work that wasn’t that great anyway.
If you love the creative problem-solving aspect, enjoy working with different types of businesses, and don’t mind constantly learning new things, it’s still a pretty great way to make a living. Just don’t expect it to be easy—but then again, what good career ever is?
