Software & Comparisons
DIY vs. Done-For-You Tattoo Websites: Which Is Right for You?
A DIY tattoo website is the $99 or $199 template you edit. Done-for-you is $799 or $999 one-time, and hosting after year one is $100 a year unless you subscribe.
A DIY tattoo website and a done-for-you tattoo website are the same two templates. The difference is who does the editor work, and which hosting bill you are on.
Prices below were read from the website pages in this repo on November 8, 2026. Where a page and a help article disagree, help wins.
DIY is $99 or $199, one time
The Artist template is $99 one-time, for one artist. The Studio template is $199 one-time, for a shop with a team page and more than one gallery. Both prices are on the template pages. Help says both use the same editor.
Help lists 7 pages: Home, About, Portfolio, Services, Aftercare, Policies, and Contact. Booking is not one of those seven. Switch on Enable Booking Page and paste an embed. That page does not take a deposit or store a consent form.
You can build in the editor before you pay. A subscriber publishes without a separate license: claim the included website on the Site tab. A ZIP of the Artist or Studio template still needs a license. Without a subscription, the license is what lets you publish, and you still need a hosting plan at $10 a month or $100 a year.
Two other downloads are not this license. The free portfolio ZIP is one page you can host yourself. The free HTML template is $0, 11 pages, a contact form, and no booking page.
The editor is the admin panel in help: Content, Global, Presets, and Site. This post did not time a DIY build. Start from the Artist template or the Studio template.
Done-for-you is $799 or $999, one time
Artist setup is $799 one-time, and studio setup is $999 one-time. Both prices are on the template setup page. You send the words and the photos. The team builds the Artist or Studio template, connects the contact form, and publishes it.
Help says done-for-you includes the template and the first year of hosting. The setup page says the same thing, then $100 a year after that year, unless your subscription includes hosting. That $100 renewal is the setup contract. It is a different bill from the $10 a month card for hosting you buy on its own.
If you already bought the $99 or $199 template, the setup page credits that payment. You pay the difference. The page includes one round of revisions, and 30 days of post-launch support. Its description says the site is live in a week. This post did not time a job.
The setup page also says domain registration is typically $10 to $15 a year. That figure is the page’s line, not a registrar audit from this pass.
What each bill covers
| Option | Price | Who does the work | Hosting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Artist template | $99 one-time | You, in the editor | $10 a month or $100 a year, unless your subscription includes hosting |
| Studio template | $199 one-time | You, in the editor | Same hosting card as the Artist template |
| Artist setup | $799 one-time | The team, from content you send | First year included, then $100 a year unless your subscription includes hosting |
| Studio setup | $999 one-time | The team, from content you send | Same renewal as artist setup |
A design that is not one of those templates starts at $3,000 on the custom page. That page does not print a ceiling, and its monthly plan does not print a number. Details are on custom tattoo shop websites.
A rented builder such as Squarespace is a different contract. This post did not open that pricing page, and it does not link it.
Software for the studio, separate from these website prices, is on the pricing page. Solo on that help article is $29 a month or $239 a year for 1 team member. The subscription includes the website and hosting.
If you already have a live site, check your current site before you pay for a rebuild.
FAQs
Can I move from DIY to done-for-you later?
Yes. The setup page credits an Artist or Studio template purchase toward the setup price. You pay the difference.
Do I need to pay for hosting with DIY or done-for-you?
They are different contracts. DIY publish, without a subscription, uses the hosting article: $10 a month or $100 a year. Done-for-you includes the first year, then $100 a year unless your subscription includes hosting. You can also download the finished site and host it yourself.
Does a subscriber need a license to publish?
No. Claim the included website and you can publish without a separate license. Hosting is included. A ZIP of the paid Artist or Studio template still needs a license if you have not bought that template.
How many pages are on the template?
Help lists 7: Home, About, Portfolio, Services, Aftercare, Policies, and Contact. A booking page is a separate switch and an embed slot.
Does the website template file a consent form?
No. The booking page takes an embed. Consent forms are in Tattoo Studio Pro. The in-studio form has parent or guardian fields when the client is under 18. The public online check-in cannot capture that consent.
How fast is done-for-you?
The setup page’s description says the site is live in a week. This post did not time a job, and it does not turn that line into a 48-hour promise.