Comparison
Freelancer, big agency, or EPKO?
Each option fits a different context. We show honestly where we belong and where we do not. No cherry-picking facts.
When it makes sense
Freelancer
Small project, short timeline, one specialist. Cheapest as long as nothing breaks.
When it makes sense
Big agency
Large enterprise with an internal procurement team. Process over conversation, top-tier rates.
Recommended
When it makes sense
EPKO
Mid-size project with EU regulatory requirements. Direct access to the people writing the code. Prices in between.
Strengths for you
Freelancer3 of 8
Big agency6 of 8
EPKO8 of 8
What you care about
Freelancer
Big agency
EPKORecommended
Project cost
Lowest, but often without VAT and without guarantees
Highest, 40 to 60% margin
In between, transparent ranges published on the site
Who you actually talk to
Directly with the person doing the work
Account manager, project manager, only then someone technical
Directly with Eryk (CTO) or Patryk (CEO)
Risk that one person leaves and the project halts
High. One person gets sick, takes a holiday, disappears
Low, but corporate staff rotation is real
Low. Bus factor mitigated through documentation, runbooks and SLA escalation
Compliance with GDPR, WCAG, NIS2, AI Act
Usually out of scope. Legal audit costs extra
Yes, but bundled and notably expensive
Technical layer built into the process. Formal opinions stay with your law firm or auditor
VAT invoice and legal liability
Often no VAT invoice. Limited liability
Yes, full B2B contract with contractual penalties
Yes, limited company, B2B contract, professional indemnity
Response time after launch
No SLA. Replies when they have time
SLA yes, but at the ticket queue level
Reply within 24 h on business days, retainer with guaranteed response time
Project scale we handle
Landing page, simple plugin
Programmes with €120k+ budgets
From €1.2k discovery to €35k complete portal
Who owns the technical side of compliance
Most often you
Separate compliance team included
We do, as part of every engagement. Formal legal decisions stay with your advisor
Project cost
FreelancerLowest, but often without VAT and without guarantees
Big agencyHighest, 40 to 60% margin
EPKOIn between, transparent ranges published on the site
Who you actually talk to
FreelancerDirectly with the person doing the work
Big agencyAccount manager, project manager, only then someone technical
EPKODirectly with Eryk (CTO) or Patryk (CEO)
Risk that one person leaves and the project halts
FreelancerHigh. One person gets sick, takes a holiday, disappears
Big agencyLow, but corporate staff rotation is real
EPKOLow. Bus factor mitigated through documentation, runbooks and SLA escalation
Compliance with GDPR, WCAG, NIS2, AI Act
FreelancerUsually out of scope. Legal audit costs extra
Big agencyYes, but bundled and notably expensive
EPKOTechnical layer built into the process. Formal opinions stay with your law firm or auditor
VAT invoice and legal liability
FreelancerOften no VAT invoice. Limited liability
Big agencyYes, full B2B contract with contractual penalties
EPKOYes, limited company, B2B contract, professional indemnity
Response time after launch
FreelancerNo SLA. Replies when they have time
Big agencySLA yes, but at the ticket queue level
EPKOReply within 24 h on business days, retainer with guaranteed response time
Project scale we handle
FreelancerLanding page, simple plugin
Big agencyProgrammes with €120k+ budgets
EPKOFrom €1.2k discovery to €35k complete portal
Who owns the technical side of compliance
FreelancerMost often you
Big agencySeparate compliance team included
EPKOWe do, as part of every engagement. Formal legal decisions stay with your advisor
When you should hire someone else
We are honest: some projects do not fit us and we will point you elsewhere without charging for the conversation.
- Very large rollouts requiring a team of 20+ people. A mid-size agency will fit better.
- Industries that conflict with our values (gambling, adult content).
- Projects where you want to skip WCAG, GDPR or security to save cost.
Not sure which box you fit into?
The first conversation is free and no strings attached. If we say it is not our space, you will get an honest recommendation on where to go.
Schedule a free consultationFree · 30 minutes · No strings attached