Business · Companies · 4 hrs ago
AI website tools grow as freelance web development ads fall
More US business owners are using AI to build websites instead of hiring developers, according to a survey of 201 entrepreneurs.
The survey, commissioned by web-hosting company Bluehost, found that 53% had adopted AI website builders.
Users reported saving an average of $850 and 32 hours compared with hiring developers or agencies.
Freelance website design ads fell 59% on Freelancer.com between the second quarter of 2024 and the third quarter of 2026, with similar drops in PHP, WordPress and HTML listings.
The figures cover one marketplace and do not prove AI caused the decline or show that jobs across the whole industry have collapsed.
Most surveyed users were satisfied, but many edited the AI-generated content or design, and more than half wanted to review every proposed change.
A Bluehost survey found that 53% of surveyed American business owners had adopted AI website builders instead of relying on professional developers.
Freelance website design advertisements on Freelancer.com fell 59% between the second quarter of 2024 and the third quarter of 2026.
The survey respondents who used AI website generators reported average savings of $850 and about 32 hours compared with hiring developers or agencies.
Most respondents who used AI to build websites reported satisfaction, though many revised the generated content or design before publishing.
The figures cover one freelance marketplace and do not establish that AI directly caused the decline in advertised jobs or that employment across the industry collapsed.
- Who
- American entrepreneurs surveyed by Bluehost, and freelancers advertising website development services on Freelancer.com.
- What
- AI website-builder use among business owners grew as freelance website development advertisements declined.
- When
- The advertisement figures compare the second quarter of 2024 with the third quarter of 2026. The article was published on October 16, 2026.
- Where
- The survey covered American entrepreneurs. The job-ad figures came from Freelancer.com.
- Why
- Business owners used AI to create websites independently, reporting savings in time and money. The sources do not establish that AI caused the decline in job advertisements.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Freelancer.com website design advertisements were at the starting point of the period later measured for the reported decline.
Freelancer.com website design advertisements were 59% lower than in the second quarter of 2024.
TechRadar published its report on AI website tools and falling freelance development advertisements.
- Survey sample
- 201 American entrepreneurs
- AI website-builder adoption
- 53% of surveyed business owners
- Website design advertisements
- Down 59% on Freelancer.com from Q2 2024 to Q3 2026
- Reported average savings
- $850 and about 32 working hours
- Respondents strongly approving AI websites
- 72%