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It really depends on how comfortable you feel with cars and what kind of car you have. With older, simpler models, changing brake pads is genuinely doable if you've got a bit of mechanical aptitude. You don't need much: a car jack, wheel chocks, pliers for the retaining pins, and ideally a brake fluid bleeder or someone to help you out. Most of the steps are pretty straightforward - wheel off, loosen the caliper, old pads out, new ones in. The tricky part is that you have to bleed the brake system afterwards so no air bubbles stay in the lines. You can do that solo, but it's definitely easier with two people.
With newer cars that have electronic brake systems, wear sensors, or if you're generally unsure, I'd go to a shop. Some modern vehicles need the brake wear reset after the swap or have sensors that cause headaches. A professional shop also has the right tools to check the brake system and bleed it if needed. That costs between 100 and 250 euros per axle, depending on where you are and what car you've got. If you mess up and your brakes fail, you'll end up paying way more - in money and in the worst case with your safety.
My tip: if you've never done it before and don't have much mechanical experience, get it done. Brakes aren't the place to learn, and you'd rather keep those few euros. But if you're handy and have an older car, you can give it a shot - just make sure you do it really thoroughly and watch a YouTube tutorial for your exact model.
If you're confident enough, I'd do it yourself - brake pads are really one of the easier jobs and you'll save a ton of money. The important thing is just that you get the brake fluid checked afterwards or check it yourself to make sure everything's still good, and drive carefully for the first few kilometers to bed in the pads. If you get unsure or notice something's off, you can always take it to a shop, but I'd definitely start by doing it yourself.
Changing brake pads yourself is definitely doable, but it's not quite as straightforward as some people think - the braking system is just too important to mess up. If you're doing it for the first time, you'll need proper tools (brake piston spreader, good jack), a bit of time, and ideally a manual for your car. The workshop costs more, sure, but at least you've got peace of mind that everything's done right and you get a warranty on it - for me personally, that would be worth the money.
The most important thing: you need proper tools (a brake caliper spreader, otherwise you'll break something) and you have to know how your car works - don't just start unscrewing stuff randomly. The others are right that it's cheap if you do it yourself, but honestly, a lot of people forget that you should also inspect the brake discs and whether they're still in good shape. If your brake discs are worn out, the best pad replacement won't help - then you need a workshop anyway. My tip: watch a video for your model beforehand, and if you're unsure whether the discs are still good, it's better to have someone else do it.
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