Many factors determine the real cost of a website. This is why while some people build and manage their sites with only a few hundred dollars, others spend thousands one-time or yearly.
Some of the factors that determine the cost include the way or method used in building the site, the features of the website, and how big it is. Factors like maintenance also chip in sometimes, especially when you have a very big website that has a lot of activities. Let us take a look at how they influence the cost of setting up a site.
There are many ways to build a website and they have different costs. You can:
- Use a Content Management System (CMS) and a web host
- Use a website builder
- Hire a professional web designer (freelancer or agency)
How Much Does a Website Cost Using a CMS?
Building a website with a CMS like WordPress, Drupal, Joomla, etc., is one of the most common ways nowadays because of the customization power. However, CMS (Content Management System), as the name says, are just software for management and there is no way to build a website with them alone. You have to use a web host and purchase a custom domain name.
Now, it costs nothing at all to use a CMS of your choice. Despite that, there are so many hosting companies you can use to host your site and they cost differently.
Generally, the cost of hosting your site with a particular web host depends on the features you want to be included in your package. Because of the proneness of CMS like WordPress to attacks, you will need security features like DDoS protection, malware scanner, and most hosts charge separately for them. There are a few more features that you may need to pay for separately. Some hosts will hoard them so you can upgrade to a higher package, hence increasing your expenses.
Generally, some web hosting packages cost as low as $2 per month while others cost as much as $100 monthly to host a website.
Of course, there are still some web hosts that cost more than $100 monthly, especially when you need to use powerful servers like VPS, dedicated servers, or even cloud hosting services. Domain names cost from $11 to $150 per year. Though, some special domain extensions may cost higher.
Now, let’s see some very powerful web hosts and how much they cost for hosting a site.
How Much Do the Best Web Hosts Cost?
As said earlier, there are so many web hosts with varying pricing. Nonetheless, there are a few general features that determine how much a host charges you. They include, but are not limited to:
- CPU cores and RAM size
- Storage space allowed
- Bandwidth
- Management features
- Security features
- Performance features
- Number of sites allowed
- Type of hosting or server
Hostinger is one of the most affordable hosts in the industry. Hosting a website on shared servers costs as low as $2 per month with a lot of features that you don’t need add-ons to access.
More powerful servers like VPS can cost you up to $78 per month. So now, it all depends on what you need.
Here is a breakdown of how much hosting a website with Hostinger may cost you:
- Shared/WordPress hosting: $2 to $10 monthly, renews at $4 to $20 per month
- Cloud hosting: $10 to $30 per month, renews at $20 to $55 monthly
- VPS hosting: $4 to $78 monthly, renews at $7 to $132 per month
All Hostinger plans have security features like free SSL certificates, automated backups, DDoS protection, Web Application Firewalls (WAF), and malware scanners. Therefore, you won’t be spending extra on them.
Another great web host to use according to our research is SiteGround. This host is one of the best in the industry regarding speed performance, security, and customer service. As a matter of fact, if you are creating a WordPress site, you are in luck. SiteGround is highly recommended by WordPress as one of the best hosts for WordPress sites.
However, if you compare SiteGround with Hostinger, it may cost a little bit more to host a site with SiteGround, especially during renewals.
Nonetheless, based on the results of our trial of SiteGround services, you will get great value for your money. Besides, even though the renewal prices are higher, you won’t break the bank!
SiteGround’s pricing starts at about $2 per month. With this plan, you can install any CMS on your site, especially WordPress. You will get many security, management, and performance features that you need, so you don’t have to pay extra.
Though, if you want to use the Site Scanner, you may have to pay an additional $2.49 per month. Alternatively, if you use WordPress, you can just use a free plugin for its purpose.
Here is a quick rundown of the cost of a site using SiteGround:
- Shared/Managed WordPress/WooCommerce hosting: $2 to $8 monthly, renews at $14 to $40 per month
- Cloud hosting: $100 to $400 per month
InMotion Hosting is another notable host we recommend based on our practical knowledge. It is great for hosting a site, especially on WordPress due to its auto-installer that makes the installation process smooth. What’s more, it is fairly affordable.
The prices of InMotion Hosting plans start at around $2.49 per month. It is very generous with features, so you won’t have to spend too much extra. Though, you may opt for the Backup Manager add-on for an extra $30 per year.
Here is a summary of how much it costs to host a site on InMotion:
- Shared hosting: $2.49 to $13 per month, renews at $9 to $23 monthly
- Managed WordPress hosting: $4 to $16 monthly, renews at $11.50 to $30 per month
- VPS hosting: $9 to $45 per month, renews at $45 to $112 monthly
- Dedicated server: $90 to $260 monthly, renews at $150 to $300 per month
The truth is, there is no exact way to determine the cost of a website when using a CMS, specifically WordPress, so we can only provide you with an estimate. This is because aside from the cost of the domain name and hosting, there might be other stuff like plugins or themes that you would end up paying for.
Hence, by taking only the cost of a domain name ($11 to $150 per year) and hosting of $2 to $400 per month into consideration, you can expect to spend between $59 and $4950 per year on a website.
Other Website Costs to Note When Using WordPress
As stated above, the estimate was based on only how much a domain and hosting would cost. Even though it costs absolutely nothing to use WordPress and other CMS, there are some extra fees that you may have to pay.
Let’s say you decide not to use a free theme for some reason and purchase a premium theme. WordPress themes come at different prices depending on how sophisticated or feature-packed they are. For some themes, you may just need a paid version. For others, you need to purchase premium add-ons to access better customizations.
Generally, you have to pay for a theme’s license every year in order to keep getting updates and support. But you can get some themes with lifetime licenses at a higher price.
Depending on the theme you pick, you can expect to pay between $17 to $360 per year or for a lifetime license.
Additionally, you may decide to use a premium plugin or upgrade from a free version due to some restrictions. WordPress plugins have a slightly different pricing model from themes and they tend to be more expensive. You can get a plugin on a monthly or yearly subscription or even a one-time purchase. Generally, you can expect to spend between $5 to $100 yearly per site for a premium plugin. Multiple licenses cost more.
Bringing these together, the additional cost of building a WordPress site just increased by $22 to $460 per year. So, the total estimated cost comes to $81 to $5410 per year. But of course, it is not compulsory that you use a premium theme or plugin since there are many free useful ones available.
Nonetheless, getting premium security plugins to secure your WordPress website against attacks might be necessary. This is because WP sites are prone to attacks because of the numerous customizations it has. Hackers can attack your site through an unsecured server, outdated plugins or themes, etc. Securing your WP costs $0 to $200 yearly.
Few Reasons to Use WordPress to Build your Site
There are so many CMS that you can install on your website. However, WordPress is the most recommended since it is better than most competitors.
Here are some reasons to build your website with WordPress:
- You have time and technical skills (HTML, CSS, JS, and PHP)
- You want full control of your site
- Access to free directories of plugins and themes
- You can get powerful servers from web hosts to handle your big projects
- Customizations without limit
At a Glance Breakdown of Website Costs Using WordPress (CMS)
| CMS (WordPress) Cost Breakdown | Price |
|---|---|
| Hosting | from $2.49 to $400 per month |
| Software (CMS) | $0 |
| Domain Name | $0 for the first year; $11 to $150 yearly afterwards |
| Themes | $0 to $360 yearly |
| Plugins | $0 to $100+ per year |
| Security | $0 to $200 yearly |
| Professional Help (Optional) | $15 to $60+ per hour |
How Much Does a Site Cost Using a Website Builder?
Website builders are another ways to create a site for many purposes. This method can be a bit cheaper than using a content management system like WordPress. By creating your website with a builder, you can expect to spend as low as $0 per month.
Most website builders, unlike CMS, allow you to create a site at no cost. You will even get a branded subdomain to use for your website and go on with your activities. At the same time, unlike with CMS, you don’t need to worry about purchasing a theme or plugin to enable essential functionalities.
This is because site creators have most of these features in-built and they are even more powerful than some premium WordPress plugins. According to our review of Wix, we noted that it has an SEO tool that is more powerful than some SEO plugins on WordPress, especially the free versions. Moreover, its blogging tool is quite enviable.
Some other features that are completely free while using a website builder include security, multilingual site support, and hosting.
Since you can have a site for free by using builders, you may be tempted to keep it that way. Don’t be deceived. Using a free plan with a site builder limits what you can do and how far your business can thrive. Generally, there are so many restrictions that can be frustrating for your business. Some of them are:
- You won’t be able to use a custom domain name
- Annoying advertisements will display on your site
- You can’t customize some parts of your site. e.g. the footer for some tools
- Access to some features will be limited
- Limited resources (CPU, RAM, disk space, bandwidth)
- Basic or no customer support (you’re not a paying customer anyway!)
- Your site will be unpublished once your trial period ends. Although, top site creators like Wix have no time limit
- You cannot have a fully-functioning eCommerce site on a free plan
How Much Do the Best Website Builders Cost?
Like web hosts, there are also many site builders you can use for your website depending on your budget or specific needs. We have experimented with the majority of them. So, we are providing our estimates using the best choices.
The first recommendation is Wix. This website builder is great for beginners and experts. It can be used to create all sorts of sites, including but not limited to portfolios, blogs, online stores, events, restaurants, etc. It is the best multipurpose website builder out there. Building a site with Wix will cost at least $16 per month.
Hostinger Website Builder is another great tool you can use. This is a formidable builder for beginners. It will make your life a lot easier if you have zero technical skills. Hostinger Website Builder has only one plan that costs less than $3 per month. You will get an all-in-one builder with great eCommerce, SEO, etc., features. Free AI tools are included in the package as well.
Here is a link to our full tests of Hostinger Website Builder.
The next website builder we can recommend is Squarespace. This creator is neither as easy to use as the Hostinger Website Builder, nor is it as feature-rich as Wix. Nevertheless, it strikes a balance in between and can make building your site quite straightforward. Squarespace pricing starts at $16 monthly.
Here is a quick run-down of what you can expect to pay for the best website builders in 2024:
- Wix: $16 to $80 monthly, renews at $16 to $159 per month (has a free plan!)
- Hostinger Website Builder: Starts at $3 per month, renews at $7 monthly
- Squarespace: $16 to $49 per month (initial and renewal)
Hence, by combining the pricing of these website builders, we can say the estimated cost is between $3 to $159 per month. This means you can expect a running cost of $36 to $1908+ yearly for a site builder subscription only.
Few Reasons to Use a Website Builder to Create your Site
Aside from being one of the cheapest ways to create a site, website builders are the easiest tools to use. You won’t have to go through the complexities of using a web host and a CMS. Besides, designing your website yourself will be a lot easier with a builder like Wix, than with a CMS like WordPress.
Here are some reasons using a website builder is a great idea:
- It is the most affordable option
- It is a great option if you are busy
- Lets you DIY your site easier and faster than a CMS without prior experience
- You don’t need coding or web design skills
- You won’t have to worry about hosting or server management
- You probably won’t need professional help
Other Costs to Note When Using a Website Builder
Of course, there are additional expenses you should expect when using a website builder. Here are a few of them:
Domain Name Registration – $11 to $150 per year
Even though most site builders will give you branded subdomain names to use on your website, it is not professional as it doesn’t represent your brand well. Therefore, you need to register a domain name.
Domain registration typically costs between $11 to $150 per year. But you may get it for free for the first year on most site builders. Moreover, unless you have to use a particular domain extension, a .com domain name is recommended and it only costs between $14 to $20 yearly.
Themes – $0 to $500 yearly
Of course, as we said earlier, with site creators, you won’t be paying for themes or templates since they are all free. Nonetheless, some site builders do not have free themes or templates that are good enough, so you may need to purchase a third-party theme. To avoid this expense, build your site with a creator like Wix or Hostinger Website Builder.
Apps/Extensions/Plugins – $0 to $700 per month
Like content management systems, website builders use apps, extensions, and plugins to add more features to your site. This could be merely an integration with a third-party service or a proprietary app from the builder to enable existing features. Based on all the paid apps we checked, their prices range from $3 to $700 per month. But of course, there are many free apps you can use.
Hosting and Security – Free!
Hosting and security do not cost you extra when using a site builder because they are usually included in the package.
Professional Help – $0 to $5000
Well, most of the time, you won’t need professional help when using website builders because they are easy to use. Although, you have the option of using professional help to do some setup on a few website builders. The help is not free and the price varies based on your needs and the freelancer.
Note: Professional help is not really necessary when using a website builder so you can scrap it. The same goes for premium apps since most features are available in-built already. Choose an easy-to-use builder like Wix, Hostinger Website Builder, or Squarespace to avoid the need.
At a Glance Breakdown of Website Builder Costs
| Cost Breakdown for Site Builder | Price |
|---|---|
| Builder Software (CMS) | $3 to $159 per month |
| Hosting and Security | Included in the package |
| Domain Name | $0 for the first year; $11 to $150 for subsequent years |
| Theme | $0 to $500 yearly |
| Plugins | $0 to $700 per month |
| Professional Help (optional) | $50 to $5000 |
How Much Does a Website Cost Using A Professional Web Designer?
Building a website for a big project sometimes demand that a professional is used in order to get the features you need and actually make it work. For this, you can either hire a freelancer or an agency. Depending on the path you choose, the cost of building your website varies.
The difference is that an agency may put many freelancers on your website while a freelancer is only an entity. Thus, it may sometimes work around the clock through shifts to ensure that your site is up and running fast. Of course, an agency may be more expensive too. Additionally, it may provide services like branding, SEO, etc., as part of the package.
Aside from the fact that this method is more expensive than using a website builder or CMS, web designers may prolong the development or design of your site.
Generally, using a web designer or agency can cost you between $500 to $10,000+ as a one-time fee. Professional website maintenance will cost you an additional $500 to $1000 yearly, depending on the size and the maintenance package.
What Determines the Cost of Hiring a Web Designer?
There is no definitive scale to measure how much a web designer will charge you. However, we can estimate the range based on many factors.
Hosting, Domain Name, Plugins, and Themes
Hosting and domain name registration are compulsory when building a site. If you do not want to create the hosting account or register your domain name yourself, you will have to pay the designer the costs separately. The same goes for the themes and plugins.
However, for easier, better, and more cost-effective management, we advise that you purchase the hosting account, plugins, themes, and domain name yourself.
Features
The cost of building a site is greatly affected by the features you want. A simple blog with only a bunch of text and images will cost less than an eCommerce site with probably a streaming capability in-built.
Designer’s Experience
The years of experience and track record of the web designer or agency play vital roles in determining how much they will charge you. Typically, you can expect to pay a web designer between $15 to $60+ per hour. So the amount you will be charged is determined by the amount of time they spend on your work. However, sometimes, it is a fixed price.
Theme Customization
Most websites are built using pre-made themes. However, in some cases, if the premium themes available do not have the features you need, your web designer can create a custom one for you. Considering the amount of time and skills the web designer will engage in building a custom theme specifically for you, you will be charged more.
Site Maintenance
Website maintenance spans so many aspects such as plugin and theme updates, bug reports, SEO audits, accessibility, security, backup and data recovery, etc. Web designers can charge you monthly or yearly. It could even be a one-time payment for a specified amount of time.
Size of the Website
The size of your website plays an important role in pinpointing how much a web designer will charge you. By size, I mean the number of pages. A one-page website will cost less than a 10-page site.
How Much a Website Costs Based on Type
Another factor that determines the cost of a site is the purpose you are creating it for. Sites generally have features that distinguish them from others. For instance, building a blog won’t cost the same as designing an eCommerce site. The latter will surely cost more.
The influence of the type of site you are creating, on the cost, depends on the method you are using too. Usually, an eCommerce website will be more expensive to build than a blog, and using a website builder like Wix or Hostinger costs the lowest. In contrast, you can expect to spend thousands of dollars if you hire a web designer.
Here are some website types and the estimated costs of building them:
- Personal/portfolio site: $60 per year
- Blog: $60 to $300 per year
- Online store or eCommerce website: $150 to $2000 yearly
- Company or corporate site: $600 to $10000+
How to Avoid Paying Too Much for A Site
Regardless of the method you are using to build your website, sometimes, you may end up spending more than necessary if care isn’t taken.
Here are a few ways to prevent that while ensuring that you still have a great site:
- Don’t exceed your budget: Of course, we know you want the best website and high-quality work done. But that shouldn’t push you to hire a web designer that’s way above your budget. Don’t overpay! A $ 20-per-hour designer can give you the same results that a $60+ hourly designer will give provided it’s not too complex.
- Use a website builder: If you just want to create a simple site, you don’t need a CMS or a designer. Since the website builder method is the most affordable, it will save you so much money.
- Stay focused: No matter how robust your budget is, don’t add more features than you actually need to your site. Focus on all the features that actually play vital roles in the success of your business or site.
- Don’t jump the gun: Well, sometimes some features are just too good to let go of, especially when the competition has them. In this case, you can make plans to include them in the future when your business grows or become more profitable. Don’t purchase a site builder plan or a hosting account that is expensive and overkill for your project either.
Summary of Site Building Costs
There are so many ways to build a website and this makes the cost of getting one up and running unpredictable. However, the main advice or goal is to make sure that we keep the cost as low as necessary.
Some factors that influence which method to use to build your site are time, skills, willingness to get your hands dirty, and budget. If you have the first three, your site building cost will decrease or be kept at a minimum. Otherwise, you may need a professional’s help and this bloats up your expenses.
Here is a quick summary of the cost of a site:
- Any CMS (WordPress) + Web Host: $2 to $400+ per month; moderate budget option for those with technical skills
- Website builder: $0 to $159 per month; the cheapest option and best for beginners or low-budget businesses
- Web designer: $500 to $10000+; most expensive and ideal with a large budget
- Maintenance: $500 to $1000+ yearly
Here are some determinants of the right site building method to use:
| Determining Factors | CMS (WordPress) | Website Builder | Web Designer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Time Requirements | Plenty | Little | None |
| Technical Skills | Required | Not Required | Not Needed |
| Budget Requirements | Moderate | Moderate | High |
| Customizations and Site Complexity | Medium to High | Basic to Moderate | High |
FAQs on Website Costs
How Much Does a Website Cost for a Small Business?
The site cost for a small business depends on how ‘small’ it is, the method used to build it, and the features included. But generally, your budget should be around $50 to $150 yearly for hosting and domain name. If you’re hiring a web designer, you may need up to $6000+.
How Much Does it Cost to Create a Single Page Website?
You can expect to spend between $2 to $16 per month on hosting for a one-page site. Domain name registration costs between $13 to $20 yearly. This estimate is only valid when using content management systems like WordPress or site builders such as Wix, Hostinger Website Builder, and Squarespace. If you hire a web designer, you can expect to spend up to $2000 depending on the complexity of the page.
What are the Factors that Influence the Cost of a Site?
The method used in building your site, the type of site, the features included (its complexity), and the size (number of pages) are the main determinants of the cost of a site.
How Much Does it Cost to Maintain a Website?
The cost of website maintenance depends on several components such as the size of the site and the aspects to be maintained. Some of these aspects include SEO, security, content management, etc.
Generally, you may spend between $500 to $1000 yearly. There’s a possibility of exceeding this estimate and spending thousands of dollars too. Alternatively, you can do it yourself, and spend $0 if you have the skills.
