Website costs range from nothing to thousands a month, depending on whether you build it yourself or hire someone, and what features you need
A basic website you build yourself costs $50 to $200 a year for a domain name and hosting. A professionally designed site from an agency runs $5,000 to $50,000 or more upfront, plus ongoing maintenance. Between those extremes sit website builders like Wix and Squarespace ($12 to $40 monthly), freelance designers ($500 to $5,000), and WordPress setups ($100 to $500 yearly if you manage it yourself).
The real cost depends on three things: whether you do the work or pay someone else, what your site needs to do, and whether you want custom design or a template. A blog or portfolio needs far less than an online store or a site that processes payments.
Key Takeaways
- Website builders like Wix and Squarespace cost $12 to $40 per month and include hosting, so you pay nothing upfront.
- Hiring a freelancer or small agency typically costs $500 to $5,000 for a basic site, with ongoing hosting and maintenance separate.
- A custom-built site from a larger agency starts at $5,000 and often reaches $15,000 to $50,000 depending on complexity and features.
- Domain names cost $10 to $15 yearly; hosting alone runs $5 to $30 monthly if you use WordPress or another platform you manage yourself.
- E-commerce sites and sites that handle payments cost significantly more because they need security features and payment processing setup.
Website builders: lowest upfront cost, limited customization
Website builders like Wix, Squarespace, Weebly, and GoDaddy Website Builder let you create a site without writing code. You pick a template, add your content, and publish. Monthly costs range from $12 to $40 depending on the platform and plan level. Most include hosting, a free domain for the first year, and basic features like contact forms and image galleries.
The trade-off is flexibility. You are locked into the platform's design system and cannot easily move your site elsewhere later. If you outgrow the builder's capabilities, migrating to a custom site means rebuilding from scratch. These platforms work well for small businesses, portfolios, and blogs where you do not need custom functionality.
Wix and Squarespace are the most popular. Wix plans start at $14 monthly for a basic site and go up to $39 monthly for e-commerce. Squarespace starts at $12 monthly and tops out at $33 monthly. Both offer free trials so you can test before paying.
Freelance designers: moderate cost with more control
Hiring a freelancer on platforms like Upwork, Fiverr, or through local referrals typically costs $500 to $5,000 for a complete website. The price depends on the freelancer's experience, your location, and what the site needs to do. A simple five-page brochure site might cost $500 to $1,500. A site with custom features, integrations, or e-commerce functionality runs $2,000 to $5,000.
When you hire a freelancer, you own the code and can move your site to a different host later. You also get a site built specifically for your needs rather than forced into a template. The downside is that you need to find someone reliable, manage the project yourself, and handle hosting and domain registration separately (adding $100 to $300 yearly).
Freelancers typically use WordPress, which is free software that runs about 40% of all websites. WordPress itself costs nothing, but you pay for hosting ($5 to $30 monthly), a domain name ($10 to $15 yearly), and any premium plugins or themes your freelancer recommends ($0 to $500 depending on what you need).
Small agencies: higher cost, more support
A small web design agency charges $2,000 to $15,000 for a website project, depending on size and complexity. This is more than a freelancer but less than a large agency. You get a team rather than one person, which means faster turnaround and someone to call if something breaks.
Small agencies often include a discovery phase where they learn about your business, a design phase where they show you mockups, and a development phase where they build the actual site. They typically provide a few rounds of revisions and training on how to update the site yourself after launch.
Many small agencies also offer ongoing maintenance plans for $100 to $500 monthly, which covers updates, backups, security monitoring, and technical support. This is optional but useful if you do not want to manage the site yourself.
Large agencies: premium cost for complex projects
Enterprise agencies and larger firms charge $15,000 to $100,000 or more for website projects. These firms handle complex requirements like custom integrations, high-traffic sites, or sites that need to connect to existing business systems. They also provide strategy consulting, extensive user testing, and ongoing support.
If you need a site that processes thousands of transactions daily, integrates with your accounting software, or requires custom security features, a large agency is the right choice. For a small business or startup, this level of investment is rarely necessary.
Large agencies typically charge either a fixed project fee or hourly rates ($75 to $200 per hour). They also often require retainer agreements for ongoing work, which can run $2,000 to $10,000 monthly.
E-commerce sites: expect higher costs
An online store costs more than a brochure site because it needs payment processing, inventory management, and security features. A basic e-commerce site built with Shopify (a dedicated e-commerce platform) costs $29 to $299 monthly plus transaction fees. Shopify handles hosting, security, and payment processing, so there are no additional hosting costs.
If you use WordPress with an e-commerce plugin like WooCommerce, costs are lower upfront ($100 to $300 yearly for hosting and domain) but you manage security and updates yourself. Many people hire a freelancer to set this up, adding $1,000 to $3,000 to the total.
Payment processing fees are separate from hosting and design. Shopify charges 2.9% plus 30 cents per transaction on the basic plan. Stripe and Square charge similar rates. These fees are ongoing and scale with your sales.
Hidden costs and ongoing expenses
Beyond the initial build, websites have recurring costs. Domain registration renews yearly for $10 to $15. Hosting costs $5 to $30 monthly if you manage it yourself, or $0 if you use a website builder or Shopify (the cost is built into the monthly fee). SSL certificates (which secure your site and show the padlock in browsers) are free with most hosts and builders.
Email hosting is separate from website hosting. If you want an email address like you@yoursite.com, that costs $5 to $10 monthly through services like Google Workspace or your hosting provider. Some website builders include basic email.
Maintenance and updates add up over time. If you use WordPress, you need to update the software and plugins regularly to stay secure. You can do this yourself for free or pay someone $50 to $200 monthly to handle it. Website builders handle updates automatically, so there is no extra cost.
If you want professional photography, copywriting, or logo design, those are separate expenses that can range from $500 to $5,000 depending on quality and scope.
Comparing costs by scenario
| Scenario | Best Option | Upfront Cost | Monthly Cost | Total First Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Personal blog or portfolio | Website builder (Wix, Squarespace) | $0 | $12–$20 | $144–$240 |
| Small business site | Freelancer + WordPress | $800–$2,000 | $15–$30 | $980–$2,360 |
| Small business site | Small agency | $3,000–$8,000 | $100–$300 | $4,200–$11,600 |
| Online store (low volume) | Shopify | $0 | $29–$99 | $348–$1,188 |
| Online store (custom) | Freelancer + WooCommerce | $1,500–$3,500 | $30–$50 | $1,860–$3,950 |
| Complex business site | Small to large agency | $5,000–$50,000 | $200–$1,000 | $7,400–$62,000 |
How to reduce costs
Start with a website builder if you want to launch quickly and do not need custom features. You can always upgrade to a custom site later. If you choose WordPress or a custom build, use a freelancer instead of an agency to save 50% to 70% on upfront costs.
Write your own content instead of hiring a copywriter. Take your own photos or use free stock photo sites like Unsplash and Pexels. Use free plugins and themes for WordPress instead of premium ones. These choices reduce cost without sacrificing quality for a small business.
If you hire someone, get a detailed proposal in writing that lists exactly what is included, how many revisions you get, and what happens after launch. This prevents scope creep, which is the main reason website projects go over budget.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I build a website completely free?
Yes, but with limitations. Free website builders like Wix's free plan and WordPress.com's free tier let you create a site at no cost, but they include ads, limited customization, and a subdomain (like yourname.wordpress.com instead of yourname.com). You can also host WordPress yourself on free hosting, though free hosts are slow and unreliable. For most people, paying $12 to $20 monthly for a website builder is worth the speed and reliability.
What is the cheapest way to get a custom domain name?
Domain registrars like Namecheap, GoDaddy, and Google Domains charge $10 to $15 yearly for a .com domain. Prices vary slightly by registrar and by domain extension (.net, .org, .co cost more or less depending on demand). Some website builders include a free domain for the first year, then charge the standard rate to renew.
Do I need to pay for hosting if I use a website builder?
No. Website builders like Wix, Squarespace, and Shopify include hosting in their monthly fee. You do not pay separately for hosting. If you use WordPress, you need to pay a hosting provider separately, typically $5 to $30 monthly.
Can I move my site to a different platform later?
It depends on the platform. Sites built with website builders are difficult to move because the code is proprietary. WordPress sites are easier to move because you own the code and can export your content. If you think you might outgrow your platform, start with WordPress or hire a freelancer who uses WordPress instead of a website builder.
What costs the most: design, development, or hosting?
For a custom site, design and development cost far more than hosting. Hosting is typically $5 to $30 monthly, while a freelancer charges $500 to $5,000 for the entire project. For a website builder, there is no separate design or development cost — you pay one monthly fee that covers everything.