Website costs depend on whether you build it yourself or hire someone, and what features you need

A website can cost anywhere from nothing to tens of thousands of dollars. The difference comes down to three things: whether you do the work yourself or pay someone else to do it, which platform you use, and what your site needs to do. A straightforward blog on a free platform costs zero dollars upfront. A custom-built e-commerce site with a designer, developer, and ongoing maintenance can run $5,000 to $50,000 or more. Most small business websites fall somewhere in the middle — $500 to $5,000 to get your free guide, then $50 to $300 per month to keep running.

The real cost question is not "how much does a website cost" but "what am I trying to do, and who should build it." A freelancer charging $50 per hour will cost you differently than an agency charging $150 per hour. A platform like Wix or Squarespace includes hosting and design templates in one monthly fee. A self-hosted WordPress site splits those costs across separate services. Understanding what you are paying for — and why — matters more than the total number.

Key Takeaways

  • DIY website builders like Wix, Squarespace, or WordPress.com cost $10 to $40 per month and require no coding knowledge.
  • Hiring a freelancer to build a custom site typically costs $1,000 to $10,000 depending on complexity and the freelancer's location and experience.
  • Web design agencies charge $5,000 to $50,000 or more for a complete site, and are best for businesses that need ongoing support.
  • Hosting, domain names, and SSL certificates add $50 to $300 per year if you self-host, but are included in most all-in-one platforms.
  • The cheapest option is not always the best — a $200 site that does not convert visitors costs more in lost business than a $2,000 site that works.

DIY platforms: the lowest upfront cost

Website builders like Wix, Squarespace, Shopify, and WordPress.com let you build a site yourself without writing code. You pick a template, add your content, and publish. These platforms charge a monthly subscription — typically $10 to $40 for a basic site, $20 to $100 if you want e-commerce features or more storage. Some offer free plans with limited features and a subdomain (like yourname.wixsite.com instead of yourname.com).

The advantage is simplicity and predictability. You know the cost upfront, hosting is included, and you can start today. The disadvantage is flexibility — you are locked into the platform's design system and cannot easily move your site to a different host later. If you outgrow the platform, migrating to a custom site means rebuilding from scratch.

Domain names cost $10 to $15 per year on most platforms, though some include the first year free. If you want to remove the builder's branding or use advanced features, you will pay more — Wix's higher tiers run $25 to $50 per month, and Shopify starts at $29 per month for online stores.

Self-hosted WordPress and custom platforms

WordPress.org (different from WordPress.com) is free software you install on your own hosting. You pay separately for hosting ($5 to $50 per month depending on traffic and features), a domain name ($10 to $15 per year), and an SSL certificate ($0 to $100 per year, though most hosts include it free). You can also buy themes ($0 to $100 one-time) and plugins ($0 to $500+ per year depending on what you need).

The total for a basic self-hosted WordPress site is roughly $100 to $200 per year, plus your time to set it up and maintain it. The advantage is control — you own your site and can move it anywhere. The disadvantage is that you are responsible for updates, backups, and security. If something breaks, you fix it or pay someone to fix it.

Other platforms like Statamic, Craft, or Ghost work similarly — free software, separate hosting, separate domain. These are more common for developers building sites for clients than for business owners building their own.

Hiring a freelancer or agency

If you do not want to build the site yourself, you hire someone. Freelancers typically charge $50 to $150 per hour, or a flat fee for the whole project. A straightforward five-page business website might take 20 to 40 hours, putting the cost at $1,000 to $6,000. A more complex site with custom features, a database, or e-commerce functionality can take 100+ hours and cost $5,000 to $20,000.

Web design agencies charge higher rates — $100 to $300+ per hour, or $5,000 to $50,000+ for a complete project. They typically include strategy, design, development, and testing. They also often provide ongoing support and maintenance for an additional monthly fee ($200 to $1,000 per month). Agencies are best if you need a polished, professional result and do not have the time or skill to oversee a freelancer.

When hiring, ask whether the price includes hosting, domain registration, and ongoing maintenance. Some freelancers quote only the build and leave you to handle hosting yourself. Others include everything. The difference affects your total cost significantly.

Hosting, domains, and ongoing costs

Once your site is live, you have recurring costs. Hosting ranges from $5 per month for shared hosting (your site shares a server with hundreds of others) to $50+ per month for dedicated or managed hosting (your site has its own resources). Domain names are $10 to $15 per year. Email hosting, if you want a custom email address like you@yoursite.com, adds $5 to $10 per month.

If you use a DIY platform like Wix or Squarespace, these costs are bundled into your monthly subscription. If you self-host, you pay them separately. Some platforms charge extra for SSL certificates (which encrypt your site and show the padlock in browsers), though most include them free now.

Beyond the basics, you might pay for plugins, themes, or tools. A backup plugin ($0 to $100 per year), a security plugin ($0 to $300 per year), or a form builder ($0 to $50 per month) add up. For e-commerce sites, payment processing fees (Stripe, PayPal) take 2.2% to 3% of each transaction, plus $0.30 per transaction.

E-commerce sites cost more

If your site sells products, expect higher costs. Shopify, the most common e-commerce platform, starts at $29 per month for basic plans and goes up to $299+ per month for larger stores. You also pay transaction fees (0.5% to 2% depending on your plan) and payment processing fees (2.2% to 2.9% plus $0.30 per transaction).

A custom-built e-commerce site with a developer costs $5,000 to $30,000+ depending on features. Do you need inventory management? Customer accounts? Shipping integrations? Abandoned cart recovery? Each feature adds time and cost. A straightforward product catalog with a shopping cart is cheaper than a full marketplace with multiple vendors.

Payment processing is a separate cost. Stripe, Square, and PayPal all charge per transaction. On a $100 sale, you pay roughly $2.30 to $3.20 in fees. That is not optional — it is the cost of accepting payments online.

Hidden costs and what usually goes wrong

People often underestimate the cost of content. Building the site is one thing; writing copy, taking photos, and organizing information takes time. If you hire someone to do this, budget $500 to $2,000 for initial content creation. If you do it yourself, budget 20 to 40 hours.

Maintenance is another hidden cost. Sites need updates — WordPress plugins update monthly, hosting software updates regularly, and security patches come out constantly. If you do not update, your site becomes vulnerable. If you do not have the skill or time, you pay someone else to do it. Maintenance contracts typically run $50 to $300 per month.

Some sites need features that are not obvious upfront. A contact form seems straightforward but might need spam filtering ($10 to $50 per month). A blog needs SEO optimization ($0 to $100 per month for tools). A membership site needs user management software ($20 to $100 per month). These add up quickly.

Comparing total cost of ownership

The cheapest option upfront is not always the cheapest over time. A $10-per-month Wix site costs $120 per year. A $2,000 custom site with $100-per-month hosting and maintenance costs $3,200 the first year, then $1,200 per year after. Over five years, the Wix site costs $600. The custom site costs $6,200. But if the custom site generates $10,000 in business and the Wix site generates $0, the custom site is the better investment.

Consider what your site needs to do. A portfolio or blog does not need much — a DIY platform works fine. A business site that needs to convert visitors into customers benefits from professional design and development. An e-commerce site needs reliability, security, and good user experience — cutting corners here costs you sales.

The real question is not "what is the cheapest website" but "what is the cheapest website that will do what I need." A $200 site that looks unprofessional or does not work on mobile phones costs you customers. A $5,000 site that converts 5% of visitors into customers pays for itself in a month or two.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I build a website for free?

Yes. Wix, Weebly, and WordPress.com offer free plans with limited features and a subdomain. You can also use free WordPress.org hosting from some providers, though quality varies. The trade-off is that free plans usually include ads, limit storage, and restrict customization. For a hobby or personal project, free works. For a business, a paid plan is worth the cost.

How long does it take to build a website?

A DIY site on Wix or Squarespace takes a few hours to a few days depending on how much content you have. A freelancer typically needs two to eight weeks depending on complexity and how quickly you provide feedback. An agency might take four to twelve weeks including strategy and revisions. Rush jobs cost more.

What is the difference between WordPress.com and WordPress.org?

WordPress.com is a hosted platform where you pay a monthly fee and do not manage hosting. WordPress.org is free software you install on your own hosting. WordPress.com is simpler but less flexible. WordPress.org gives you more control but requires you to manage hosting and updates yourself.

Do I need to pay for SSL certificates?

Most hosting providers and all major platforms include SSL certificates free now. An SSL certificate encrypts data between your visitor's browser and your server, and shows the padlock icon in the address bar. It is important for security and trust, but you should not have to pay extra for it.

What should I budget if I am starting a small business website?

A realistic budget is $500 to $2,000 to build the site, then $50 to $200 per month to keep it running. This covers a professional design, basic e-commerce if needed, hosting, domain, and maintenance. If you build it yourself on a platform like Wix, you can do it for $20 to $50 per month with no upfront cost. If you hire an agency, budget $5,000 to $15,000 upfront plus $200 to $500 per month for support.