Website costs break into three separate bills: building it, hosting it, and keeping it running

The total cost of a website depends almost entirely on what you choose to build it with and how much work you do yourself. A website built with a free platform like WordPress.com or Wix's free tier costs nothing upfront. A custom site built by a developer can run $5,000 to $50,000 or more. Most small business owners fall somewhere in the middle — between $500 and $3,000 in the first year, then $100 to $500 annually after that.

The three costs you need to track separately are the builder or platform itself, the domain name (your web address), and hosting (the server that keeps your site online). Some platforms bundle these together; others charge them separately. Understanding which cost is which helps you compare options honestly and spot hidden fees.

Key Takeaways

  • Website builders like Wix, Squarespace, and Shopify charge monthly or annual fees ranging from free to $300 per month depending on features you need.
  • Domain names cost $10 to $15 per year, and many builders include the first year free or bundled into their plan.
  • Hosting is included in most website builder plans but costs $5 to $30 per month if you use WordPress.org and buy hosting separately.
  • First-year costs are usually higher because of setup and domain registration, but ongoing annual costs drop significantly once the site is live.
  • Additional costs like SSL certificates, email accounts, and premium themes or plugins can add $50 to $200 per year depending on what you need.

Website builder plans and what they actually include

Most website builders charge a monthly subscription that covers both the builder itself and hosting. Wix, Squarespace, and Shopify all work this way. Free tiers exist on Wix and Weebly but come with their branding on your site and limited features — you cannot use a custom domain name without upgrading. Paid plans start around $10 to $15 per month for basic sites and climb to $40 to $300 per month if you need e-commerce, advanced analytics, or priority support.

The plan you choose depends on what your site needs to do. A straightforward portfolio or informational site for a small business runs fine on a $15 to $25 monthly plan. An online store needs more — Shopify's basic plan is $39 per month, and most store owners upgrade to $299 per month for better tools. WordPress.com's plans range from free (with limitations) to $25 per month for a business site.

Read what each plan includes before comparing prices. A $15 plan on one builder might include email accounts and SSL security, while another charges extra for those. The cheapest option is rarely the best value if you have to pay separately for features you need.

Domain names and how they fit into the total cost

A domain name — the web address like yourname.com — costs $10 to $15 per year from any registrar. Most website builders include a free domain for the first year when you sign up for a paid plan, then charge the standard rate after that. Some builders let you use a free subdomain (like yourname.wixsite.com) if you do not want to pay for a custom domain at all.

The domain is separate from the builder, even though many builders sell them to you. You can register a domain with GoDaddy or Namecheap and point it to a site built on Wix or Squarespace — they work together. This matters if you ever want to switch builders later; you keep the domain and just point it somewhere else.

Some builders bundle the domain into their plan price, making it hard to see what you are actually paying for the builder versus the domain. When comparing plans, ask whether the domain is included or if it is an add-on after the first year.

Hosting costs if you build with WordPress.org

WordPress.org (the self-hosted version, different from WordPress.com) does not include hosting — you buy it separately from a hosting company. This path is cheaper if you are comfortable managing your own site, but it requires you to handle updates and security yourself. Hosting for a WordPress site runs $5 to $30 per month depending on traffic and the host you choose.

Bluehost, SiteGround, and Kinsta are common choices. Budget hosting at $5 to $10 per month works for small sites with light traffic. If your site gets thousands of visitors monthly or you run an online store, you may need $15 to $30 per month for better performance. Some hosts charge more during renewal than the first year, so check the renewal price before signing up.

With WordPress.org, you also buy your domain separately ($10 to $15 per year) and may want an SSL certificate for security — though most hosts include this now. You are paying three separate bills instead of one bundled plan, which gives you more control but requires more management on your part.

Additional costs that catch people off guard

Beyond the builder and domain, several smaller costs add up. Premium themes or templates cost $20 to $100 one-time or per year. Plugins that add features to WordPress sites range from free to $200 per year. Email accounts through your domain (like hello@yourname.com) cost $5 to $10 per month if your builder does not include them. SSL certificates for security are usually free now but cost $50 to $200 per year on older hosting plans.

If you hire someone to help set up your site or customize it, that is a separate cost entirely — anywhere from $500 for basic setup to $5,000 or more for custom design work. Many small business owners pay a designer or developer for the initial build, then manage updates themselves afterward.

Stock photos, if you do not use free options like Unsplash or Pexels, run $10 to $30 per month for a subscription service. Professional email marketing tools like Mailchimp or ConvertKit cost $20 to $300 per month depending on how many contacts you have. These are not website costs exactly, but they are costs you will encounter once your site is live.

First-year costs versus ongoing annual costs

Your first year is almost always more expensive than years after because you are setting everything up. A typical first-year budget for a small business site looks like this: $180 to $300 for a website builder annual plan, $10 to $15 for a domain (often free the first year), and $50 to $200 for extras like email or premium features. That puts you at $240 to $515 for year one.

Year two drops because you do not repeat the setup costs. You pay the builder renewal ($180 to $300), the domain renewal ($10 to $15), and any extras you kept ($50 to $200). That is $240 to $515 again — but you are not paying for initial design work, setup fees, or one-time purchases. If you hired a designer in year one, that cost does not repeat.

If you built with WordPress.org, your first year might be $300 to $500 (hosting, domain, theme, setup help). Year two is $120 to $360 (hosting and domain only, assuming you keep the same theme). The self-hosted route has lower ongoing costs but higher upfront costs if you need help setting it up.

How to estimate your own website cost

Start by listing what your site needs to do. Is it informational only, or do you sell products? Do you need a contact form, a blog, or a photo gallery? Do you want a custom domain name or is a free subdomain acceptable? Will you manage it yourself or hire help?

Next, pick a builder that matches those needs. If you are selling products, Shopify or WooCommerce (WordPress with an e-commerce plugin) are standard. If you are building a portfolio or small business site, Wix, Squarespace, or WordPress.com work well. Visit each builder's pricing page and add up the costs: the plan itself, the domain (if not included), and any features you need that cost extra.

Then add one-time costs: design help, custom theme, or setup information if you need it. That total is your first-year cost. For year two and beyond, subtract the one-time costs and any first-year discounts. That gives you the true ongoing cost.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I build a website for free?

Yes, using free tiers on Wix, Weebly, or WordPress.com. The trade-off is that your site will have the builder's branding on it, you cannot use a custom domain name, and features are limited. Free sites work for personal projects or testing an idea, but most small businesses upgrade to a paid plan within a few months.

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

WordPress.com is a hosted builder — you pay them monthly and they handle hosting and updates. WordPress.org is software you install on hosting you buy separately. WordPress.com is simpler but more expensive long-term. WordPress.org is cheaper ongoing but requires more technical knowledge.

Do I have to pay for a domain name?

No, you can use a free subdomain like yourname.wixsite.com. A custom domain (yourname.com) costs $10 to $15 per year and looks more professional. Most builders include the first year free when you sign up for a paid plan.

What costs the most — the builder, hosting, or the domain?

The builder or hosting is almost always the largest cost, running $10 to $300 per month depending on what you choose. The domain is the smallest regular cost at $10 to $15 per year. One-time costs like hiring a designer can exceed all of these, but they do not repeat.

Can I switch builders later without losing my site?

If you own your domain name, you can point it to a new builder. Your old site disappears and the new one takes its place. Migrating content between builders is possible but tedious — you may lose some formatting or have to rebuild pages. It is easier to choose the right builder from the start, but switching is not impossible.