How Much Does It Cost to Build a Website?

One of the first questions people ask when planning a new website is simple:

How much will it cost?

The answer depends on how you build the website, what features you need, and whether you create it yourself or hire someone to do the work.

A simple website created with a website builder can cost relatively little, while a large custom website can cost thousands of dollars or considerably more.

The good news is that you don't necessarily need a large budget to create a professional website.

In this guide, we'll look at the main costs involved in building and running a website and explain what you can realistically expect to pay.

How Much Does a Website Cost?

There isn't one standard price for a website.

A simple website created with a website builder may cost only a few dollars per month, while a professionally designed custom website can cost thousands of dollars.

As a general guide, you can think about website costs in three broad categories:

Free or Very Low-Cost Website

You can create a basic website using a free website builder or other free tools.

The main limitations may include a platform subdomain, branding, limited storage, or fewer features.

Website Builder

A paid website builder subscription can typically cost anywhere from a few dollars to several dozen dollars per month, depending on the platform and plan.

This approach usually includes hosting and website management tools in one package.

Custom Website

Hiring a professional designer or development agency can cost significantly more.

The price depends on the number of pages, design requirements, functionality, integrations, and amount of custom development involved.

For many individuals and small businesses, a website builder offers a practical middle ground between cost and convenience.

What Does It Cost to Build a Website Yourself?

Creating a website yourself is usually the most affordable option.

With a website builder, you can create and maintain a website without hiring a designer or developer.

Your main expenses may include:

• Website builder subscription
• Domain name
• Ecommerce features, if needed
• Premium tools or integrations
• Optional professional services

Many website builders combine hosting, security, templates, and the visual editor into one subscription.

This makes it easier to understand your ongoing costs because you don't necessarily have to purchase hosting separately.

If you're considering this approach, our guide to the Best Website Builders 2026 can help you compare your options.

Can You Create a Website for Free?

Yes.

Several website builders offer free plans that allow you to create a functioning website without paying a monthly subscription.

However, free plans often come with limitations.

You may have to use:

• A platform subdomain
• Platform branding
• Limited storage
• Limited features
• Restricted ecommerce functionality

For example, Webnode currently allows users to create and use a basic website for free. Its free version uses a Webnode subdomain, while features such as a custom domain and additional functionality are available with paid plans.

A free website can be perfectly suitable for experimentation, personal projects, or situations where a custom domain isn't important.

For a professional business website, however, a paid plan with your own domain may be worth the additional cost.

You can compare free options in our guide to the Best Free Website Builders 2026.

How Much Does a Domain Name Cost?

A domain name is the web address visitors use to find your website.

For example:

yourbusiness.com

Domain prices vary considerably depending on the extension and registrar.

A common .com domain may cost around $10–$30 per year, although promotional prices, renewals, and newer domain extensions can be considerably different.

Some website builders include a domain for free for the first year when you purchase certain paid plans.

For example, Webnode currently includes a domain for one year with several of its premium website plans. (Webnode)

After the initial period, you'll generally need to pay the renewal fee.

When comparing website costs, don't look only at the first-year price. Check the renewal price as well.

You can learn more in How to Choose a Domain Name.

Do You Need to Pay for Web Hosting?

It depends on how you build your website.

With many website builders, hosting is included in the subscription.

This is one of the advantages of an all-in-one platform: you don't necessarily have to purchase hosting separately or configure a web server yourself.

With WordPress or a website built from scratch, hosting is usually a separate expense.

Hosting prices vary depending on the provider, performance, storage, traffic limits, and other features.

When comparing different approaches, remember to consider the total cost, rather than just the advertised website price.

How Much Does a Website Builder Cost?

Website builder prices vary from free plans to more advanced subscriptions costing several dozen dollars per month.

The exact price depends on:

• Storage
• Bandwidth
• Domain options
• Ecommerce features
• Number of users
• Email accounts
• SEO tools
• Analytics
• Customer support
• Other premium features

For example, Webnode's current website plans range from a low-cost plan for connecting a custom domain to more advanced plans aimed at personal and business websites. Some plans also include a domain for the first year. 

Rather than choosing the cheapest plan automatically, think about which features you actually need.

How Much Does an Online Store Cost?

An online store usually costs more than a simple informational website.

That's because ecommerce websites need additional functionality such as:

• Product pages
• Shopping carts
• Online payments
• Order management
• Shipping options
• Inventory management
• Customer accounts
• Product variants

There may also be transaction or payment processing fees.

Website builders often offer separate ecommerce plans. For example, Webnode currently offers dedicated ecommerce packages with features such as product management, payment functionality, product variants, and sales statistics.

If you're planning to sell products online, see Best Website Builders for Online Stores.

How Much Does a Business Website Cost?

A small business website doesn't necessarily need to be expensive.

A typical business website may contain:

• Home
• About
• Services
• Contact
• Testimonials or portfolio

If you create it yourself using a website builder, your main cost may simply be the website subscription and domain.

A larger business website can cost considerably more if you need:

• Custom design
• Professional photography
• Copywriting
• Booking systems
• Ecommerce
• Advanced integrations
• Multilingual functionality
• Custom development

For many small businesses, a website builder can provide a professional online presence without the cost of commissioning a fully custom website.

How Much Does a Website Cost If You Hire a Professional?

Hiring a professional designer or developer can range from a relatively modest project to a major investment.

The price depends on:

• Number of pages
• Design complexity
• Custom functionality
• Ecommerce
• Integrations
• Content creation
• SEO
• Photography
• Ongoing maintenance

A freelancer may charge considerably less than a large agency, while a highly customized website can require a substantial budget.

The advantage is that you can get professional expertise without having to build everything yourself.

The disadvantage is the higher initial cost and the possibility of additional charges for future changes and maintenance.

Website Builder vs. Custom Website Cost

One of the biggest differences is who does the work.

With a website builder:

You create the website → the platform provides the infrastructure.

With a custom website:

You hire someone → they design and build the website for you.

A website builder therefore reduces the cost of professional development, but you have to invest your own time.

A custom website costs more because you're paying for someone else's time and expertise.

Neither approach is automatically better.

If you need a straightforward website and are comfortable creating it yourself, a website builder can be excellent value.

If you need a highly specialized website or don't want to spend time building it, professional development may make more sense.

What Other Costs Should You Consider?

The website builder or developer isn't necessarily your only expense.

Depending on the project, you may also need to budget for:

Domain

Your website needs an address.

Hosting

Usually included with website builders, but often separate with other approaches.

Professional Photography

High-quality original images can make a major difference to a business website.

Copywriting

You may decide to hire a professional to write your website content.

Logo and Branding

A new business may need a logo, color scheme, typography, and other branding elements.

SEO

Basic SEO can often be handled yourself, but professional SEO services can add a significant cost.

Ecommerce Fees

Online stores may incur payment processing and other transaction-related fees.

Plugins and Integrations

Some platforms charge extra for advanced functionality or third-party services.

Maintenance

Custom websites may require ongoing technical maintenance.

It's therefore worth considering the total cost of ownership, not just the initial price.

How Much Does It Cost to Maintain a Website?

Building the website is only part of the cost.

Most websites have ongoing expenses.

These can include:

• Domain renewal
• Website builder subscription
• Hosting
• Ecommerce fees
• Email services
• Premium software
• Professional maintenance

One advantage of an all-in-one website builder is that many technical responsibilities are handled by the platform.

For example, website builders can combine hosting, security, software updates, and the website editor into one service.

This can make ongoing maintenance simpler, particularly for beginners and small businesses.

How Can You Reduce the Cost of a Website?

There are several ways to keep your website affordable.

Build It Yourself

Using a website builder instead of hiring a developer can significantly reduce the initial cost.

Start Small

You don't need 30 pages on your first day.

Start with the pages visitors actually need and expand the website later.

Use a Template

A template can save considerable design time.

Use Your Own Content

If you can write your own text and take good photographs, you can avoid some professional service costs.

Choose Features Carefully

Don't pay for functionality you won't use.

Compare Long-Term Pricing

Look at renewal prices, not just introductory offers.

Consider Annual Plans

Some website builders offer lower effective monthly prices when you pay annually.

The cheapest website isn't necessarily the best value. The goal is to spend money where it actually improves your website.

How Much Should a Small Business Spend on a Website?

There is no universal answer.

A local service business may only need a simple website with several pages, contact information, services, and perhaps a gallery.

An online retailer may need much more advanced functionality.

Before setting a budget, determine:

1. What does the website need to accomplish?
2. How many pages do you need?
3. Do you need ecommerce?
4. Do you need custom functionality?
5. Will you build it yourself?
6. Will you hire someone?
7. What ongoing costs will there be?

Once you know the answers, it becomes much easier to set a realistic budget.

For many small businesses, a simple, well-designed website created with a website builder can be enough to get started.

Is a More Expensive Website Always Better?

No.

A website costing $10,000 isn't automatically more effective than one costing $500.

The value of a website depends on what it accomplishes.

A simple website may be perfect for a local plumber, photographer, consultant, or small restaurant.

A large company may need a much more sophisticated website because it has more complex requirements.

Focus on:

• Usability
• Design
• Content
• Speed
• Mobile experience
• Clear navigation
• Relevant functionality

rather than simply trying to spend more money.

A Simple Website Budget Example

Imagine you're creating a five-page website for a small service business.

You might need:

• Website builder subscription
• Domain
• Professional logo
• A few quality photographs

If you create the website yourself and already have the content, your costs can remain relatively low.

If you hire a designer, photographer, copywriter, and developer, the same website can become considerably more expensive.

This is why two websites with the same number of pages can have completely different budgets.

Website Cost Checklist

Before starting your project, consider these potential expenses:

• Website builder or hosting
• Domain name
• Website design
• Professional photography
• Copywriting
• Logo and branding
• SEO
• Ecommerce functionality
• Payment processing
• Plugins or integrations
• Email services
• Ongoing maintenance

You may not need all of them.

For a simple website, several of these costs can be zero.

Final Thoughts

So, how much does it cost to build a website?

It depends.

A basic website can be created for little or no money, while a custom business website or large online store can require a much larger investment.

For individuals and small businesses, website builders can be one of the most affordable ways to create a professional website. They combine many of the services you need into one platform and allow you to do much of the work yourself.

The most important thing is to decide what your website actually needs before spending money.

Start with your goals, create a realistic budget, and choose a website platform that gives you the right balance of price, features, simplicity, and flexibility.

You can always start small and expand your website as your project grows.

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