“How much does a website cost?” is the most common question I get, and the honest answer is: it depends. But that’s not a helpful answer, so let me actually break it down.
Website pricing is deliberately opaque in this industry. Agencies don’t list prices because they want to anchor high during sales calls. Freelancers quote wildly different numbers. And DIY platforms advertise $16/month while burying the real costs in add-ons.
Here’s what things actually cost in 2026.
Option 1: DIY Website Builder
Platforms: Wix, Squarespace, GoDaddy Website Builder
Upfront cost: $0 Monthly cost: $16–$45/month (for a business-appropriate plan) Annual total: $192–$540/year
What you get: A template-based website you build yourself with drag-and-drop tools, hosting included, basic SSL certificate, and a handful of integrations.
Hidden costs to watch for:
- Custom domain: $12–$20/year (some plans include this)
- Removing platform branding: requires a higher-tier plan
- E-commerce features: $27–$65/month
- Third-party apps and plugins: $5–$30/month each
- Your time: this is the big one — expect 20–40 hours for initial setup if you’ve never done it before
Best for: Very small businesses or side projects with minimal budgets and time to learn.
Option 2: WordPress
Upfront cost: $0 (software is free) Hosting: $5–$30/month for shared, $25–$80/month for managed Theme: $0–$80 (one-time) Plugins: $0–$300/year for premium plugins Professional setup: $2,000–$8,000 if you hire a developer
Annual total (DIY): $120–$700/year Annual total (professionally built): $2,120–$8,700 first year, $120–$700/year after
Hidden costs to watch for:
- Security monitoring and malware cleanup: $100–$300/year
- Plugin updates and conflict resolution: ongoing time or maintenance fees
- Performance optimization: WordPress sites slow down over time without maintenance
- Developer for changes: $75–$150/hour for most WordPress developers
Best for: Content-heavy sites, blogs, or e-commerce (WooCommerce) where you need flexibility and don’t mind ongoing maintenance.
Option 3: Custom-Built Website
Upfront cost: $1,000–$15,000+ depending on complexity Hosting: $0–$50/month (many modern sites can use free-tier hosting) Ongoing maintenance: Minimal for static sites, varies for dynamic ones
Annual total: $1,600–$15,600 first year, $0–$600/year after
What you get: A website built specifically for your business, optimized for speed and SEO, no template limitations, no platform lock-in, and clean code you actually own.
What affects the price:
- Number of pages (3–8 pages vs. 20+ pages)
- Interactive features (calculators, dashboards, booking systems)
- E-commerce requirements
- Content creation (copywriting, photography)
- Ongoing maintenance agreement
Best for: Businesses where the website is a core part of how they get customers, and where performance and professionalism matter.
What About Agencies?
Agencies typically charge $5,000–$50,000+ for a small business website. You’re paying for a team (designer, developer, project manager, copywriter), an established process, and usually ongoing support.
For some businesses, that’s the right call — especially if you need a complex site with custom functionality, integrations, and ongoing content strategy.
For most small businesses? You’re paying a premium for overhead that doesn’t translate to a better website. A skilled freelance developer can deliver the same quality at a fraction of the cost because there’s no project manager, no account executive, and no office rent baked into the price.
The Real Question
Don’t start with “how much does a website cost?” Start with “what does my website need to do?”
If you just need an online presence so people can Google you and see that you’re legit, a $200/year website builder is fine.
If your website needs to bring in leads, rank in search, and represent your business professionally, investing in a custom site will pay for itself many times over through the business it brings in.
The most expensive website is the one that doesn’t work. Whether that’s a cheap site that drives people away or an overpriced site that doesn’t deliver results — the cost isn’t what you pay upfront, it’s what you lose in missed opportunities.
If you’re trying to figure out what makes sense for your business, I’m happy to have an honest conversation about it. No sales pitch — just a straightforward take on what you actually need.