Key takeaways:
- You can use a website builder tool, WordPress, or hire a web designer to build a website.
- Website builder tools may be the most affordable, but a web designer can offer value if you’re short on time or need to create a website with a lot of design work or functionality.
- Your total cost to build a website depends on the tools you use, but expect to pay about $1,500 to $9,000 in the first year of building your website.
Whatever your budget, there’s a website-building solution for your needs, including website DIY solutions like WordPress, website builders, and hiring a professional web designer. We’ll break down each method’s cost, pros, and cons so that you can make the best choice based on your needs and resources.
Ways to Build a Website
The key determinant affecting the cost of building a website is the method you use. There are three ways to build a website:
- Website builder: These are tools that help you create a website using pre-made templates and intuitive drag-and-drop editors. Website builders bundle website design and hosting and are typically the most affordable option. While you can create fairly robust, functional websites with a website builder, your customization options will be more limited than with WordPress or a professional website designer.
- WordPress.org: WordPress.org, commonly referred to simply as WordPress, is an open-source content management system (CMS) that lets you create custom websites with nearly unlimited flexibility and functionality. However, because it’s a CMS, it requires a bit more technical skill than a website builder. Although WordPress is free, you must pay separately for hosting and a domain name.
- Professional web designer: Arguably the easiest way to build a website, hiring a professional web designer takes the work off your plate. This simplicity comes at a price, though. Hiring a professional typically costs several thousand dollars, far more than the other options. However, if you want a complex, highly customized website, it may be the best route.
What is the best way to build a website?
The “best” way to build a website depends on your specific needs, abilities, and resources. Use this comparison chart to help you understand which method might work well for you.
| Pros | Cons | Recommended for… | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Website builder |
|
|
|
| WordPress |
|
|
|
| Professional web designer |
|
|
|
Costs Associated With Building a Website
Predicting exactly how much it will cost to build an individual website is tricky because there is no set price for most features. Costs can range from free to hundreds of dollars per year, based on the features and services you need. Expect to pay at least $1,500 for your website in the first year when it’s all said and done.
Domain name
Every published website must have a registered domain name. This is the address that visitors type into their address bar to get to your website. Registering a domain name prevents anyone else from using that address. You must pay to register your domain name, and renew it on a regular basis. Most domain name registrars typically charge $10 to $30 annually for domain name registration, so this is a per-year cost you should factor into your website budget.
Web hosting
Web hosting refers to the server space where the files that comprise your website live. All websites need hosting. If you use a website builder to create your website, hosting is included in the cost of your monthly subscription, detailed below. If you create your website with WordPress, or through a web designer, you will need to purchase web hosting separately. There are several different types of web hosting.
Pricing is based on the amount of resources needed, and can start as low as about $3 per month, and go as high as $100 or more. Generally speaking, for a new, small website, a less expensive type of hosting, like shared or WordPress hosting, will be sufficient. It’s advisable to research different levels of hosting to ensure you are getting the speed, support, and scalability you need.
Web hosting prices are usually advertised on a monthly basis, but billed annually, so web hosting should be added to your budget as a yearly cost. When signing up with a web host, be sure to read the fine print, especially around pricing. Many web hosts offer discounted introductory rates for the first year, which increase when you renew.
Monthly subscription
This cost is associated with website builders. These services package together website creation tools and hosting, and pricing is typically based on the resources and features provided. Most website builders offer different tiers of packages, ranging from $6 to $50 per month.
Like web hosting, website builder subscriptions are usually billed annually. Many website builders offer discounts to customers who renew for longer terms, such as two years instead of one.
Design
If you choose to hire a professional website designer, this is where most of your budget will go. Most high-quality website designers charge anywhere from $1,000-$5,000 upfront for creating a brand-new small business website. If you need a larger or more complex site, the costs will only go up. You will also have to factor in the ongoing cost of site updates and maintenance.
If you build your website through WordPress, there aren’t any required design costs, as WordPress has thousands of free, customizable themes that you can use to create your website. However, if you choose, WordPress offers premium themes for a fee, typically somewhere between $30 to $100.
With a website builder, there are no required design costs. Website builders give you a selection of free templates to choose from and customize as needed. However, with both WordPress and website builders, you have the option to outsource your content needs — that is, hire someone to write your website copy, take photos and videos, and design your logo. These costs will depend on your specific needs, but if you want professional writing, photography and/or videography, you should budget around $500 for these services.
Security features
Ensuring that your website is secure is essential to protect yourself and your customers. Luckily, most website builders and web hosts include some security features, like SSL certificates, DDoS protection, malware and virus scanning, and protection against brute-force attacks. If they don’t, or if you want to add extra protections, there are many security apps and plugins available with both free and paid plans, which can cost up to $300 annually.
If you are using a web designer, talk to them about the security features you want built into your website. Your web designer will either include these costs in your quote, or you will need to purchase them on an ad-hoc basis.
Apps/Plugins
While apps are associated with website builders, and plugins are tied to WordPress, they are essentially the same thing — tools you can use to customize the look and functionality of your website. There are many free plugins and apps available, so this is an optional cost. The price of paid plugins and apps varies widely, with some costing as little as $5 per month, and others as much as $50 per month. When choosing apps and plugins, it’s up to you to decide what your budget can handle, and which features are worth the cost.
E-commerce tools
E-commerce tools including shopping carts, inventory managers, and point-of-sale (POS) software allow your website to sell products. Most web hosts and website builders have specific e-commerce plans that come with these types of tools, so the cost is built into your subscription price. You can also add ecommerce functionality with apps and plugins. The cost of these features can range from $0 to around $300 per month.
Can You Build a Website for Free?
As you research your website-building options, you’ll likely see free options advertised. There are a few reasons why free website-building tools aren’t a good idea:
- Branding: Most free website builder plans do not let you have a custom domain. Instead, your web address exists as a subdomain of your host; for example, yoursite.wix.com. If you want to establish your business as credible and professional, this won’t cut it. You need a custom domain.
- Limited features and resources: This can include low bandwidth and little storage, which can affect your site’s speed and size. Free website builder plans also typically restrict the type of functionality you can have on your site and what templates you can use.
- E-commerce: It’s rare to find a free web host or website builder that allows for ecommerce functionality. If you want to use your website to sell products, you will have to invest in some type of paid plan.
Cost of Building a Website With a Website Builder
A website builder is typically the fastest and cheapest way to build a website on your own. Pretty much everything is included — your design, hosting, and any security features and functionality you need.
When you use a website builder, there are more limitations on what your website can look like and do than with WordPress or a custom-built site. This doesn’t mean a website builder can’t work for you, but think carefully about what you need your website to do, and select a website builder that can accommodate those needs.
Below is an overview of the estimated costs typically associated with using a website builder:
Website builder cost breakdown
| Feature | Price | Required? |
|---|---|---|
| Domain name | $10 to $30 per year | Yes |
| Hosting | $0 | Yes (included) |
| Monthly subscription | $6 to $50 per month | Yes |
| Theme/Template | $0 | Yes (included) |
| Security features | $0 | Yes (included) |
| Apps/plugins | $0 to $50+ per month | Optional |
| Ecommerce functionality | $0 | Optional (included) |
| Total estimated cost (yearly) | $82 to $1,230 |
Cost of Building a Website With WordPress
WordPress can also be a very affordable option for building a website, although it is a tad more work. WordPress’s form editor, which is used to customize themes and add content, has a small learning curve for those without prior experience with the CMS. Also, users must set up their web hosting separately.
However, there are some benefits that come with using WordPress. Because web hosting is separate, users can move their site to a different host if they want. Also, many WordPress web hosts include perks, like a free domain and SSL certificate for a year, easy installation, and quick scalability.
Below is an overview of the estimated costs typically associated with using WordPress:
WordPress cost breakdown
| Feature | Price | Required? |
|---|---|---|
| Domain name | $10 to $30 per year | Yes |
| Hosting | $2.75 to $72+ per month | Yes |
| Monthly subscription | $0 | No |
| Theme/Template | $0 to $200 per month | Yes |
| Security features | $0 to $200 per year | Yes |
| Apps/plugins | $0 to $50+ | Yes |
| Ecommerce functionality | $0 to $100+ | Optional |
| Estimated total cost (yearly) | $43 to $3,644+ |
Cost of Building a Website With a Professional Web Designer
If your time or technical abilities are severely limited, or you need a highly customized website beyond what a website builder or WordPress can support, your other option is hiring a professional web designer.
Estimating the cost of this method is tricky. Different designers charge different rates based on the project specs, their level of experience, geographic location, and other factors.
Generally, for a quality, custom-designed website built from scratch, you can expect to spend $1,000 to $5,000 on upfront costs. This includes initial set-up, design, content creation, and training. Ongoing costs include domain name registration, web hosting, and site maintenance and updates, which your web designer may charge on a monthly or as-needed basis, depending on the terms of your agreement. These charges can add up to around $1,500 per year.
Here is an overview of the estimated costs of using a professional website designer:
Professional web designer cost breakdown
| Feature | Price | Required? |
|---|---|---|
| Website design | $1,000 to $5,000 | Yes |
| Domain name | $10 to $30 per year | Yes |
| Hosting | $2.75 to $200 per month | Yes |
| Maintenance | $500 to $1,000 per year | Yes |
| Theme/Template | $0 to $200 | Optional |
| Security features | $0-$200 | Yes |
| Apps/plugins | $0 | No |
| Ecommerce functionality | $0 to $100+ | Optional |
| Estimated total cost | $1,543 to $8,930+ |
How To Select a Professional Web Designer
Here are some tips to help you find the perfect website designer for your project:
- Get recommendations: Ask friends, family, and colleagues you trust for recommendations for high-quality web designers. If there are small business websites you like, find out who designed them.
- Review portfolios: Looking at websites a designer has worked on will give you a sense of their abilities and if their aesthetic matches what you have in mind for your site. Not having work samples to show you should be a red flag.
- Review pricing: Prices that seem too good to be true are another red flag. While it may be tempting to hire a web designer who only charges a few hundred dollars, building a website from scratch, especially if it must have a lot of unique functions, is time-consuming and requires skill. Saving money in the short term can end up costing you in the long run if your website needs to be fixed or redone completely.
- Be clear about the scope of work: To get an accurate quote and hire the best person for the job, you must know what you want from your website and be able to communicate it. If you are unsure how to describe what you want, have some examples of similar websites you can show your designer to ensure you’re on the same page.
- Schedule a consultation: Hiring a website designer is like hiring any other type of employee, even if it’s just on a freelance basis. Speaking to them first, whether in person, over the phone, or on a video chat, helps confirm that they are the right person for the job. It’s also a good chance for them to get to know you and get more details about the project so they can give you an accurate quote.
