Building a website is no small feat. Even those with low traffic are hand-crafted and backed by back-breaking effort. Perhaps you’re willing to put in the hard work. But then, you’re wondering how much does a website cost. Rightfully so – not everyone’s budget is limitless.
However, discussing the average website price isn’t so simple. You have to take into account hosting, a website builder, additional apps and plug-ins, a domain name, and potentially a template, which can be free or paid. As a result, the website design cost can vary a lot.
It can be pretty much free or up to thousands of dollars, depending on your ambitions. In today’s analysis, we’ll try to uncover how much it costs to make a website. We’ll also discuss the prices of other aspects necessary to have a fluid and well-established platform.
Average Website Cost: A Quick Conclusion
The table below shows the average website prices of aspects like a domain name, hosting, website builder, templates, and a few others.
| Website Component | Price Range | Additional Notes |
| Web Hosting | $1.99/mo (shared) to $1,499/mo (dedicated) | Shared hosting can be free with a dedicated web builder (Wix, Squarespace, …) |
| Website Builder | $0 to $140+/mo | It can be free in a hosting plan (Hostinger, SiteGround, InMotion, …) or a free “separate” option with limits |
| Domain name | $0 to $30+/mo | It can be free for a year in a hosting or web builder plan (Hostinger, Wix, …) |
| Website Template | $0 to $500/mo | Certain web builders offer premium templates that can cost up to $500 (one-time fee) |
| Web Designer (optional) | $30 to $180 an hour | You’ll be charged less for a website design than full development |
In general, it’s good to know that the type of website you want can, in some cases, affect the price. A blog won’t cost the same as an e-commerce website where you sell digital or physical goods. Such websites require additional features.
These features often cost more, and there may also be transaction fees in some cases, which can make the website pricing calculation more complex.
Regardless, our in-depth analysis aims to be as objective as possible and covers average website prices for personal, small, medium, and large businesses, regardless of their type. We’ll also explore whether you can build a website for free and how to do so if you’re on a shoestring budget.
Domain Name Pricing: What’s the Average Cost?
Getting a domain name is usually a first step unless you opt for a hosting provider or a web builder that provides it for you. We’ll talk about these in a minute.
First, let’s answer the question – how much does a website domain name cost?
When it comes to the annual price, the domain name can be free or cost from roughly $10 to $30 a month, depending on the domain extension. In the first case, you can get a first year free from a hosting provider like Hostinger, when buying ANY of its plans.
Get a Free Domain from Hostinger
You’ll also find that Wix, a website builder that we’ll discuss soon, also offers a free domain for a year. If you opt to buy a domain name separately, that’s another story. Also, top-level domains are way more expensive. “.com” or “.net”, for example, usually cost around $20.
“.org”, which is a high-level domain, can cost even over $30. One thing to take into account is the provider. Hostinger’s domain name renewal prices are fairly “mild” while Bluehost and HostGator tend to charge you a bit more.
What are our recommendations?
We recommend getting a domain name for FREE for a year with Wix or Hostinger.
Obtain a Free Domain for a Year From Wix
You’ll save plenty and when the renewal time comes, not have to pay a fortune. Also, keep in mind that both Wix and Hostinger offer WHOIS domain privacy. This protects your private information from WHOIS visitors and costs around $10/year on top – here, it’s free for a year.
So, the cost to build a website, at least for the domain name bought separately, is now around $10-$30 yearly.
Hosting Provider
But what about your hosting provider? Now, we get to the more expensive territory.
First things first, you must decide on the type of hosting you need. We’ll shortly explain the most popular types and their prices:
- Shared hosting. This is the cheapest type of hosting that starts at around $2/mo. Its price can go up to $15/mo, depending on the plan. We recommend Hostinger at $2.99/mo or SiteGround at $3.99/mo respectively. Both web hosting options are fast and offer a myriad of features like a website builder, WordPress optimization, and free SSL.
- VPS hosting. A tad more expensive option that raises the cost of the website. It starts at around $4.99/mo (Hostinger) but if you want more computing resources, you’ll have to pay an upward of $100/mo. The average price of VPS hosting is around $30/mo for “golden-middle” plans.
- Dedicated hosting. How much does a website cost if you need a dedicated server? A LOT. Dedicated hosting lets you rent a server at $35/mo and more. Usually, we’re looking at more than $110/mo, and high-spec plans can cost over $1,000/mo. Dedicated servers are, however, built mostly for enterprises and large companies.
- Cloud hosting. Hostinger and SiteGround are popular cloud hosting options. They’re scalable, fast, and feature-packed, harnessing the resources of multiple powerful machines. Cloud hosting starts at $7.59/mo in Hostinger and $100/mo in SiteGround.
| Hosting Type | Price Range of Hosting per Type |
| Shared | $1.99/mo to $14.99/mo |
| VPS | $4.99/mo to $100/mo |
| Dedicated | $35/mo to $1,499/mo |
| Cloud | $7.59/mo to $400/mo |
As you can see, respectable options start at merely a few monthly quids, so their influence on the website design costs is minimal. Besides, as we’ll clarify in a second, such options come with built-in features chimed in for free, reducing the general price astonishingly.
Web Hosting Features Prices
When we discussed the cost of a website, we mentioned the domain name. You DON’T have to buy it if you pick a provider like Hostinger or, let’s say, InMotion Hosting.
These providers offer a free domain for a year, which is included in the stated price.
Moreover, a quality hosting provider offers more features that can, in some cases, cost more:
- SSL certificate – free in Hostinger, SiteGround, InMotion, etc. It usually costs $10 to $100 annually!
- Malware & advanced threat protection – free in aforementioned providers but it costs a few monthly dollars in providers like Bluehost and SiteGator.
- WordPress features – free in the aforementioned providers, while some, like InMotion, charge you more for WordPress hosting ($2.49/mo vs 1.99/mo for web hosting). If you plan to create a site with WordPress, we recommend reading our review and comparison of the best web hosts for WordPress.
To answer your question of how much websites cost, so far, you’re looking at the lowest price of $2.99/mo, including a domain name, full WordPress support, and other security tidbits.
Website Builder
If you opt for a website builder, the cost of designing a website can be lower. Website builders are more front-end-oriented and allow you to precisely design the website of your dreams. One thing to know is that hosting providers usually also include a web builder.
What’s the catch? The website builder is basic and can’t match a dedicated tool.
If you don’t want to bother with hosting, you can choose Wix or, let’s say, Squarespace. These are best website builders in 2026. They offer hundreds of templates, which you can further customize and upgrade to achieve your desired looks and functionality.
Website builders sound like a dream. You get their proprietary hosting, marketing tools, SEO features, and more. However, site builders usually limit you to shared hosting and don’t allow for various back-end customizations, which some site administrators would appreciate.
Prices of Website Builders
If you don’t want to choose between shared, VPS, dedicated, or cloud hosting, using a website builder is a good idea. The service will handle hosting and other related tasks. However, the upfront price is usually much higher.
For example, Wix cost is at least $10/mo for the Light plan. You can, however, drop the price by 10% by using our Wix coupon. Wix’s best plan is Business, at least for most people while Business Elite is more for very large teams and e-commerce companies.
For the Business plan, you’ll have to pay $29/mo or 10% less with the aforementioned coupon. Keep in mind that this plan, and even the cheaper ones, includes a free domain for a year, plus various site analytics, e-commerce features, and 100 GB of storage.
We should also mention Squarespace as one of the top options.
Squarespace starts at $16/mo, offering, again, a free 1-year domain, with countless templates, unlimited bandwidth, SEO features, and more. Paying more gives you access to advanced features, such as zero transaction fees and unlimited contributors ($23/mo).
Develop Your Website With Squarespace
Another popular way to build a website is by using WordPress. WordPress CMS is free by default since it’s an open-source platform.
However, WordPress.com isn’t. It starts at $2.75/mo for the 3-year plan and numerous plug-ins and themes can increase the cost of building the website. On top of that, if you opt for managed WordPress hosting, expect higher prices for the “managing” part.
So, the cost to build a website using a site builder ranges from ~2.8/mo to over $140/mo, depending on the used web builder and plan. Luckily, you can get away with paying under $30/mo and get everything you need to design a blog, online store, or any other type of website.
Website Template Cost
We’ve examined the website pricing without going into specifics on the website template.
Wix, Squarespace, Hostinger, Bluehost, and other AI-driven web builders offer hundreds of templates. Most are free and you won’t have to pay a dime. However, it’s worth knowing that Shopify, one of the most established options, has a one-time template fee.
It can be $100 or $500, depending on the template.
We strongly suggest using Wix to avoid such costs. Paying $100 one time isn’t such a slog. But it can increase the starting website cost and discourage you from investing in more crucial aspects. Read our Wix review and discover its powerful web-building features.
Don’t be afraid to also inform yourself about Squarespace on our site – it’s another banger!
Building a Website for Free: Does It Really Work?
Hear this out – you can make a website for free. Voila!
You can go ahead, forget about all the blabber so far, and save a serious amount of cash. Unfortunately, when the cost to build a website drops to zero, other qualities tend to suffer. The good thing is that you can make a fully functioning site or even an online store!
In our Weebly vs Wix comparison, we outlined that the former allows you to sell unlimited items for free.
The catch, with 99% of other free options is that:
- You will have ads on your website, which makes it look unattractive and scammy.
- The site’s performance will be crippled due to bandwidth limitations and low storage.
- In most cases, e-commerce features won’t work, so selling is out of the equation.
- Your domain name will contain the name of the web builder.
- There will be a web builder banner on the site, making it look unprofessional.
We have a list of some great free web builders, so glance at it for more info.
Using one is a great way of testing the waters by toying around with the editor and getting used to it. For a serious, well-established website, you must pay to get all the premium bells and whistles. Luckily, website prices are “in check”, so that shouldn’t be a problem.
Other Potential Costs Associated with Building a Website
So, how much does it cost to build a website? As explained, this usually clings to three factors:
- Domain name
- Hosting provider
- Website Builder
However, the website creation host can go above the three if you want to squeeze more out of your efforts. To be clear, you CAN get away with the basic hosting or web builder plan. But over time, you’ll want added functionalities that can rack up the price.
We mentioned templates as a potential cost but there are more variables:
- Apps and plug-ins. Third-party apps and plug-ins aren’t usually free. At least their premium features. Take Yoast SEO, which works for free but is much better when you pay for it. Wix, Squarespace, and even web hosts offer these “bonus” functionalities that they charge you for on top of the subscription.
- Security. Hostinger and SiteGround have out-of-the-box security you won’t have to upgrade. In other scenarios, you may have to shell out for an SSL certificate, malware protection, WAF, and more.
- SEO. Once the website is up and running proper search engine optimization will keep the machine rolling. A tool like Semrush can help tremendously but guess what – it’s not free! Hiring an SEO expert is a solution but you’ll pay at least $100/hour in the USA. Using a website builder’s SEO tools is a nice workaround but for the best results, you will inevitably have to spend on Semrush, SE Ranking, or any similar SEO tool.
- Content creation. If you lack the skill to craft written content, you will need a content writer. A content writer will take care of your page’s content, and for a fee, he or she can also work on each page’s SEO through keyword implementation, images, videos, infographics, and other components.
Is Hiring a Web Designer Cost-Effective?
The average cost of a website designer can vary drastically. Like SEO experts, reputable web designers won’t charge you under $30 an hour, and in some instances, the cost can reach $180+ an hour. But do you really need a web designer and does it make sense for your situation?
It’s pretty simple to set up a website with Wix or Squarespace. Hostinger and SiteGround also offer ample options for building a website. With their drag-and-drop editors, it’s like playing with LEGO and building the site page by page. For us, it’s very interesting.
Now, what about time efficiency? Some people lack time but have enough money.
If you’d rather focus on other tasks and brand improvements, perhaps a skilled web builder can come in handy. Complex websites with lots of tricky places where things can go wrong call for a professional, and in that instance, hiring a web designer can be vital to success.
His or her rate per hour will depend on the complexity and scope of your demand.
The higher your demands, the higher the website pricing will be. Also, most web builders will require a certain amount of money upfront. So, if the project will take 100 hours to complete, expect to pay roughly half of the amount right away – around $1,500.
In our experience, hiring a web designer works but it’s rarely cost-friendly. You can build a solid, if not phenomenal website with the aforementioned builders, as long as you invest a bit of time.
If not, hopefully, you have enough money to cover the professional web-building expenses.
Tips for Reducing the Price of a Website
We now know how much should a website cost. In short, it’s not THAT expensive unless you’re looking to build an empire. But if you can’t stretch your budget and want to save every penny, we have a few tips to reduce the website cost and retain the quality.
- Tackle your current needs. Don’t overpay, instead, buy the web builder or hosting for present needs. Are you just starting? Is your website going to be smaller, with no more than 100,000 monthly visitors? Why get VPS hosting?! Get a cheap hosting provider and pay as low as two or three monthly quids.
- Don’t buy a domain name separately. Okay, this sounds strange because you NEED it. But hold on – Hostinger and Wix give you one for free for a year, you don’t need to spend $20+ a year on that. Simply get one of these and the free domain of your desire will be there.
- Use a free template. Premium is almost always better but it’s not always the case with templates. Wix offers 900+ free templates that radiate beauty and functionality. Why pay more if you don’t have to?
- Be a self-learner. You can get a web designer and call it a day. We say you can also clench your teeth, put in some effort, and learn web design yourself! Read as much as you can and use online resources to strengthen your knowledge on the subject. The more you can do on your own, the more money you’ll save in the long run.
Website Pricing: The Final Verdict
After everything we said, there’s no clear-cut answer on how much the website creation costs. We can speculate and give you a range but the average price depends on so many aspects, from those basic to more advanced and optional ones.
In short:
- The average price of the domain is ~$20 annually (or free)
- Mid-tier web hosting costs on average $4 to $7 a month (or free)
- Web builders with e-commerce features cost about $25 to $30 a month (or free)
All three can be free, depending on the route you choose. If you get Hostinger, you’ll get a web builder and domain for free, leaving you with the cost of hosting only. If Wix is your preferred route, you’ll pay for the web builder, while the rest will be included.
We rarely recommend buying a domain name separately but if you must, expect an added website cost of $20 or so annually, depending on the extension. So, the cheapest price to start a website is merely a few dollars a month, making the investment very well worth it.
Check our guide on making a WordPress website to see how to get started. Alternatively, use an AI website builder from Hostinger, SiteGround, Wix, or Squarespace and set everything up in an hour – no need for expensive web designers and other experts.