Key takeaways:
- Website costs can vary widely. Basic sites can cost around $200, while custom-built websites can range from $1,000 to $100,000 or more.
- Using website builders can help cut costs. These platforms offer free themes, hosting, and tools to get your site up without breaking the bank.
- Planning ahead is by far the smartest way to stay on budget. Focus on vital features, choose the right hosting plan, and avoid unnecessary add-ons to keep your costs manageable.
So, how much does it cost to build a site in 2026?
The short answer: it can cost anywhere from $0 to over $100,000. Generally, the price depends on whether you use a website builder or hire a professional team. Website costs vary, and if you’re not careful, you could easily go over your budget.
Don’t worry, if done right, the benefits of having your own website outweigh the website costs. With a professional website, your brand reaches a wider audience, boosts credibility, and easily integrates marketing approaches to convert website visitors into loyal customers.
Let’s break down how much it really costs to build a website. From domain name fees to maintenance expenses, you’ll learn what to expect and how to keep your costs in check here.
Disclaimer: Prices mentioned in this guide are estimates based on 2025–2026 industry averages and may vary depending on provider, location, and features.
How much does it cost to build a website?
Below, you’ll find a detailed breakdown of how much it costs to build a website, from domain and hosting fees to design, maintenance, and marketing.
| Website component | Estimated cost |
|---|---|
| Domain name | $10 to $35 per year |
| Website hosting | $2 to $500 per month |
| Theme and design | $0 to $500 (one-time) |
| Add-ons and plugins | $0 to $100 per month |
| SSL certificate | $0 to $1,000+ annually |
| Ongoing website maintenance | $0 to $5,000 per month |
| Content | $0 to over $5,000 |
| Templates | $0 to $70 (one-time) |
| E-commerce tools and capabilities | $3 to $2,300 per month |
| Marketing tools and services | $0 to over $10,000+ per month |
Domain name
Domain names generally cost between $10 and $35 per year. However, a premium or custom domain with popular keywords can cost even more, sometimes reaching several hundred dollars or more, depending on demand.
Most websites work just fine with domains under $60. After all, what really matters is having your own domain that’s relevant to your brand and is easy for your audience to remember.
Find the perfect domain
Ready to register a domain name? Check domain availability and get started with Network Solutions today.
Website hosting
Monthly website hosting fees range from $2 to $500 monthly, depending on the service and plan. Many hosting packages, including managed hosting, bundle performance, security, and maintenance together for convenience. On average, though, most websites spend $100 to $500 a year on their hosting needs.
Whether you choose traditional or cloud hosting, it’s important to find a provider that meets your website’s performance and security needs.
For budget-friendly options, use a website builder that includes hosting. However, if you decide to create your site independently or you build a WordPress site, you’ll need to pay for a web hosting company.
If saving money is your goal, there are plenty of affordable hosting options to choose from, including:
| Hosting type | Description | Estimated cost (yearly) |
|---|---|---|
| Shared hosting | Hosts your site on a shared server. Easy to set up but less stable during traffic spikes. | $25 to $120 |
| Virtual private server (VPS) hosting | Hosts your site on a shared server with dedicated resources. Offers better performance and control. | $120 to $1,200 |
| Cloud hosting | Hosts pool resources from multiple servers. Provides better uptime and scalability. | $120 to $2,500+ |
| Dedicated hosting | Hosts your site on a private server. Offers maximum performance and customization. | $960 to $6,000+ |
Website theme and design
Website builders offer themes between $0 and $500, which is why they’re so popular with beginners. However, these pre-made themes often come with plugins and builders designed for them, potentially causing bloated, glitchy sites when changes are made.
If you’re designing your own business website, consider using a platform with an integrated content management system. Many website builders offer drag-and-drop features to make layout design easier. While doing it yourself can cost $0 to $300 per month, a basic website setup may only require a few dollars to get started.
Add-ons and plugins
Depending on their complexity and features, plugins and add-ons cost between $0 and $100+ per month. They can both improve your website’s user experience and drive better traffic.
Add-ons are extra components that enhance software or platforms by adding new features or content. Plugins, however, are a specific type of add-on that integrates directly into a program to expand its functionality.
While both enhance the software, plugins extend the core capabilities and are usually more complex to incorporate. In contrast, other add-ons, like browser extensions or game mods, work independently of the core software, so they’re easier to install.
Secure Socket Layer (SSL) certificate
SSL certificates, which help secure sensitive information such as payment details, also support safe handling of payment processing fees for online transactions. It typically costs you between $0 and $ 1,000 per year. Several factors influence the price, including the number of domains, the validation process, warranty coverage, and the type of SSL certificate.
Common types of SSL certificates include:
- Domain Validation (DV) SSL certificate: A basic SSL certificate that verifies domain ownership and provides encryption and security for your website, typically costing between $4 and over $60 per year.
- Organization Validation (OV) SSL certificate: Verifies both domain ownership and business legitimacy, with a cost range of $50 to $150 per year.
- Extended Validation (EV) SSL certificate: The highest level of SSL, which requires rigorous validation of your business and displays a green address bar in browsers to show high trust, is generally priced between $200 and $300+ per year.
Ongoing website maintenance
Website maintenance costs can range between $0 to $5,000+, depending on size, complexity, number of pages, functionality, and who manages your website. And just like other development costs, your website’s ongoing costs depend on the type and structure of your site.
Technically, you could manage your website’s maintenance yourself with enough technical skills. However, if your goal is to save on annual maintenance costs, it’s often more practical to hire a freelancer or, even better, a professional web developer.
Even for a small business website, investing in website maintenance is necessary. It covers many important areas, and you don’t want to overlook any of them.
Ongoing maintenance includes:
- Security, plugin, and theme updates
- Search engine optimization (SEO)
- Backup and disaster recovery
- Performance and uptime monitoring
- Accessibility and user testing
- Support and maintenance plans
Content
Creating website content can cost you either nothing or up to $ 5,000, depending on how much help you need and the quality you’re aiming for.
This includes everything from text on your homepage to blog articles, product descriptions, images, and even videos. If you’re doing it all yourself using free tools and stock images, you might not spend much at all. But hiring professionals will increase the cost, often for good reason.
In addition:
- Copywriting typically costs $19 to $45 per hour, depending on the writer’s expertise.
- Stock images can be free, but high-quality custom graphics or photos may cost $100 to $500+.
- Video content starts around $500 for professional production.
- Ongoing updates, such as blog writing, maintaining a blog website, or social content, should also be factored into your monthly budget.
Templates
Templates can cost anywhere from $0 to $70 or more. Most website builders like ours offer a wide selection of free templates to make the website-building process much easier, especially for beginners or small business owners.
Premium templates, which often include extra features and customization options, are typically priced in the $30-$70+ range. While optional, they can be a smart investment if you want a more unique layout or added functionality.
E-commerce tools and capabilities
Basic e-commerce tools can start as low as $10 per month, but for more advanced features—like multichannel selling, automated marketing, or appointment scheduling—you might pay up to $2,000 or more, depending on the platform and plan.
For instance, our website builder e-commerce plan bills at around $13.99 per month. It includes an AI-powered website builder, secure checkout, domain privacy, email marketing tools, and support for selling on platforms such as Amazon, Instagram, and eBay.
Marketing tools and services
Marketing costs can range from $0 to over $10,000 per month, depending on your approach and whether you do it yourself or hire experts.
To market your website isn’t optional if you want people to actually find and engage with it. This includes tools and services like SEO, pay-per-click (PPC) ads, email marketing, and social media promotion.
Here are the typical costs for different website marketing strategies:
- SEO services can run from $1,000 to $2,500+ per month, with some agencies charging more.
- PPC campaigns typically require at least $100 per month in ad spend, plus management fees.
- Email marketing platforms often start free, but can reach more than $1,000 per month.
- Social media marketing services may cost $100 to $5,000 per month if outsourced.
We offer built-in marketing tools with every domain purchase to help you get started easily and right away, without third-party tools or coding.
How much does it cost to build a website with a website builder?
Website builders offer one of the most affordable ways to get online, with plans that typically charge a recurring monthly fee. Prices range from $1.99 per month and vary depending on inclusions such as hosting, domain registration, SSL, and maintenance. If you’re looking to cut costs and launch quickly, a website builder might be your best bet.
Here’s a side-by-side pricing comparison of popular website builders:
| Website builder | Starting cost |
|---|---|
| Network Solutions | $4.99 |
| Wix | $17 |
| Squarespace | $16 |
| Weebly | $10 |
| Hostinger | $2.99 |
Skip the complicated setup.
With Network Solution’s Website Builder, you can design, customize, and publish your site in one place.
How much does it cost to build a website with a professional web designer?
Freelance web designers or developers typically charge by the hour or per project. These projects may range from a few hundred dollars for simple builds to tens of thousands for complex, custom website solutions with unique custom features.
Typically, costs range from $500 to $5,000 annually. But this can also exceed $250,000 depending on the project’s size and complexity.
Many small businesses prefer this route because freelance developers offer more flexibility and room for negotiation than developers associated with a web design agency.
Additionally, you can find freelance web developers who specialize in specific types of websites. They can help you add advanced features and effectively boost your site’s search rankings.
Of course, there’s no guarantee, and you might end up spending more time or money than you should. If it feels overwhelming, you can hire a professional developer.
Keep in mind, these rates reflect the cost of the developer’s expertise and time, not the website itself.
Should you use a website builder or hire a professional web designer?
This depends on many factors, such as your budget, timeline, and business goals.
| Choose a website builder if… | Hire a professional web designer if… |
|---|---|
| You want to launch for a few hundred dollars or less | You need a custom website solution built around your brand |
| You need a simple website with standard pages | You need more advanced features or integrations |
| You’re comfortable handling website building yourself | You want a professional to manage strategy, design, and setup; a professional-looking website results |
| You want built-in templates, hosting, and basic tools | You need custom layouts, user flows, or a conversion strategy |
| You plan to update the site yourself | You want ongoing technical support or maintenance |
Essentially, a website builder is the better choice for small businesses that need a homepage, service pages, a contact form, basic SEO tools, and maybe a small online store.
But if your website needs a custom solution, more advanced features, custom branding, complex e-commerce functionality, or integrations with other business software, you may need a professional web designer.
There’s also a hybrid option where you start with a website builder, then hire a professional later to improve your design, copy, or SEO.
How much does it cost to build a website for different business types?
Depending on the type of business you run, website costs can range from as low as $100 to well over $50,000. Some websites need only a few pages and basic features, while others—like e-commerce stores—require advanced functionality and more maintenance.
Below is a quick comparison of the typical price range of building a website by business type:
| Business type | Estimated cost range |
|---|---|
| E-commerce store | $1,000 to $50,000 |
| Portfolio website | $300 to $5,000 |
| Small business website | $500 to $10,000 |
| Blog | $100 to $3,000 |
| Enterprise website | $20,000 to $100,000+ |
How much does it cost to hire a digital marketing agency for your website?
Marketing agencies are costly; they charge anywhere from about $900 to $20,000+ per month. Despite the high costs, many small businesses invest in digital marketing services to grow their online presence and stay competitive.
While digital marketing isn’t technically part of the website-building process, it’s an additional cost you’ll want to keep in mind for the future. In fact, it’s something you should consider as early as possible.
While you can handle digital marketing yourself, working with experts often yields better results and increases your revenue. It’s a smart move if you’re new to website building.
Digital marketing agencies can provide help with:
- Brand management
- Copywriting services
- Market research
- SEO
- Social media marketing
- Google Ads management
- Email and content marketing
- Conversion optimization and analytics tracking
- Account planning
What are the other factors that affect the cost of building a website?
While domain and hosting are key components, other elements can also influence the overall cost of building your website, including:
Website types
The type of site you choose plays a huge role in determining your website cost and overall average cost. Different website types vary in complexity, features, and functionality, which all affect the overall price. That said, here are some of the most common types of websites:
Blogs
Blogs were among the most common website forms and ideal for many website owners. They have a very simple and flexible layout and are the easiest to maintain and update.
Blogs share written, visual, and digital content about an individual or organization’s interests. Most monetization efforts for blogs are through affiliate marketing.
Business/corporate websites
Websites focused on entrepreneurial goals are classified as business or corporate websites. People usually confuse this with e-commerce sites. So, let’s set things straight. While e-commerce sites are designed to sell products, business websites focus on explaining how their services, products, or brands provide the best solutions to consumer needs.
E-commerce websites
If you want to build the ultimate shopping experience for your audience, an e-commerce website is the way to go. Although setting up and maintaining an e-commerce site requires far more effort than a regular website, it’s an effective way to build a standout brand.
With its consumer-tailored products and services, an e-commerce website is an online store that can easily target consumers. The layout and flexibility of an e-commerce site also encourage users to engage with the brand and promote it.
If you need help choosing the right format or website type, we have a related guide with visual examples for a more guided decision-making.
Number of pages
When building a website, adding more pages generally means higher costs because of the extra development time, features, and ongoing maintenance. That said, it doesn’t mean one option is better than the other. While a single-page site can save you money, it’s important to choose what works best for your needs.
When deciding between a single-page or multi-page website, single-page websites are a popular choice for landing pages and smaller projects. They’re simple, engaging, and make it easy for users to scroll through all the information at once. This can be a great option for personal websites, portfolios, single-product pages, events, or small businesses.
On the flip side, multi-page websites let you organize your content across different pages. This way, users can easily navigate and interact with your site. It’s a great option for businesses that need more space to grow, even if it comes with higher costs and more complexity.
How to save on website expenses
Building a website doesn’t have to break the bank. Here are some simple, smart ways to keep website costs low:
- Start with the basics: You don’t need a fancy website right away. Focus on the essential features, such as a homepage, contact info, and key services. You can always add more features later.
- Use free tools: There are plenty of free themes, templates, and plugins that work great. Just make sure they’re well-reviewed and updated regularly.
- Skip the extras (for now): Only pay for features you actually need. Add-ons and custom elements might look nice, but they can drive up your costs fast.
- Choose affordable hosting: Shared hosting is budget-friendly and works well for most small sites. You can always upgrade later if you need more power.
- Plan before you build: Sketch out your layout and content before diving in. This helps avoid costly redesigns or last-minute changes.
- Review your tools regularly: Check your subscriptions and tools every few months. Cancel anything you’re not using.
- Pay yearly when possible: Many platforms offer discounts for annual billing, which saves you more in the long run compared to monthly payments. Do this to reduce long-term renewal costs.
- Improve site speed: A faster website improves user experience and reduces the need for costly performance fixes. Compress images, avoid unnecessary plugins, and remove tools you don’t use.
- Try to write your own content first: Professional copywriting is valuable, but you can reduce costs by drafting your own content first. Write down your services, customer questions, pricing details, differentiators, and brand story. A professional can then refine your draft instead of creating everything from scratch.
Frequently asked questions
The cost of building a site can vary a lot depending on your needs. For a simple website built with a builder, you might spend only around $500 annually. But if you’re going for something more custom with unique features, the cost can range anywhere from $1,000 to $100,000. It really comes down to how complex you want your site to be.
Hiring someone to develop or build a website can range from $500 to $10,000 or more. The price depends on the developer’s level of experience, the features you want, and the level of customization for your site. Keep in mind that ongoing maintenance and updates may add to the total cost.
Yes, especially if you have the budget and want something tailored to your business. A professional can help you create a website that’s not only functional but also optimized for your audience and search engines.
Yes, you can definitely create your own free website! In fact, many website builders offer free plans. However, these might come with limitations, such as ads or fewer features. If you want more control and flexibility, no ads, or a stronger professional online presence, you’d likely need to pay for a plan.
Domains can only be purchased through a registrar, as they need a centralized system to prevent duplicate domains. If you’re looking to save money on a yearly subscription, some web hosting providers offer free domain registration with their services.
Self-hosting is certainly doable, but just because you can doesn’t mean you should. Beyond costs, the process itself can be quite complex. Even with tech expertise, achieving the security and performance standards of a professional hosting provider can be hard.
A web designer may charge $500 to $10,000+ for many small business projects, depending on experience, scope, and customization. Professional design for a small business website often starts around $1,500, while larger custom projects can cost much more.
Conducting regular checkups is smart for your website and your wallet. However, if you want to reduce costs and simplify management, some website builders include free maintenance plans in their packages.
So, how much does it cost to build a website?
In 2026, the cost to build a website can range from nothing to more than $100,000. There isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach to website costs—and there never really has been. The total cost will depend on several factors, such as your domain name, hosting, the type of website you’re creating, how many pages you need, and any marketing tools you want to include. Whether you take the DIY approach or hire professionals will also affect the total cost.
If you’re looking for a more cost-effective way to get online, using a reliable website builder is a great place to start. Use our Website Builder to build your site your way, with access to expert support when you need it.
