How Much Does It Cost to Build a Website in 2025?

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 paying for unnecessary add-ons to keep your costs manageable. 

So, how much does it cost to build a website in 2025? 

The short answer: it can cost anywhere from $200 to over $100,000. Generally, the price depends on whether you use a website builder or hire a professional team. Website costs also have varying factors, 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. 

How much does it cost to build a website? (A detailed breakdown) 

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 $25 per month
Website hosting	$5 to $500 per month
Theme and design	$0 to $200 (one-time)
Add-ons and plugins	$0 to $500 per month
SSL certificate	$8 to $1000 annually
On-going website maintenance	$3,600 to $50,000 per year
Content	$0 to over $5,000
Templates	$0 to $70 (one-time)
eCommerce tools and capabilities	$10 to $2000 per month
Marketing tools and services	$0 to over $10,000 per month

Domain name

Domain names generally cost between $10 and $25 per month. However, a custom domain with popular keywords can cost even more, sometimes reaching thousands. 

Most websites work just fine with domains under $60. After all, what really matters is a name that’s relevant to your brand and is easy for your audience to remember. 

Website hosting

Monthly website hosting fees range from $5 to $500, depending on the hosting service and plan. 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, work with a website builder that comes with 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 server shared with others. Easy to set up but less stable during traffic spikes.	$24 to $180
Virtual Private Server (VPS) hosting	Hosts your site on a shared server with dedicated resources. Offers better performance and control.	$960 to $6000
Cloud hosting	Hosts pools resources from multiple servers. Provides better uptime and scalability.	$120 to $60,000
Dedicated hosting	Hosts your site on a private server. Offers maximum performance and customization.	$1,200 to $12,000+

Website theme and design

Website builders offer themes between $0 and $200, 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 that handles the technical aspects for you. Many website builders offer drag-and-drop features for easier layout design. While doing it yourself can cost $0 to $300 per month, creating a wireframe beforehand helps reduce costs even when hiring professional web designers. 

Add-ons and plugins

Depending on their complexity and features, plugins and add-ons cost between $0 and $500 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 like payment details online, typically cost approximately $60 per year. However, prices can range anywhere from $8 to $1000 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 $50 per year.
• Business Validation (DV) SSL certificate. Verifies both domain ownership and business legitimacy, with a cost range of $50 to $150 per year.
• Extended Validation (DV) 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, generally priced between $200 and $300+ per year. 

On-going website maintenance

Website maintenance costs can range between $3,600 and $50,000, depending on size, complexity, number of pages, and functionality. And just like other development costs, your website’s ongoing maintenance costs depend on the type and structure of your site.  

Technically, you could manage your website’s maintenance yourself. 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 anywhere from $0 to over $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. 

• 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 like blog writing 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 Network Solutions, 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 to $70+ range. While optional, they can be a smart investment if you want a more unique layout or added functionality. 

eCommerce tools and capabilities 

Basic eCommerce 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 over $2000, depending on the platform and plan. 

Luckily, some website builders, like Network Solutions, offer eCommerce plans that cost a little more than their basic plans.  

Network Solutions offers a cost-effective package starting at $9.99 per month (renewing at $29.99 per month). It includes an AI-powered website builder, a secure checkout, domain privacy, email marketing tools, and support for selling on platforms like Amazon, Instagram, and eBay. 

Marketing tools and services

Marketing costs can range from $0 to over $10,000 per month, and this depends on your approach and whether you do it yourself or hire experts. 

Marketing 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 $2500 to $7,500+ per month
• PPC campaigns typically require at least $100 per month in ad spend, plus management fees
• Email marketing platforms often start free but can reach $1,000 per month
• Social media marketing services may cost $100 to $5,000 per month if outsourced 

On one note, many website builders, like Network Solutions, also include built-in marketing features to help you get started without needing third-party tools. 

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 prices starting as low as $1.99 to $10 per month—or around $500 annually, including essentials like 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	$1.99 to $9.99 per month
Wix	$17 to $159 per month
Squarespace	$16 to $99 per month
Weebly	$10 to $26 per month
Hostinger	$2.99 to $7.99 per month

How much does it cost to build a website with a professional web developer? 

Freelance web designers or developers typically charge by the hour or per project, with costs ranging from $500 to $5,000 annually. However, prices 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.

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 eCommerce 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
eCommerce 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	$10,000 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 $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 leads to better results and can double 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 actually plays a huge role in determining your website cost. Different website types come with varying levels of 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. 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 pay-per-click marketing or affiliate marketing. 

Business/corporate websites

Websites focused on entrepreneurial goals are classified as business or corporate websites. People usually confuse this with eCommerce sites. So, let’s set things straight. While eCommerce sites are designed to sell products, business websites focus on explaining how their services, products, or brands provide the best solutions to consumer needs.  

eCommerce websites

If you want to build the ultimate shopping experience for your audience, an eCommerce website is the way to go. Although maintaining and setting up an eCommerce 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 eCommerce website is an online store that can easily target consumers. The layout and flexibility of an eCommerce site also encourage users to engage and promote the brand.  

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 also navigate and interact with your site easily. It’s a great option for businesses that need more space to grow, even if it comes with higher costs and more complexity. 

Simple tips 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 necessary features, like 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. Take a look at 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. 

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

Website costs can vary greatly, ranging from $200 to over $100,000. The truth is, there isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach to website costs in 2025—and there never really has been. Overall, the cost will depend on factors like 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.  With Network Solutions, you get the flexibility to build your site your way, plus access to expert support when you need it. 

Frequently asked questions