Are you thinking about building a website? Are you considering building a website for your business? Maybe you’re confused by the hundreds of website builder plans and aren’t sure which is good value for money? You may be confused by the many website builder plans available and not sure which one is best value for money.
Different routes are available to help you set up a website, such as using WordPress or hiring a web designer, but using a website builder is the cheapest option since most builders cost around $10-$30 per month (billed annually). There are many ways to create a website. You can use WordPress or hire a web designer. However, a website builder will be the cheapest choice, as most builders only cost $10-$30 a month (billed annually). Depending on your site or business needs, a website can cost you nothing to build or thousands of dollars.
A website can cost thousands of dollars or nothing depending on the site or business requirements. I know that cost and affordability can be important factors when deciding how to create a website, so I’ll take a closer look at pricing, value, and hidden fees in the full breakdown below.
I know that affordability and cost are important factors in deciding how to build a website. I will look at pricing, value and hidden fees.
Building Your Website: Three Pricing Options
There are three main methods to create a website:
| Method | Approximate Cost | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Use a website builder | $2.99 to $299 per month | Build with a website builder for $2.99 to $299 a month |
| Build with WordPress | $11 to $1,000 upfront, plus ongoing costs | Costs: $11 to $1,000 upfront, plus ongoing costs |
| Hire a web developer | $1,000-5,000+ upfront, with additional ongoing costs | Upfront costs of $1,000-5,000+ with ongoing costs |
I recommend using a website builder because of their user-friendly editors, built-in features, and responsive customer support. In most cases, you’ll get web hosting, security, templates, and more, all wrapped up in your website builder plan.
In most cases, your website builder package will include web hosting, security and templates. Building with WordPress comes with additional costs, such as plugins, hosting, and premium templates, and choosing to hire a web designer can be a very costly process (which we’ll discuss in more detail later). WordPress building comes with extra costs such as plugins and hosting. Premium templates and hiring a web designer are also expensive (which we will discuss in greater detail later). Because of these factors, website builders will be my primary focus in this guide.
Due to these factors, I will be focusing on website builders in this guide.
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Website Builder Costs: Which Is the Best Value for Money?
What is the best value for money when it comes to website builders? There are three main ways to build a website:
| Method | Approximate Cost | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Use a website builder | $2.99 to $299 per month | Build with a website builder for $2.99 to $299 a month |
| Build with WordPress | $11 to $1,000 upfront, plus ongoing costs | Costs: $11 to $1,000 upfront, plus ongoing costs |
| Hire a web developer | $1,000-5,000+ upfront, with additional ongoing costs | Upfront costs of $1,000-5,000+ with ongoing costs |
I recommend using a web builder due to their easy-to-use editors, built-in functions, and responsive customer service. In most cases, your website builder package will include web hosting, security and templates. Building with WordPress comes with additional costs, such as plugins and hosting. Premium templates and hiring a web designer are also expensive (which we will discuss in greater detail later). Because of these factors, website builders will be our primary focus in this guide.
This guide will focus on website builders because of these factors. We test website builders regularly to provide our readers with the most up-to-date information.
So, how much do the best website builders cost?
How much do the best website builder cost? Take a look at our top-performing builders to compare:
| Builder | Overall Rating | Starting Price | Free Plan/Trial | Number of Templates | View |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wix | 4.8 | Starting at $17 | Free plan or free trial | 900+ | View Wix |
| Squarespace | 4.6 | Starting at $15.30 with code ‘TAKE10’ | Free trial or plan | 150+ | View Squarespace |
| Shopify | 4.4 | First month $1 | Free trial or plan | 150+ | View Shopify |
| GoDaddy | 4.3 | Starting at $9.99 | Free plan or free trial | 200+ | View GoDaddy |
| Hostinger | 4.3 | Starting at $11.99 | Free plan or free trial | 150+ | View Hostinger |
Our top-rated website builders start from as little as $2.99 per month and go up to $299 per month (billed annually) if you’re looking for more advanced plans. Pricing is usually cheaper if you choose an annual subscription instead of paying month-by-month.
If you’re looking for the most affordable builder, Hostinger offers the cheapest plans on the market right now. That said, GoDaddy is the best value for money, offering affordable plans (including a free plan) and beginner-friendly features to help you get online quickly. GoDaddy offers the best value, with affordable plans (including one that is free) and features designed for beginners to help you get started quickly. When testing GoDaddy, I got my website up and running in minutes.
Source: Website Builder Expert
Ecommerce Pricing: Starting From $20.99
Pricing for Ecommerce: Starting at $20.99.
Standard website builders come equipped with features such as email marketing and SEO to help you showcase your work and promote your website online. However, if you want to sell products or services, you’ll need added ecommerce functionality.
Our top ecommerce website builders for 2024 range from $20.99 to $299 per month (billed annually). These plans are pricier than general website builder plans since you get access to sales features, like abandoned cart recovery, as well as additional support for your online store. These plans are more expensive than the general website builder plans because you get access to additional features like abandoned cart recovery and additional support for your store.
Can You Create a Website For Free?
You can build a website for free which is great for anyone on a tight budget. That said, I recommend upgrading to a premium plan as soon as possible to distance yourself from the limitations of a free plan.
To avoid the limitations of a completely free plan, I recommend upgrading as soon as you can. The most common of these include:
- Ads displayed on your website – this can make you look unprofessional or amateurish
- A preset domain name, such as www.accountname.wixsite.com/siteaddress
- Basic features which usually include low storage and bandwidth allowances
- No ecommerce functionality so you can’t sell online
My free test website with Wix had quite an obvious banner ad at the top of the homepage. Source: Website Builder Expert
Using a free website builder is great for testing, but little else – you can play around in the editor and try the builder’s features to see if it’s the right fit for you. You can test out the features of the website builder and see if you like it. It’s also a great opportunity to improve your building skills without any financial pressure.
You can also improve your building abilities without any financial pressure. Still, you’ll want to upgrade to a paid plan to unlock advanced features and remove ads.
Web Hosting Costs
Hosting is an essential cost that can’t be overlooked. Luckily, website builders are a handy all-in-one solution since they include web hosting with your plan – this means you don’t need to source or manage your site’s hosting.
Website builders are a great all-in one solution because they include web hosting with their plans. This means you do not need to manage or source your site’s host. If you use a platform like WordPress, you’ll have to pay for web hosting separately.
If you’re using a platform such as WordPress, you will need to pay separately for web hosting.
Here’s a quick breakdown on web hosting costs:
| Method | Cost |
|---|---|
| Using a website builder | $0 |
| Using WordPress | $2.95+ per month |
There’s an overwhelming number of web hosting providers out there, so we’ve tested the very best to help you find a suitable host for your website. We’ve tested a number of web hosts to help you choose the best one for your website. Overall, Bluehost is our top-rated web host, with pricing starting from $2.95 per month. It’s even recommended by WordPress.
For basic shared hosting, you can expect costs between $1 and $25 per month – most websites start on this type of hosting since it’s the cheapest and often includes a free domain name and SSL certificate. Basic shared hosting costs between $1 and $25 per month. This is the most affordable option and includes a free SSL certificate and domain name. However, it’s also the least reliable and security can be rocky, so if you want better resources for your site, VPS hosting ranges from roughly $2 to $230 per month.
VPS hosting costs between $2 and $230 per month, but is less reliable and can have security issues. Dedicated hosting plans start from around $50-150 per month, but these higher prices will only be necessary if you’re hosting a very large website. Dedicated hosting plans range from $50-150 per month, but you will only need them if your website is very large.
Domain Names
Another key element when building a website is getting a domain name – a custom domain name is a great way to build brand recognition and site awareness. A domain name is another important element to consider when building a site. It is a great tool for promoting your brand and increasing awareness of your website. Some website builders include a custom domain name for free (usually for the first year of your plan), but you’ll eventually need to pay to keep your domain name registered.
Some website builders offer a free custom domain name (usually for the first 12 months of your plan), however, you will need to pay for it to be registered.
| Option | Cost |
|---|---|
| With selected website builder or web host | $0 for the first year |
| Standard domain cost | $10+ per year |
Domains cost $10+ per annum. Domain names vary in price depending on your registrar, such as GoDaddy or NameCheap, the TLD (meaning the .com part of the address), and how popular the domain name is. The price of domain names can vary depending on the registrar (such as GoDaddy or NameCheap), the TLD, which is the .com portion of the address, and how popular it is. For example, short and common word domains, such as ai.com, sold for millions of dollars in 2023!
In 2023, domains with short and common words, such as ai.com sold for millions of dollars! For a general .com domain name, you can expect to pay around $10 to $20, at least for the first year. You can expect to pay $10 to $20 for a .com domain, at least the first year. I used GoDaddy’s domain name checker to review pricing and availability. Source: Website Builder Expert
Should You Hire A Web Designer?
While website builders make it possible for both beginners and experienced builders to get online, only some have the time or desire to build a website themselves. Website builders allow both novices and experienced builders to go online. However, not everyone has the time or desire necessary to build their own website. If you’ve got the budget, you can hire a web designer to do the heavy lifting.
If you have the budget, you could hire a web designer who will do all the heavy lifting.
So, how much should a website designer cost? This is the hardest price to estimate because it varies depending on a designer’s rates – it could set you back a few hundred dollars upfront, with additional fees for ongoing maintenance. It’s difficult to estimate this price because it depends on the designer’s rate. You could pay a few hundred bucks upfront and then additional fees for maintenance. Typically, web designers charge around $50 to $200 per hour.
Web designers typically charge between $50 and $200 per hour. GoDaddy revealed its Essential Web Design Service in November 2023, offering small businesses a professionally-made four-page website for a one-time fee of $499.99.
GoDaddy announced its Essential Web Design Service for Small Businesses in November 2023. The service offers a four-page website professionally designed by professionals for a one-time payment of $499. I could pay a one-time fee to get GoDaddy’s design team to build my website for me.
I could pay GoDaddy a one-time charge to have their design team build my website. Source: Website Builder Expert
Lots of things can impact the cost of hiring a web designer, such as complexity, the number of pages, and whether or not you want them to build the site from scratch or rework an existing template. The cost of hiring a designer can be affected by many factors, including the complexity of the site, the number and type of pages, as well as whether you want the designer to start from scratch or modify an existing template. And you’ll have to pay more if you want them to maintain your site long-term.
You’ll also have to pay extra if you want your site maintained long-term.
There’s the danger of paying too little with a web designer and getting a poor website as a result, so make sure you have the budget to hire a suitably skilled designer for your needs. You can end up with a bad website if you hire a web designer who is not qualified. Make sure that your budget allows for a designer who is well-versed in the field. If you’re tight for cash, a website builder is the more affordable option.
A website builder may be the best option if you are on a tight budget. Hire a web designer if:
- You’re building a complex or large website
- You’re short on time – you can prioritize other tasks or work while a web designer handles your website
- You’re looking to build a custom website – website builder customers are using the same designs and resources, so a web designer can craft something unique
- You lack technical or design skills
Don’t hire a web designer if:
- You have a limited budget since web designers are very expensive to hire – a website builder is more affordable
- You’re building a personal website or run a small online store – there’s no need to shell out for a designer since they’re more suitable for larger projects
- You want to get online quickly – a website builder can have your site published within the day but it’ll take time to get the final product from a web designer
- You want to be involved in the design or building process – the point of hiring a web designer is to have someone else do the work for you
Additional Website Costs
There are plenty of additional fees to consider when figuring out how much a website should cost. When browsing website builder plans, see if the following features are included or make a note if you’ll have to pay extra:
- Templates – For example, Wix provides 900+ templates for free but the majority of Shopify’s templates have a one-time fee that can range between $140 and $450
- Apps – You may want or need to install and pay for third-party integrations, and some features, such as Squarespace’s Acuity Scheduling tool cost extra to use (starting from $16/mo)
- Security – Most website builders provide security measures for free, such as fraud detection for payments and free SSL certificates, but these will be added costs if you opt to use WordPress
- Content – If you don’t feel comfortable writing your content or creating imagery and videos yourself, then you’ll need to hire a professional to handle the work
- SEO – SEO experts can help optimize your website for search engines but this can set you back around $50 to $150 per hour, so I recommend relying on your website builder’s built-in SEO tools and learning resources (such as Wix’s SEO Learning Hub)
- Maintenance – You’ll want to track your website’s performance with tools like Google Analytics or alternatives to GA4 and make improvements where necessary
Shopify’s premium templates can be viewed before purchase and I appreciated being able to try the different preset options when browsing. Source: Website Builder Expert
How To Save Money: Reduce Website Costs
You need to spend your time and money wisely to get the best results – but the good news is that you don’t need a huge budget to create a beautiful website. Spending your time and money well will yield the best results. But the good news is that you don’t have to have a large budget to create an attractive website. Of course, the bigger your budget, the more you can spend on additional functionality and templates, but this won’t be necessary for smaller or personal sites.
The bigger your budget is, the more money you can spend on templates and additional functionality. However, this will not be necessary for small or personal websites.
Here are my expert tips to save money when creating a website:
- Think about present needs first – Will you need every feature right away or can you pick a cheaper plan to start with? Consider your current needs first. Do you need all the features right away, or can you start with a cheaper plan? Can you upgrade down the line when you have a bigger budget to play with?
- Use a website builder – Choosing a cheap website builder is the most cost-effective way to get your website up and running
- Don’t pay for extra features you don’t need – Like Goldilocks, you want to find a website builder and plan that’s just right which means not overpaying for extra features you won’t use and not limiting yourself by choosing a cheap but restrictive plan
- Choose a free template – There are plenty of beautiful templates available that don’t come with a hefty price tag in addition to your website builder plan
- Use available resources and guides – Make the most of online resources to upskill and improve your building knowledge (plenty of website builders have help centers full of tutorials, video lessons, and courses)
How Much Should A Website Cost? Final Review
By now, you should have a good idea about how much a website should cost. Website builders can cost between $0 and $299 per month, and your plan usually includes extras such as hosting, a domain name, security, and templates – the most affordable and beginner-friendly option.
WordPress can cost between $11 and $1,000+ upfront depending on the plugins, premium templates, and hosting provider you choose – this option targets users who want advanced creative control and have some prior building experience.
Web designers will vary in price depending on the desired workload, but you can expect to shell out $1,000 to $5,000+ upfront, and even more for ongoing support – this option is best for complex or large sites, or for people who don’t have the time but do have the budget to spend.
This is why I recommend using a website builder to create a website. It is for this reason that I recommend using a web builder to create your website. The costs are minimal, depending on your chosen plan, and everything’s bundled under one price tag to keep things simple.