How Much Does It Cost to Have a Website in 2024?

If you’re asking, “How much does a website cost?” you’ve come to the right place.

The cost of a website can vary widely depending on several factors, including the platform you choose, whether you need web hosting, your approach to website design, the additional features or extensions you require, and how you plan to maintain it.

In this guide, we’ll break down the main factors that influence website costs, helping you understand what works best for your needs and budget.

How Much Does a Website Cost on Average?

In 2024, the average cost of starting a website ranges from $0 to $30. You can expect to pay at least another $40 per month for maintenance and extra features. As a result, you should plan for a total minimum yearly budget of around $600.

Here’s a detailed breakdown table of average website costs, covering all the key factors to consider.

Take a look, and keep reading for an in-depth exploration of each website component.

How Much Does It Cost to Build a Website?

Building a website typically costs between $0 and $100 per month on average.

But when it comes to website planning, the choices can seem endless. From ecommerce platforms and CMS to open-source software or even writing custom code, there’s a wide range of possibilities. And since many of these options can overlap, it’s easy to get them confused.

To simplify things, let’s say there are generally three methods to consider – whether you’re going to use a website builder, an open-source software (usually used for content management systems like WordPress), or custom website development.

Let’s explore each of these options in depth, along with their advantages or disadvantages, and their respective average costs.

Website Builder

If you’re just starting out and you’re not that tech-savvy, you might want to choose a website builder.

Some of the most popular website builders include WIX, Weebly, Shopify, and Squarespace. There are two main advantages to using a website builder:

• Drag-and-drop editor

Website builders often provide drag-and-drop editors for website creation, which are super easy to use. They are also very intuitive when it comes to customizing and making changes to your website design.

• Subscription-based charges

If you choose this option, you’ll likely need to subscribe to a plan, giving you more control over your costs. You’ll just need to factor in the cost of additional apps or tools to provide the extra functionalities your site may require.

The main disadvantage, though, is that website builders are not that scalable – if you need something more from them, such as more web traffic, or space, or ad-free website, or anything else, you’ll need to upgrade your plan and pay more. They are also limited in functionality, so if you need some extra features, you’ll have to pay for apps, or for custom coding.

Website builders are an excellent choice if you’re looking for a simple way to experiment with website creation and are willing to trade some level of personalization and flexibility for ease of use.

Total cost: With website builders, basic website creation will usually cost anywhere between $10 and $30 per month.

Open-Source Software

Open-source software is a software whose source code can be inspected, modified, and enhanced by anyone. This option is often the preferred choice for many, as it provides greater freedom and more options for personalization when building websites.

For instance, one of the most popular open-source software out there is WordPress. In fact, more than 43% of all websites are built with WordPress.

Here are the main advantages of using an open-source software:

• Free to use

Open-source software is entirely free to use. For example, you can use WordPress at no cost to build your own website.

• Community and control

Most open-source software has large communities of users and developers, offering valuable technical support and shared knowledge. Additionally, open-source software gives you greater control over its code, allowing for more customization and flexibility.

If you go for this option, keep in mind that you will still have to pay some additional costs, such as hosting, or extra fees for performance and security tools.

That said, an open-source software like WordPress is a great option for pretty much anyone – from beginners and small businesses to medium-sized businesses and larger companies. It gives you the flexibility to start for free and scale as your site grows.

Total cost for software: Free to start using, extra charges may apply as your brand grows.

Custom-Built Website

If you need a custom-built, unique, or more complex website, you may want to consider hiring a professional web developer.

But how much does it cost to develop a website from scratch? The answer will depend on the complexity and functionalities of the website you need, its backend requirements, and security or performance extensions. A webmaster will usually charge their hourly rate to develop all these for your website.

Total cost: You can expect an average web page development cost between $100 and $180 per hour for the web developer’s hourly rates.

How Much Does It Cost to Host a Website

Whether you choose an open-source software website or a custom-built one, be sure to factor in web hosting costs when calculating your total website expenses.

Here’s what you need to consider:

Web Hosting Provider

There are different types of web hosting, such as shared, cloud, VPS, or dedicated, from which you can choose the best option for your website needs.

Shared hosting is the most popular and appropriate option for starting a blog, portfolio, or small-business website. With shared hosting, your website uses a server’s resources, such as storage, bandwidth, and processing power, alongside many other websites. This makes it not only the most affordable option, but also powerful and robust enough to cover your website needs. 

Additionally, if you’re looking for a hassle-free hosting experience, opting for shared managed hosting is your best choice, as it allows you to focus on your website without worrying about the technical details. Unlike unmanaged solutions, managed hosting providers offer extra convenience for website owners, because the web host takes care of updates and offers additional perks, such as speed and security boosts.

If you decide to use WordPress, it’s especially important to select a managed hosting service that is specifically designed for WordPress. The price of this hosting is almost the same as other alternatives, yet some hosts may charge extra for the additional software support.

Total cost: The average cost of a shared web hosting plan ranges from $2.99 to $15.00 per month.

Domain Name Registration

A domain name is not only your website’s address on the internet, but it also establishes your brand identity. For example, a domain name looks something like: www.mybrand.com.

Choosing and registering your website’s domain name is another important step when starting a new website. You’ll want a name that’s easy to remember and type, aligns with your brand, and looks professional. Next, consider the domain extension (such as .com, .org, .info, etc.), which also plays a role in your site’s credibility and appeal.

Depending on what extension you choose, your domain name registration costs will vary. For example, top-level domains like .com or .org, including your brand name, could be more expensive.

With that said, how much does a website domain cost? 

Domain name registration can range anywhere between $12 and $60 per year, depending on the above-mentioned factors. Some web hosting providers and website builder services include this domain subscription as a free bonus for the first year.

Total cost: The average cost of registering a domain name is between $12 and $60, on a yearly subscription basis.

SSL Certificate

One more thing that’s a must-have nowadays is installing an SSL certificate. It’s a security technology that encrypts all traffic that goes through your website and ensures that sensitive information, such as login credentials and credit card details remain protected.

This certificate will appear in the user’s browser as an HTTPS prefix instead of HTTP, signaling that your site is secure and safe to visit.

Most often, web hosting providers offer SSL certificates for free with their hosting plans. If your hosting provider or website builder service does not provide a free SSL certificate, you need to purchase an SSL certificate from a third-party provider. It will cost anywhere between $6 and $250 per year.

Total cost: For an SSL certificate, you need to plan to spend between $0 and $250 per year.

How Much Does It Cost to Design a Website

Next comes your website design cost. This cost can range from $0 to $350 per year, depending on different factors. Here are the factors to consider, depending on the type of website you initially built.

Templates and Themes

If you’re using a popular website builder, they typically offer ready-to-use templates as part of your subscription plan. These templates are included in the price you’re paying and can be customized with the builder’s drag-and-drop editor, allowing you to enhance the design and user experience of your website.

If you’re looking for a more unique look, you might need to purchase a premium template, which isn’t included in your subscription. For instance, Wix offers templates ranging from free to $70 or more, while Shopify templates can cost up to $400 or more.

On the other hand, WordPress websites use a similar feature called themes, which control your website’s appearance. Like website builders, WordPress themes come in a variety of designs and can be either free or paid. There are over 12,000 free themes available for WordPress, while paid themes offer additional customization options to improve your site’s design and user experience.

Total cost: Premium templates for website builders range from $0 to $400, while WordPress themes typically cost between $0 and $200.

Customized Design

If you want a completely unique and customized website, you’ll need to hire a professional designer to bring your vision to life. They’ll create a design that matches exactly what you imagine.

To estimate the cost of website design, start by determining the hourly rate of a designer and then calculate the number of hours required to complete your project. In some cases, designers may offer a flat rate for the entire project instead.

When choosing a freelance designer, it’s important to review their portfolio to ensure their style aligns with your vision. Be prepared with examples of websites you like, your preferred color palette, and your logo to provide a solid foundation for the designer to work from.

Total cost: A professional website designer can cost you anywhere from $35 to $100 or more per hour, depending on their experience and the project’s complexity.

How Much Does It Cost to Manage a Website?

Regardless of which CMS, site builder, or ecommerce platform you use, you’ll likely need additional features that come with extra costs.

These features are typically referred to as apps, plugins, or add-ons, depending on the software. Essentially, they enhance the functionality of your site.

There are thousands of apps available, offering countless possibilities, but here, we’ll focus on the essential ones we believe every website needs:

Speed and Security Extensions

Whether you’re using a website builder service, WordPress, or a custom-built website, you’re most likely going to need speed and security extensions. These are critical to any website, no matter what purpose it serves.

WordPress offers more than 59,000 free plugins in its official directory. Many of these plugins function as speed boosters and security enhancements. For example, with the free Speed Optimizer and Security Optimizer plugins, WordPress users get all the speed and security features their website needs, no matter where it’s hosted.

Other popular CMS platforms like Joomla and Magento provide a few thousand extensions each, too, some of which are dedicated to website speed and security.

However, not all speed and security extensions are free. For instance, for a paid security plugin on WordPress you might need to pay anywhere between $20 per month and $200 per year. Similarly, for a paid WordPress speed plugin, the cost may vary between $25 and $60 per year.

Total cost: Speed and security enhancements can cost you anywhere between $0 up to $200 per year.

SEO and Analytics Tools

You will need to install an SEO tool to make sure your website is optimized for Google Search results. 

There are free tools like Google Analytics or Google Search Console that provide crucial information on website traffic and user behavior. 

For more advanced data, there are paid tools like Ahrefs, but prices start from $120 per month and go up to $400 per month. Such tools are a game changer, but also not for every budget.

Email Marketing Tool

Email marketing is a must if you want to engage with your target audience, drive more traffic to your website, and collect new leads. To optimize and automate your email marketing campaigns, you need an email marketing tool.

The monthly subscription cost for an email marketing tool will depend on several factors, including number of subscribers, amount of emails sent out, frequency of campaigns, and additional features like automation, or analytics. 

The starting monthly prices for email marketing services typically range from $9 to $50.

Social Media Integration

To drive even more engagement and sales, you might consider promoting your products or services on social media as well. You can do this yourself, or use the help of third-party tools to save time. Some popular tools include Hootsuite (from $100 per month) and Buffer (from $5 to $100 per month, or a free version is available, too), which help you schedule your posts and manage social media content.

For WordPress, you can also use a free or paid plugin that integrates with your website and allows your visitors to share your content on social media. Paid plugins can cost anywhere from $20 to $200 per year.

Total cost: The total cost will depend on the number of extensions that you install and whether they are free or paid – anywhere from $0 to $1000 or more per month.

How Much Does It Cost to Maintain a Website?

Your website maintenance costs will largely depend on the renewal fees for some of the features mentioned earlier.

Start by considering your web hosting renewal or website builder service, whether you’re paying monthly or annually. Some providers offer discounts if you choose to pay annually.

For WordPress users, there are also ongoing costs related to keeping your site updated and maintained. You can reduce this burden by opting for a Managed WordPress hosting provider like SiteGround. Otherwise, you may need to hire someone to handle maintenance, which can become expensive.

Next, factor in the annual renewals for your domain name and SSL certificate. Finally, add up the costs for any additional extensions and calculate their monthly or annual renewal fees.

Total cost: Your website maintenance can cost anywhere between $500 and $60,000 per year.

The Bottom Line on Website Expenses

The cost of a small business website will vary based on the factors mentioned above. These represent the key monthly expenses every small business owner should consider when budgeting for their website.

To calculate your total costs, you need to choose a website building option first, then go for a web hosting provider (if needed), add up the fees for design and extensions, plus the maintenance costs.

The average cost to build a website will range from $0 to $30 per month, and when you add the extra costs after creating the website, you can expect to pay around $500 per year.

We’d love to hear about your experience – let us know in the comments below how much you ended up spending on your website.