How Much Does It Cost to Build a Website in 2024? Not a Lot!

The real cost of building a website can vary depending on several factors, including your preferred method. Thanks to the prevalence and development of website builders, freelance platforms, and content management systems (CMSs), you can expect to invest about $20 per month for your website.

If you opt for a paid website builder, you can spend as little as $5 monthly, while a professional web designer may charge you over $1,000 for a one-time payment. However, the cheapest option may not have all the features you need, and the most expensive may not necessarily provide the best value for your money.

So I’ve spent weeks meticulously creating this complete guide to find how much it costs to build a website in 2024, based on four different methods to go about it. I compiled options from the totally free to the pricier side to help you decide which is the best option for you.

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

Method #1: Build a Website for Free

A website builder is exactly what it sounds like, a tool that allows you to create your website regardless of your technical expertise. Paid or free, all website builders operate under the same basic concept: you get the tools to create and manage your website through a visual, user-friendly interface. Meanwhile, the builder takes care of all the backend details necessary to keep your site running smoothly.

Free website builders are the way to go if you want to create a website and host it for, well, free. They’re a great starting point for you to experiment and learn design fundamentals risk-free. However, free plans are usually limited, you won’t get options for e-commerce, and your site will display ads for your website builder, as well as force you into a subdomain like mysite.websitebuilder.com.

You might come across free hosting services for WordPress or other CMSs. While intriguing, they often don’t include essential features, such as support, email accounts, and a free domain. Sometimes, free hosting can even be a security liability.

If you’re new to setting up a website, using free website builders can be a more secure option because of their robust and easy-to-use features. If that sounds appealing to you, I recommend checking out the following free website builders:

1. Wix: The Most Complete Free Plan 1

Wix’s free plan1 gives you access to its complete catalog of templates, as well as unrestricted access to its customization features. Thanks to Wix’s drag-and-drop editor and selection of hundreds of different elements, you can design virtually any website you want.

You also get access to a separate mobile editor, which means that you decide the exact look of your website on mobile as well. Besides its completely customizable editor, you can also create and manage blogs and email newsletters.

Read our expert Wix review for more details.

2. SITE123: Fast, Free, and Simple Website Builder1

SITE123 favors quick building over complete creative control. While it might not offer as many customization features as others, it makes up for it thanks to its incredibly intuitive editor that lets you create professional-looking websites in minutes1.

It also offers a really generous free plan, with access to blogging features, contact and donation forms, and even some business tools like event calendars, restaurant reservations, and appointment scheduling. However, unlike Wix, SITE123 does limit some customization features behind its paid plans.

Read our expert SITE123 review for more details.

3. Webador: The Most User-Friendly Free Builder for Simple Sites1

Webador stands out thanks to its unique media-sharing tools, such as elements for sharing documents, audio, and embedded video. It’s also one of the few builders to offer unlimited storage, bandwidth, and web pages on the free plan. If you want to create good-looking, one-page sites quickly, then Webador is the fastest website builder1 on the market.

Read our expert Webador review for more details.

4. WordPress.com: Best Free Plan for Blogging1

WordPress.com is the self-hosted version of the WordPress CMS. As such, it gives you the same powerful tools for blogging, structuring various pages, and overall design as the WordPress CMS. You also get extra features like security, automatic backups, SEO tools, galleries, slideshows, and contact forms through the Jetpack plugin.

On the downside, the free plan has some important restrictions: you can’t access WordPress’s plugin library, which means you won’t have access to vital plugins like page builders for design, integrated payment options for e-commerce, or optimization plugins. You can only use community support forums and a limited selection of free themes. Plus, unlike with other builders, WordPress.com has a pretty steep learning curve.

Read our expert WordPress.com review for more details.

5. Square Online: The Only Free E-commerce Solution1

Square Online is the only (respectable) builder that gives you access to e-commerce capabilities on the free plan. The e-commerce features are pretty decent for a free plan too. You get unlimited items, inventory management, coupons, contact forms, and an Instagram integration that lets you sell directly via social media.

It’s worth noting, however, that Square Online still charges a percentage fee of about 3% on all transactions. Also, your design options are restrictive, so you won’t get the most unique-looking e-commerce website with Square Online.

Read our expert Square Online review for more details.

What You Actually Get When Building a Website for Free

I know that’s a lot of information, so, just to recap, here’s a quick comparison of how different free website builders stack up against each other:

Method #2: Use a Paid Website Builder

If you’re creating a website for any serious or professional purpose, consider upgrading to a paid plan. A paid plan lets you connect a professional domain to your website – without any subdomains and banner ads – to help you build a strong brand image. Using a premium website builder can also be more cost-effective than hiring a professional designer.

The pricing for a paid website builder can range anywhere from $3 to over $150 per month. Don’t worry too much about that last figure, though, as that pricing is only relevant for users who go for the most expensive, enterprise-level plans with really sought-after domains.

You can expect to pay somewhere around $10 to $20 each month to create a professional website with some basic e-commerce functions. If you’re planning to create a website for a small business that includes a more robust e-commerce store, greater marketing capabilities, or unique features like table booking for restaurants or custom plans for online services, that number only increases slightly, with a price tag of around $30 per month.

If you’re planning to use a paid plan, here’s a small breakdown of the costs you should look out for:

Of course, your website design cost will not only depend on the plan you choose but the builder itself. I’ve compared some of the most popular builders out there and created a short list of the paid website builders I recommend:

1. Wix: The Intuitive Builder With Complete Creative Freedom1

Though you already get access to Wix’s full customization features on the free plan, upgrading to a paid plan (starting at $17.00) gives you more storage space and access to Wix’s proprietary marketing suite. On the Core plan and above, you can access site analytic tools, create customer accounts, and even accept payments.

Read our expert Wix review for more details.

2. Squarespace: Best Paid Builder for Image-Rich Websites1

Thanks to Squarespace’s collection of over 160 professionally designed templates, as well as a simple editor focused on striking visuals, it’s the ideal builder for image-rich websites. Another one of its strengths is its complete marketing and search engine optimization (SEO) suite, which allows you to reach and maintain a broader audience. Squarespace plans start at $16.00 per month.

Read our expert Squarespace review for more details.

3. Hostinger Website Builder: An Affordable Builder With Powerful AI Tools1

The Hostinger Website Builder takes a middle step in simplicity. While it isn’t quite as customizable as Wix, it still provides high-quality templates and powerful customization tools to help you create a website that matches your vision. You can even supercharge your website’s design with Hostinger’s AI and e-commerce tools, all available in its Business Website Builder plan that costs $2.99 per month.

Read our expert Hostinger Website Builder review for more details.

4. Webador: The Fastest Website Builder for Simple Websites1

Upgrading Webador to a Pro plan, which costs $9.00 a month, gives you access to advanced statistics, Google Analytics, and e-commerce features. Not only that, but it’s one of the few website builders to charge a 0% transaction fee, which means that you can integrate an e-commerce section into your website without worrying about giving away a bit of your earnings on every sale.

Read our expert Webador review for more details.

5. IONOS: An Affordable Builder for Business Websites1

The IONOS website builder is dedicated to professional-looking business websites. It doesn’t offer the greatest amount of customization tools out there, but it makes up for it with its inclusion of professional analytics, access to the entire IONOS ecosystem, and even a dedicated customer support representative for every client. Its Plus plan gives you access to its advanced design options for only $1.00.

Read our expert IONOS Website Builder review for more details.

6. Web.com: A More Advanced Builder for Intermediate Users1

Web.com is a little harder to use than some of the builders on this list, but that’s only because it gives you access to more advanced editing tools. These include precise spacing options, media-sharing tools, and a complete branding dashboard that allows you to create a custom logo, product mockups, and email campaigns. You can make your own website with Web.com for as little as $4.99.

Read our expert Web.com review for more details.

7. SITE123: Simple Website Building at Low Prices1

SITE123’s premium plan, which starts at $12.80, gives you access to multilingual capabilities to ensure that your website has a maximum global reach. You can also create custom mailboxes, create a basic e-commerce store, and track your website’s performance with advanced analytic options.

Read our expert SITE123 review for more details.

8. Shopify: The Biggest E-commerce Platform in the World1

If you want an e-commerce site, then Shopify is the way to go, with plans starting at $29.00. Not only does it give you access to advanced shipping, mailing, and tax calculation options, but you can also rely on one of the biggest e-commerce infrastructures to ensure the greatest possible delivery quality for your clients. Regardless of your business type, Shopify has tools for selling physical and digital products, subscriptions, courses, and more.

Read our expert Shopify review for more details.

What You Actually Get When You Use a Paid Website Builder

Here’s a quick overview of how the most popular plans of each builder stack up against each other:

Method #3: Use WordPress.org With Your Own Hosting

Though it involves a steeper learning curve, using the WordPress CMS opens up a world of possibilities for your website in terms of design, function, and scalability. It isn’t the only CMS available out there, but it’s the most popular. You’re also bound to find more WordPress optimization features across different hosting providers than you would for other systems like Joomla.

Though the WordPress CMS is free, you’ll need to find a hosting provider for your site if you decide to go this route. You can think of hosting as a kind of rental cost for web server space to store your website. The bigger the website, the more space, performance, and security features you’ll need, and those come at a price.

A hosting subscription can cost you from $1.50 up to $70 per month, but expect to pay more for add-ons. Don’t let this dissuade you, though. While it might be a little more complex, self-hosting your website gives you a lot more control and freedom over it.

Here’s a quick overview of how much you can expect to pay for web hosting:

Going the self-hosting route also means you’ll have to pay for some services usually included by website builders. Besides hosting, you’ll also have to buy Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) certificates, domains and subdomains, and any premium plugins you need to add specific functionalities to your site.

Let’s take a closer look into two of the most important costs associated with hosting your own website:

Web Hosting Costs

Here’s a quick overview of some of the most popular kinds of hosting and their example prices:

• Shared hosting. Shared hosting means that you share your server’s resources with other users. Hostinger, a shared hosting provider that delivers outstanding performance scores, offers shared hosting plans starting at $2.99.
• Cloud hosting. Your website is hosted on an online network (the “cloud”) instead of a single physical machine, improving your protection against downtime or server failures. You can get affordable shared cloud hosting from hosts like FastComet with plans starting at $1.79.
• Virtual private server (VPS). With a VPS, you can decide exactly which resources you want, choose your server OS, and get full control over hosting. For example, if you opt for ScalaHosting’s self-managed VPS hosting with ample resources, you can expect to pay a minimum of $20.00.

Domain Costs

When buying a domain, it’s important to consider the cost of these two elements:

• Top-level domain (TLD). TLDs like .com and .net have different prices. A .com domain typically costs around $9.99 per year, while an .xyz domain can be as affordable as $0.99 per year. If you’re creating a professional website, it’s worth investing a little more in a TLD that lends credibility to your site.
• Domain name. The price of the domain name itself varies based on its popularity. If your desired domain name is not already registered, you won’t have to pay extra. However, if it’s already in use, you may need to negotiate prices with the current owner. This will vary from person to person, but I can tell you that some domains have sold for thousands if not millions of dollars. In such cases, it’s wise to consider alternative domain options.

Method #4: Hire a Professional Designer

A seasoned designer will know the best way to transmit a brand’s tone and structure a website to attract target visitors and make it stand out. While the most sought-after web design agencies in the world can charge thousands of dollars, that doesn’t mean that you can’t get your website designed by a professional at budget-friendly rates.

If you choose to hire a website designer, you may have to pay a one-time fee ranging from $100 to $1,500. Not only that, you still need to include website costs such as hosting or a subscription, regardless if you use WordPress.org or a site builder plan. Here’s an outline of the total expenses you might have to bear:

If you’re feeling overwhelmed and struggling to get your website design off the ground, you might consider checking out a freelance platform like Fiverr1. You’ll find some really talented designers who offer their services for much less than what you’d expect to pay. You can find novice freelancers selling web design services for as little as $20 or over $600 from highly rated, experienced designers.

Though there are hundreds of quality options on Fiverr and other freelance platforms, here are three freelancers I found particularly impressive:

Marko B – Outstanding Design From a Top-Rated Professional

If you’re willing to pay top dollar for top-quality work, seasoned professionals are working on Fiverr alongside more inexperienced freelancers. Though it might not seem exactly cheap at first glance, $600 for a professional designer who’s worked on projects for brands like Apple, Google, or Coca-Cola is an incredibly valuable offer, and that’s exactly what you get with Marko B.

Through his (800+ project) portfolio, Marko B. demonstrates an impressive capacity to adapt to the brand and style of each client while keeping all designs looking modern and attractive.

Bilal Khawaja – SEO-Optimized Responsive Website at a Fair Price

On the middle-to-higher end of the scale, you can hire designers like Bilal Khawaja. For about $300, you can get a unique, fully responsive, and SEO-optimized website in 7 days. Bilal has over 500 five-star ratings and offers up to 5 revisions to ensure that you get exactly the website you want.

Dream Athena – Budget-Friendly Service for Responsive Website Design

If you’re willing to take a chance on a slightly less experienced designer, Dream Athena has a perfect 5-star average and can design a fully responsive website for as low as $20. “Less experienced” doesn’t mean inexperienced either, as Dream Athena is a level 2 seller, which means she has fulfilled more than 50 orders through Fiverr.

So, How Much Does It Cost to Make a Website?

The answer is, how much do you want to spend? The cost will depend on your method, your purpose, and your website’s needs. Though there are options for every budget, most professionals can expect a monthly cost of around $20, plus a bit more at the very start.

If you want to create a free website, there are website builders that can get you there, but you’ll have to deal with a builder subdomain, ads, and limited resources. Out of all the free options, I recommend Wix1, since it still gives you access to its full creative control features.

If you need your website for more than a personal project, consider investing in a paid website builder plan, which can cost anywhere from $3 to $150. This will allow you to connect to your own domain, remove ads, and access additional resources. Wix is still a wonderful option if you’re willing to go for a premium plan, but you can also get outstanding business and marketing features with Squarespace1.

That said, hosting your own website (with WordPress or not) gives you a lot more options for scalability, customization, and fine-tuning. It might have a bit more of a learning curve, but it can get you wonderful results. You can get high-quality hosting with Hostinger1 for as little as $2.99 a month.

Finally, you could invest a little more to take the weight off your shoulders and hire a professional designer. You can find talented and budget-friendly designers on Fiverr1 selling services for as low as $100.

What’s that I hear you say? Can I sum up this whole article in a table? I’m glad you asked.

Here’s how all of the different paid options compare side by side:

FAQ

Can you build a website for free?

Absolutely! Many website builders offer forever-free plans. That means you can build and host a website without spending a single cent. However, keep in mind that your site will come with a website builder subdomain and display banner ads. You can check our in-depth guide to free website builders.

How much does it cost to hire someone to build a website?

That greatly depends. While some design agencies can charge thousands, freelance websites like Fiverr have made it easy to hire professional designers at affordable rates, starting from $5.00. That doesn’t mean that the quality of the design will leave anything to be desired though, as there are freelancers who can do wonders without charging outrageous prices.

How much should I pay for an e-commerce website?

That depends on the scope and functionality of your e-commerce site. If you just want to integrate a few e-commerce options into your regular site, then a simple site builder with payment-accepting features will do the trick.

However, for fully fledged e-commerce sites, you might want to go for a dedicated e-commerce platform like Shopify, which costs as little as $29.00 per month. Either way, you can get more detailed information about the cost of creating a website through our guide.

How much does it cost to build a website for a small business?

That greatly depends on the business, your needs, and your resources. It can range from $5 to over $300 per month, with some one-off expenses if you’re hiring a designer or buying a website theme. While some business websites can cost just a few dollars a month, other operations might require heftier investments.

Either way, website design pricing is just one of the many considerations you should take when creating a website for your business. Ideally, a good website builder helps you simplify the design process while giving you the features you need to succeed. If you want to learn more, I recommend taking a look at our expert guide to the best website builders in 2024.