Basic DIY website
$50–$300/year
A simple site using an affordable domain, shared or entry-level hosting and mostly free tools.
ChoiSmart Learn
How Much Does It Cost to Build a Website?
A realistic breakdown of domain, hosting, design, software, content and professional website costs in 2026.
Updated September 2, 2026How we research →
Quick answer
A website can cost under $100 or more than $10,000.
The biggest difference is whether you build it yourself or hire someone. A simple DIY site may only require a domain and hosting. Custom design, development, professional content and maintenance can push the cost much higher.
Illustrative planning budgets
Website cost ranges
Small business DIY site
$150–$1,000/year
A more professional setup with better hosting, paid themes or plugins, business email and selected software.
Freelancer-built website
$500–$5,000+
Pricing depends heavily on the number of pages, design quality, content, revisions and custom functionality.
Agency or custom website
$3,000–$20,000+
Custom strategy, branding, design, development and more complex functionality can quickly increase the total.
Breakdown
What you are actually paying for
Domain
$10–$25/yearMost standard domains are inexpensive. Premium domains can cost much more, but most new websites do not need one.
Web hosting
$30–$600+/yearEntry-level hosting can be cheap, while managed or cloud hosting costs more. Always look at renewal pricing, not just the introductory price.
Website software
$0–$500+/yearWordPress itself is free, but premium themes, plugins and website builders can add recurring costs.
Design
$0–$5,000+Using a template can cost almost nothing. Custom design from a freelancer or agency can become one of the largest expenses.
Content
$0–$3,000+Writing your own content keeps costs low. Professional copywriting, photography, video and graphics raise the budget.
Maintenance
$0–$2,000+/yearDIY maintenance may only cost your time. Businesses that outsource updates, backups, security and support will pay more.
Hosting cost
Hosting is one of the main recurring costs.
Introductory hosting prices can look extremely cheap. Always check renewal pricing and what is actually included before deciding.
Managed WordPress
SiteGround
Useful for beginners and businesses that value easy WordPress management, support and managed features.
See SiteGround pricing →Managed cloud
Cloudways
Better suited to growing sites that want more flexibility and managed cloud infrastructure.
See Cloudways pricing →Budget
Namecheap
Useful for domains and low-cost website projects where budget matters most.
See Namecheap pricing →DIY vs professional
Should you build it yourself or hire someone?
Lower cost
Build it yourself
DIY makes sense when the website is relatively simple and you are willing to spend time learning the platform.
- ✓ Lower upfront cost
- ✓ Full control
- ✓ Easy to change later
- × Requires your time
- × Learning curve
Higher cost
Hire a professional
Hiring someone makes more sense when your time is valuable, the site is complex or professional strategy and design matter.
- ✓ Saves your time
- ✓ Professional expertise
- ✓ Better for complex projects
- × Higher upfront cost
- × Quality varies by provider
Useful tools
Tools that can reduce the cost of building a website
The easiest way to keep costs under control is to use software for specific tasks instead of outsourcing every part of the project.
Content
Writesonic
Can help create first drafts for website copy and content without hiring a writer for every page.
View Writesonic →SEO
Scalenut
Useful for planning and optimizing search-focused content without immediately hiring an SEO agency.
View Scalenut →Design
Adobe Express
Useful for simple graphics and branded assets without paying a designer for every visual.
View Adobe Express →Save money
Spend money where it actually matters
Worth paying for
- ✓ Reliable hosting
- ✓ Strong domain name
- ✓ Important functionality
- ✓ Professional help when truly needed
Easy to overspend on
- × Too many premium plugins
- × Expensive themes before launch
- × Tools you rarely use
- × Custom development for simple features
Example budgets
How to use these example budgets
| Budget | Realistic setup | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Under $300/year | Domain, budget hosting and mostly free tools | Simple personal or starter website |
| $300–$1,000/year | Better hosting, premium tools and more professional setup | Small business website |
| $1,000–$5,000+ | Professional design or freelancer development | Businesses that want outside help |
| $5,000+ | Custom strategy, design and development | Complex or high-value projects |
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
How much does a basic website cost in 2026?
A basic do-it-yourself website can often be launched for roughly $50 to $300 per year if you use an inexpensive domain, basic hosting and mostly free tools.
How much does a small business website cost?
A DIY small business website may cost a few hundred dollars per year, while a professionally designed site can cost hundreds to several thousand dollars upfront depending on complexity.
What is the biggest website expense?
For DIY websites, hosting and software are usually the main recurring costs. For professionally built websites, design and development often become the biggest expenses.
Do I need to pay monthly for a website?
Usually yes for some services. Hosting, website builders and certain software are commonly billed monthly or annually, while domains are usually renewed yearly.
Can I build a website for free?
You can test some platforms for free, but a professional website usually needs at least a domain and hosting or a paid website-builder plan.