How much does a website cost in 2024?

How much does a website cost to build in 2024? If your needs are relatively simple, you may find that making a website costs less than you'd expect. However, no matter how complex your site may be, you'll always want to be aware of your costs. While some expenses may be expected, others may be less obvious. To avoid surprises, you'll want to study all the aspects of creating a site and their associated price tags.

While website costs vary greatly, this article will help you better gauge what your project might cost before you invest in a website builder or hire a developer. Specifically, we’re answering questions like:

• How much does it cost to make a website?

• What factors influence the cost of building a website?

• How much does a website cost with a website builder?

• How much does a website cost to build with a professional?

• How much does a website cost per website type?

Want to get started for free? Wix’s website builder features a free plan so you can get your site up and running without fussing over costs.

How much does it cost to make a website?

A simple website can cost as little as $16 per month if you’re creating it yourself, but more complex sites or sites involving the help of an expert (designers, copywriters, photographers, etc.) can cost more than $10,000 in total. That's a big range, so let's break down the factors that influence the cost of making a website.

What are the factors that influence the cost of building a website?

Here’s a detailed look at the factors that influence website costs and what determines them. We’ve provided average cost ranges based on both do-it-yourself solutions and higher-end approaches to help you estimate expenses.

1. Website Builder

2. Website design & interface

3. Web hosting

4. Domains 

5. Templates 

6. CMS 

7. SSL 

8. E-commerce functionality

9. Apps and integrations

10. Marketing 

01. Website Builder

Average cost range: $0-$200 per month

Website builders help you design your website with little to no coding. Website builders like Wix offer free plans with limited features, ads, and branded subdomains. Others charge as little as $16 per month and as much as $150-$200 for plans that include access to a wider range of features. For example, with a Wix Premium Plan, you get a drag-and-drop builder, hosting, custom domain names, simple website templates, a CMS, and more.

02. Website design and interface

Average cost range: $0-$10,000+ one time fee

Arguably the most essential part of any website is its design. A site’s visual content, including text, branding elements, imagery, and layout, is what visitors see and interact with when they first arrive on your homepage. A successful interface lets visitors fluidly navigate your site and take action, like making a purchase or signing up for your newsletter.

These days, launching a new website is relatively affordable, with website builders only costing a dozen or so bucks a month. Some like Wix even offer AI website builders to make web design accessible to people who can’t afford to hire a designer. Those who need a bespoke website with high levels of functionality may still want to shell out for a professional web designer, which tends to cost around $500 to $10,000. The lower end of that range will often afford you a simple, multi-page website, while the upper end will often get you an enterprise-level site designed to support needs like sophisticated analytics, complex database integration, and custom software development.

Then, there’s branding, imagery, and copywriting. Wix makes this easy with a logo maker, an image generator, a full image library, and a text generator. For a premium experience, you can hire branding experts, photographers, copywriters, or graphic designers for anywhere from a few dollars per hour to tens of thousands for a website full of content.

03. Web hosting

Average cost range: $3-$250/month

Websites need to be hosted on a server to show up on the internet. Servers store the information on your site so that it appears on visitors’ screens. You can either choose a website provider with built-in hosting or acquire the two services separately.

Web hosting can vary in cost. With website builders like Wix hosting is included in the cost of the platform. If you decide to build a site from scratch, you'll need to pay for hosting separately, the costs of which can range from $2.95 to $250 per month, depending on whether you need your own server.

04. Domains

Average cost range: $1-$1,000s per year

Think of a domain as your website's home address on the internet. It's what makes your online space official and gives visitors a feeling of trust and credibility. Therefore, it's worth spending the annual rate your domain registrar of choice charges for a custom domain.

You can snag a domain like myfavoritedayistuesday.site for as little as 98 cents a year over at Namecheap. Pretty sweet, right? But at the other end of the spectrum, there's a domain like carinsurance.com, which sold for a jaw-dropping $50 million back in 2019.

Here's the scoop: Simple and super-popular domains often come with a hefty price tag. On the flip side, longer and unique domain names tend to be more budget-friendly. And as for those endings after the dot, like .com, .org or .edu, they're usually pricier compared to newer ones like .dad or .phd.

05. Templates

Average cost range: $0-70+

You don't have to use templates, but they can be a big help when building a website, especially if you're new to it. Templates make it easier to create an impressive personal or professional website without actually hiring anyone.

Template costs vary based on the website builder or content management system that they are designed for and the complexity of the template's features. For example, when using Wix to build your website, you have access to hundreds of professionally designed website templates at no extra cost. Alternatively, premium templates are available for purchase for $70 or more.

06. CMS

Average cost range: $0-$160+ per month

A content management system, or CMS, is a software application or platform that allows you as a website owner or administrator to create, manage, and modify content on your site without extensive technical knowledge or coding skills. In other words, a CMS makes managing your website and publishing content easier.

Certain CMS options like Drupal are open-source and therefore free to use. However, it's worth noting that some CMS solutions may not be free, and they typically require payment for licensing or subscription fees. These costs often cover advanced features, technical support, and regular updates to keep your website running smoothly.

If you use a website builder like Wix, on the other hand, the CMS is built into the platform at no extra cost to you.

07. SSL

Average cost range: $0-$100 per year

SSL/TLS certificates (public key certification) provide essential online encryption and authentication, ensuring that the data transmitted between your website and its visitors remains private and can’t be intercepted or tampered with. These are your options for public key certifications and their costs:

• Paid certificates: There are various types of SSL/TLS certificates available, ranging from basic domain validation (DV) certificates to more advanced organization validation (OV) and extended validation (EV) certificates. DV certificates are the most affordable option and are suitable for most small websites. They can cost between $10 and $100 per year, depending on the certificate provider and features included.

• Free certificates: Some certificate authorities, such as Let's Encrypt, offer free SSL/TLS certificates. These certificates are suitable for most websites and provide the necessary encryption and authentication. However, they may have limitations, such as shorter validity periods (typically 90 days) and a more manual renewal process.

• Hosting provider and website builder options: Some web hosting providers offer SSL/TLS certificates as part of their hosting packages. It's worth checking if your hosting provider includes a free SSL/TLS certificate or offers affordable options for obtaining one.

08. E-commerce functionality

Average cost range: $20+ per month plus payment processing fees

Want to sell products and services through your website? You’ll need to add eCommerce functionality that lets you upload inventory, manage SKUs and pricing, process sales, collect payments, save customer information, and more.

Some website builders like Wix’s offer an eCommerce plan that costs just a few dollars more each month than its basic plan. These plans tend to come with payment processing, which usually costs a percentage of each transaction plus a flat fee.

Keep in mind that not all eCommerce providers are high-quality. You'll want to be mindful of the scalability and flexibility of your eCommerce tools. For example, some will enable you to sell internationally or on third-party marketplaces while others won't.

09. Apps and integrations

Average cost range: $0-$100+ per month

Most CMS software and website builders let you integrate third-party features and tools that enhance the design and functionality of your website. For example, if you manage an eCommerce site, you might want to integrate a loyalty app to incentivize and reward customers for shopping with you. Or, if you manage a blog, you may want to add a paywall to your website to monetize your content.

The cost to build a website with apps and integrations varies widely and depends on the vendor. Some apps offer free versions of their products with limited features and charge you to access more advanced features. Others offer a free trial and then make you pay a subscription to use them. For example, Virtual Tours (which lets you add 360 VR experiences to your site) from the Wix app market, offers a seven-day free trial, then charges between $11.99 and $99.99 per month.

10. Marketing Features

Average cost range: $0-$1,000+ per month

Unlocking the full potential of your website involves a strategic approach to marketing. By harnessing a range of techniques such as search engine optimization (SEO), advertising, email campaigns, and social media, you can attract visitors and convert them into loyal customers.

You can opt for tools that address one facet of marketing or potentially save money by using tools that offer a bundle of marketing solutions. Alternatively, you can hire experts in various fields of marketing to help you grow. Hiring people tends to cost more than licensing online marketing tools. For example, Upwork says the average freelance social media marketer charges between $14 and $35 per hour. Comparatively, Hubspot’s Marketing Hub, a popular marketing tool, starts at $20 per month.

How much does it cost to make a website with a website builder?

Website builders like Wix make creating a website affordable and easy. These website builders cost anywhere from $0 for the most basic offerings to $159 per month for plans with multiple logins, unlimited storage, and advanced website features. They offer designer-made website templates that can help you create a professional site, with little effort and no coding. You should not only consider the obvious costs but also all the additional functionality you may need.

How much does a website cost to build with a professional?

If you don’t have the time to create your own site, need a website with advanced functionality, and/or have the financial backing to outsource the project, hiring a web designer or developer can be a great option. A professional web developer provides expertise, creativity, and technical proficiency to ensure your website meets your specific requirements and delivers a high-quality user experience.

The cost of hiring a web developer can depend on several factors, including the complexity and scope of your website. Basic websites with a few web pages and simple functionality will generally cost less than complex websites with advanced features, eCommerce capabilities, custom designs, or integration with third-party systems. Additionally, customized website designs often require more time and effort from the web developer, which can impact the cost.

The experience level and geographic location of the web developer can affect costs, as developers with more experience, and expertise and higher living costs generally charge higher rates.

If you require additional services like content creation, search engine optimization (SEO), marketing, advertising, and copywriting services, this may mean hiring additional help. Discuss these requirements with the developer before they start creating your site to find out if these services are included in the initial cost or require separate arrangements.

As a very rough guideline, basic websites built by freelance web developers can start from a few hundred dollars and increase with complexity and customization requirements.

How much does a website cost per industry?

Its functionality will affect how much a website costs to make. We’re breaking down how much it costs to build blogs, eCommerce websites, event websites, and design portfolios depending on whether you create them yourself or hire a professional.

Blog website

Whether you are creating a blog website or adding a blog to your existing site, you won’t need to break the bank. All in all, a blog is one of the cheapest website options out there.

• Cost of blog using a website builder:  $0-$200 per month

• Cost of web hosting: Free

• Customized domain and advanced features per month: $23-$49

• Hiring a web designer: $15-$1,000+

eCommerce website

With almost 285 million online shoppers in the U.S. alone, the world isn’t moving toward digital business models—it has arrived. That’s why starting an online store is a great option for making money online.

To connect your own domain, accept online payments, and grow your business, you’ll need to pay a small monthly fee of anywhere between $23 and $49 per month depending on how dynamic you want your site to be.

You might have also noticed that there is a very large price range to hire a designer for an eCommerce website. That’s because many eCommerce sites have many moving parts and can get a bit complicated. A pre-made eCommerce website template can help you navigate the labyrinth that is online stores so you can create your own.

• Cost of eCommerce website using a website builder: $0-$200 per month

• Cost of web hosting: Free

• Customized domain and advanced features per month: $34-$64

• Hiring a web designer: $25-$5,000+

Event website

Whether you’re planning a wedding, hosting a webinar or anything in between, an event website can help you get organized. Event websites are unique because they are often short-term in nature. This means that you may not be looking to put a lot of money into your site.

If that’s the case for you, you should be okay signing up for a Wix-free plan. if you want to include additional features, such as a bookings app to schedule appointments or sell tickets online, you’ll need to factor these into your final cost.

• Cost of event website using a website builder: $0-$200 per month

• Cost of web hosting: Free

• Customized domain and advanced features per month: $23-$49

• Hiring a web designer: $15-$1,000+

Portfolio website

A portfolio website is essential for any creative professional to showcase their work, including graphic designers, UX designers and architects. Because portfolio websites mainly constitute images, videos, and text, you’ll likely need a good amount of website storage. For example, a $16 per month plan gets you 2 GB of storage to store media on your site.

• Cost of portfolio website using a website builder: $0-$200 per month

• Cost of web hosting: Free

• Customized domain and advanced features per month: $23-$49

• Hiring a web designer: $15-$1,000+

What to know before you start building a website

Here are some things to know before you start building a website:

• What is the purpose of your website? What do you want your website to achieve? Do you want to showcase your work, build your personal brand, or start a side hustle? Once you know your purpose, you can tailor your website's content and design to achieve it.

• Who is your target audience? Who are you building your website for? What are their needs and wants? Keep your target audience in mind when choosing a domain name, designing your website, and writing your content.

• What kind of website do you want to build? There are many different types of websites, such as blogs, portfolios, eCommerce stores, and membership sites. Choose the type of website that is best suited to your needs and goals.

• What domain name should you choose? Your domain name is the address of your website on the internet, such as example.com. Choose a domain name that is relevant to your website and that is easy to remember.

• What web hosting provider should you choose? A web hosting provider is a company that stores your website's files and makes them accessible to visitors. Choose a web hosting provider that is reliable and that offers the features you need.

• What website builder or content management system (CMS) should you use? A website builder is a tool that makes it easy to create a website without any coding knowledge. A CMS is a more powerful tool that gives you more control over the design and functionality of your website. Choose the website builder or CMS that is right for your needs and experience level.

• What kind of content should you include on your website? Your website should contain high-quality content that is informative and engaging. Write about topics that are relevant to your target audience and that you are passionate about.

• How will you promote your website? Once your website is up and running, you need to promote it so that people know about it. You can promote your website on social media, email marketing and other online platforms.

Ana Cvetkovic