Custom Website Cost: What You Really Pay in India for a Website That Works

When you hear custom website cost, the total price to build a website tailored to your needs, not a template-based site. Also known as bespoke website development, it includes design, functionality, content setup, and ongoing support — not just a one-time design fee. Most people think it’s either ₹5,000 or ₹5 lakh. The truth? It’s somewhere in between, and it depends on what you actually need.

A WordPress website cost, the price to build a site using WordPress, the most popular platform in India. Also known as WordPress development, it’s the most common choice for bloggers, small businesses, and startups because it’s flexible and affordable. A basic brochure site with 5 pages, a contact form, and a clean theme? That’s ₹15,000 to ₹30,000 in India — including domain and hosting for the first year. Need a blog with SEO setup, image optimization, and speed tweaks? Add another ₹10,000. Want to sell products? E-commerce adds complexity: payment gateways, product catalogs, cart systems — that’s ₹50,000 to ₹1.5 lakh depending on features.

The biggest mistake? Hiring someone based on price alone. A ₹8,000 deal might look great until your site crashes on mobile, takes 8 seconds to load, or gets hacked because the developer used a cracked theme. freelance web developer India, an independent professional who builds websites for clients across India, often offering lower rates than agencies. Also known as independent web designer, they’re great if you know what to ask — portfolio, timeline, post-launch support, and whether they use clean code. Agencies charge more, but they offer structure. Freelancers offer speed and savings. Either way, always ask: Do they optimize for Google? Do they test on real phones? Will they show you how to update content yourself?

Hidden costs trip up most first-timers. A ₹25,000 quote might not include SSL certificate, premium plugins, or content writing. Domain names cost ₹700–₹1,200/year. Hosting? ₹1,500–₹5,000/year depending on traffic. And if you need updates later — say, changing a button color or adding a new page — that’s usually ₹500–₹2,000 per hour. Don’t get stuck paying for small fixes forever.

What you’re really paying for isn’t code — it’s time, expertise, and reliability. A good website doesn’t just look nice. It loads fast, works on every device, shows up on Google, and turns visitors into customers. That’s worth more than a cheap template. The custom website cost isn’t about the cheapest option. It’s about finding the right balance between your goals and your budget.

Below, you’ll find real breakdowns of what people actually paid for their websites in India — from simple blogs to full online stores. No guesses. No marketing fluff. Just what works, what doesn’t, and how to avoid overpaying.