Website Pricing Guide 2025: What You’ll Pay to Build and Run a Site

Thinking about launching a site but not sure how much money you’ll need? You’re not alone. Most people assume a website costs a fortune, but the price can vary wildly based on what you choose. Let’s break down the pieces, compare the options, and help you decide where to spend and where to save.

Breakdown of Core Costs

The first three things you’ll pay for are a domain name, hosting, and a site builder or CMS. A .com domain usually runs between $8 – $15 per year from registrars like GoDaddy or Namecheap. Some Indian registrars offer .in domains for as low as ₹300 a year. Look out for renewal rates—some providers raise the price after the first year.

Hosting is the next big chunk. Shared hosting plans from companies like HostGator or Bluehost start around $2 – $5 per month, which is fine for a modest blog. If you expect higher traffic, a VPS or cloud server will cost $20 – $80 per month. Keep an eye on bandwidth limits; exceeding them can lead to extra charges.

Site builders (Wix, Squarespace, WordPress.com) bundle hosting and templates. Wix’s free plan lets you start, but you’ll have Wix ads and a sub‑domain. To use a custom domain and remove ads, you’ll need a premium plan that starts at $14 per month. WordPress.org is free, but you still need separate hosting and a domain.

Don’t forget add‑ons: SSL certificates (often free with Let’s Encrypt, but some hosts charge), premium themes ($30 – $70 one‑time), and plugins ($0 – $200 yearly). Each can add up, so list what you truly need before buying.

Free and Low‑Cost Alternatives

If you’re on a tight budget, you can launch a site for zero dollars—just accept limitations. GitHub Pages lets you host static sites for free, but you need to know a bit of HTML/CSS. Google Sites is another free option, though it’s not ideal for complex designs.

Static site generators like Hugo or Jekyll paired with Netlify’s free tier give you fast, secure hosting without server costs. You’ll still need a domain, but many registrars sell a .xyz extension for under $1 per year.

For a full‑featured blog, the WordPress.org route on a budget host (e.g., Hostinger at $1.99 per month) can keep your total under $50 per year. You pay for the domain, hosting, and maybe a cheap premium theme, but you avoid the hidden fees that premium builders hide.

Remember, “free” often means you trade off branding, flexibility, or support. Decide which trade‑off matters most to you before committing.

Bottom line: a basic personal site can run between $30 and $60 per year if you use free tools and cheap hosting. A professional business site with a custom design, reliable uptime, and priority support typically costs $150 – $300 per year. Knowing these numbers lets you plan, negotiate, and avoid surprise bills.

Now that you’ve seen the real numbers, pick the option that matches your goals and budget. Whether you go free, low‑cost, or premium, you have the data to make a smart choice.