Host much does building a website cost in 2020?
So how much does it really cost to build a website? Well, it really depends on your needs, preferences, the platform, and how much $$$ you’re willing to part with.
When calculating the costs of building a website, you’ll need to consider the following factors:
- Your website’s framework (domain name, website hosting, CMS/website software)
- Design
- Functionality
Building a website in 2020 can be surprisingly affordable if you’re willing to roll your sleeves up and get your hands dirty.
Domain Name $0 - 20/year
Your domain name is basically your address on the world wide web. Registering a new domain usually starts at $10 per year but it depends on how popular it is or which domain registrar you choose. Preregistered domains are also generally more expensive. It might be worth noting that a lot of website builders/hosting services such as Bluehost and HostGator offer free domain names in its first year.
Website Hosting $3 - 30/month
There are many servers available all with varying prices and features. Shared hosting typically costs around $3 to $7 per month while a VPS hosting starts at $20 per month. As your website grows, you might need to pay more in order to handle the increase in traffic.
Website software/content management system $0-8+/month
Thanks to premade website software or CMS, you don’t need to know a single line of code in order to build a website. You also don’t have to spend a fortune on developers or web designers. For example, WordPress.org - the world’s most popular open-source content management system - has a free forever plan. If you’re just building a small, personal website and don’t mind the limited storage and bandwidth, ads, and a branded domain, website builders like Wix, Weebly, and Webflow also offer free plans. If you want more than the bare minimum, however, prices for website builders like strikingly starts at $8 per month while Wix starts at $12.50 per month.
Website Design
Let’s play a guessing game. How much do you think did it cost to design this website?
Or, how about this?
The answer? $0!!
The existence of website builders has made it possible to build professional looking websites without spending a fortune on web designers. The websites above, for example, were created using free templates from Wix, a drag-and-drop website builder. You can even change your theme as many times as possible! Now if you find a premium template that you love, expect to pay between $100 - $150.
Functionality
This really depends on the type of website you’re creating and what functionalities you need. Personal websites don’t need as many bells and whistles but if you’re building an e-commerce website, expect to spend on plugins or apps. These are third-party extensions that add functionality to your website. For a small to a medium website, you might have to set aside $100-200 per month on premium plugins.
Web Content Creation
As they say content is king. It doesn’t matter if you have the most aesthetic website in the world if you can’t get your message across to the right people. This is one area that you definitely shouldn’t skimp on. Outsourcing your landing pages, press releases, blog posts, and other web content can cost thousands of dollars though. For example, some marketing and digital agencies charge $1 per word with a project minimum of $1,000. Other agencies charge a lot more. If you’re a small business owner, you can hire a copywriter from freelancing platforms like Upwork where hourly rates can vary between $6-150/hour.
All in all, you’re looking at spending between $200-500 to get your website up and running in its first year. We have not factored in the costs for website content creation as it includes variables like SEO, content creator’s rate, and more.
Obviously, the main cost of going the DIY route is your time. If you don’t have time to spare and you have the budget for it, another option is to pay someone to build your website. A web designer will usually take care of setting up, designing, and building your website. Their services also include training and maintenance. However, it doesn’t come cheap. Web designers typically charge about $70 per hour. If you’re building an e-commerce site, it might cost you between $5,000 to $15,000 with the industry average being about $7,000.
So, how much does building a website cost in 2020? There is really no set answer to this one as everything depends on a lot of factors. It depends on whether you do it yourself or hire a team of professionals. It also depends on your preferences, needs, and budget. If you are a small startup, it makes sense to use a website builder and spend a couple of hundred dollars per year. Once your business takes off, you can always invest in a website upgrade.
When calculating the costs of building a website, you’ll need to consider the following factors:
- Your website’s framework (domain name, website hosting, CMS/website software)
- Design
- Functionality
Building a website in 2020 can be surprisingly affordable if you’re willing to roll your sleeves up and get your hands dirty.
The DIY Route
Domain Name $0 - 20/year
Your domain name is basically your address on the world wide web. Registering a new domain usually starts at $10 per year but it depends on how popular it is or which domain registrar you choose. Preregistered domains are also generally more expensive. It might be worth noting that a lot of website builders/hosting services such as Bluehost and HostGator offer free domain names in its first year.
Website Hosting $3 - 30/month
There are many servers available all with varying prices and features. Shared hosting typically costs around $3 to $7 per month while a VPS hosting starts at $20 per month. As your website grows, you might need to pay more in order to handle the increase in traffic.
Website software/content management system $0-8+/month
Thanks to premade website software or CMS, you don’t need to know a single line of code in order to build a website. You also don’t have to spend a fortune on developers or web designers. For example, WordPress.org - the world’s most popular open-source content management system - has a free forever plan. If you’re just building a small, personal website and don’t mind the limited storage and bandwidth, ads, and a branded domain, website builders like Wix, Weebly, and Webflow also offer free plans. If you want more than the bare minimum, however, prices for website builders like strikingly starts at $8 per month while Wix starts at $12.50 per month.
Website Design
Let’s play a guessing game. How much do you think did it cost to design this website?
Or, how about this?
The answer? $0!!
The existence of website builders has made it possible to build professional looking websites without spending a fortune on web designers. The websites above, for example, were created using free templates from Wix, a drag-and-drop website builder. You can even change your theme as many times as possible! Now if you find a premium template that you love, expect to pay between $100 - $150.
Functionality
This really depends on the type of website you’re creating and what functionalities you need. Personal websites don’t need as many bells and whistles but if you’re building an e-commerce website, expect to spend on plugins or apps. These are third-party extensions that add functionality to your website. For a small to a medium website, you might have to set aside $100-200 per month on premium plugins.
Web Content Creation
As they say content is king. It doesn’t matter if you have the most aesthetic website in the world if you can’t get your message across to the right people. This is one area that you definitely shouldn’t skimp on. Outsourcing your landing pages, press releases, blog posts, and other web content can cost thousands of dollars though. For example, some marketing and digital agencies charge $1 per word with a project minimum of $1,000. Other agencies charge a lot more. If you’re a small business owner, you can hire a copywriter from freelancing platforms like Upwork where hourly rates can vary between $6-150/hour.
All in all, you’re looking at spending between $200-500 to get your website up and running in its first year. We have not factored in the costs for website content creation as it includes variables like SEO, content creator’s rate, and more.
Hiring Someone
Obviously, the main cost of going the DIY route is your time. If you don’t have time to spare and you have the budget for it, another option is to pay someone to build your website. A web designer will usually take care of setting up, designing, and building your website. Their services also include training and maintenance. However, it doesn’t come cheap. Web designers typically charge about $70 per hour. If you’re building an e-commerce site, it might cost you between $5,000 to $15,000 with the industry average being about $7,000.
The Bottom Line
So, how much does building a website cost in 2020? There is really no set answer to this one as everything depends on a lot of factors. It depends on whether you do it yourself or hire a team of professionals. It also depends on your preferences, needs, and budget. If you are a small startup, it makes sense to use a website builder and spend a couple of hundred dollars per year. Once your business takes off, you can always invest in a website upgrade.
