Objective;
This blog helps readers understand the real cost of building a WordPress website, covering all key expenses, factors affecting pricing, and smart ways to plan their budget effectively.
The cost of a WordPress website depends on what type of website you want and the features you need. There is no fixed price because every business has different goals. A simple website will cost less, while a website with custom design, ecommerce features, or advanced functions will cost more.
Did you Know? Over 43% of all websites on the internet are built using WordPress, making it the world’s most popular website-building platform used by businesses.
When calculating the total cost, you need to consider domain name, hosting, themes, plugins, and design or development charges. Some tools are free, but premium options can improve performance, security, and user experience.
In this blog, we will clearly explain how much a WordPress website costs, what factors affect the pricing, and how you can choose the right budget based on your business needs.
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Key Takeaways
- WordPress is free but running a professional website requires investment in hosting, domain, themes, plugins, and design.
- The total cost varies based on website type, design complexity, features needed, and whether you build it yourself or hire a professional.
- Ongoing costs like renewals, maintenance, security, and speed optimization are essential to keep your website running smoothly every year.
- Smart planning, using free tools where possible, and choosing the right development partner helps you build a quality website within budget.
Table of Contents
- Is WordPress Really Free?
- What Factors Affect WordPress Website Cost?
- How Much Does a Domain Name Cost?
- What Is the Cost of Web Hosting?
- How Much Do WordPress Themes Cost?
- What Is the Cost of WordPress Plugins?
- How Much Does a Custom WordPress Design Cost?
- What Does It Cost to Hire a WordPress Developer?
- WordPress Website Cost by Website Type
- Ongoing Maintenance and Annual Costs
- How to Reduce WordPress Website Costs Without Compromising Quality
- Why Choose Mandy Web Design for Your WordPress Website
- FAQs About How Much Does a WordPress Website Cost
Is WordPress Really Free?
Yes, WordPress itself is free. You can download it from WordPress.org at no cost and use it to build any type of website. However, free does not mean that your website will have zero expenses. WordPress is open-source software, which means the core platform is available for everyone without any licensing fees.
The real costs come from the tools and services you need to run a professional website. You still need to pay for a domain name, web hosting, premium themes, and plugins. If you want a custom design or need help from a developer, those services come at an additional cost.
Think of WordPress like a free plot of land. The land is free, but you still need to build a house on it. You need bricks, a builder, furniture, and utilities. In the same way, WordPress gives you the foundation, but building a fully functional website requires investment in other areas.
What Is Free in WordPress
The WordPress core software is completely free. Thousands of free themes and plugins are available in the official WordPress directory. Basic website building, content management, and publishing tools are all included at no cost.
What Costs Money
Hosting, domain registration, premium themes, premium plugins, custom development, and professional design services all come at a price. These are the areas where your actual investment goes.
So while the software itself costs nothing, running a complete WordPress website typically involves several ongoing and one-time costs that you need to plan for before getting started.
What Factors Affect WordPress Website Cost?
Several factors influence how much you will spend on a WordPress website. Understanding these factors will help you plan your budget more effectively.
Type of Website
The type of website you need plays a major role. A simple blog costs very little, while an ecommerce store or a membership website requires more features and investment. The more complex the functionality, the higher the cost.
Design Requirements
Design requirements also affect pricing significantly. If you use a free theme with minimal customization, your design costs will be low. But if you want a unique and professional look that follows the modern website design trends, you will need to invest in a premium theme or hire a designer.
Plugin and Feature Needs
Some websites need only basic plugins for contact forms and SEO. Others require advanced plugins for payment gateways, booking systems, or customer management. Each additional plugin may come with a subscription fee that adds to your annual costs.
Hosting Plan
Your choice of hosting provider and plan affects the cost significantly. Shared hosting is affordable, but managed WordPress hosting or VPS hosting comes at a higher price in exchange for better performance and support.
DIY vs Hiring a Professional
Whether you build the website yourself or hire a professional makes a huge difference. DIY websites cost less but take more time. Hiring a developer or agency gives you better results but increases your overall budget.
How Much Does a Domain Name Cost?
A domain name is your website address. For example, yourwebsite.com is a domain name. Without a domain, people cannot find your website on the internet.
Domain names are registered through domain registrars like GoDaddy, Namecheap, or Google Domains. The cost of a domain name depends on the extension you choose and the registrar you use.
Standard Domain Pricing
A standard .com domain name typically costs between $10 and $20 per year. Some premium domain names with short or popular keywords can cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars if you are buying them from someone who already owns them.
Alternative Domain Extensions
Other domain extensions like .net, .org, .co, and country-specific domains like .co.uk or .in may cost slightly less or similar to .com domains. New extensions like .store, .agency, or .tech are often available at promotional prices for the first year but renew at a higher rate.
Domain Renewal Costs
It is important to note that domain registration is an annual expense. You must renew your domain every year to keep ownership. If you forget to renew, you could lose your domain name to someone else. When planning your WordPress website cost, include domain registration as a recurring yearly expense. Most businesses budget between $10 and $50 per year for their domain name.
What Is the Cost of Web Hosting?
Web hosting is the service that stores your website files and makes them accessible on the internet. Without hosting, your website cannot go live. The cost of hosting varies depending on the type of hosting you choose and the provider.
Shared Hosting
Shared hosting is the most affordable option. It costs between $3 and $10 per month. In shared hosting, your website shares server resources with other websites. It is suitable for small websites and blogs with low traffic. Popular providers include Bluehost, Hostinger, and SiteGround.
Managed WordPress Hosting
Managed WordPress hosting is specifically designed for WordPress websites. It offers better speed, security, and automatic updates. The cost ranges from $20 to $100 per month. Providers like WP Engine, Kinsta, and Flywheel are popular choices in this category.
VPS Hosting
VPS hosting gives you a dedicated portion of a server with more resources and control. It costs between $20 and $80 per month and is suitable for websites with moderate to high traffic.
Dedicated Server Hosting
Dedicated server hosting gives you an entire server for your website. It is the most expensive option, starting from $100 per month, and is only necessary for very large websites with heavy traffic.
Cloud Hosting
Cloud hosting uses multiple servers to deliver better performance and uptime. It can cost anywhere from $10 to $200 or more per month depending on usage and provider.
When choosing a hosting plan, consider the needs of your website. A new blog or small business website can start with shared hosting and upgrade later as traffic grows.
How Much Do WordPress Themes Cost?
A WordPress theme controls the visual appearance and layout of your website. Choosing the right theme is an important part of the website design process because it defines how your site looks to visitors.
Free Themes
WordPress offers thousands of free themes in its official theme directory. These themes are suitable for basic websites and blogs. However, free themes often have limited customization options and may not include all the features you need. They can be a good starting point for a new website on a tight budget.
Premium Themes
Premium themes typically cost between $30 and $100 for a single-site license. These themes come with more design options, better support, regular updates, and built-in features. Popular marketplaces for premium themes include ThemeForest, Elegant Themes, and StudioPress. A premium theme gives your website a more polished and professional appearance while also offering a better web design layout out of the box.
Page Builder Themes
Page builder themes like Divi or Avada include a drag-and-drop builder that gives you full control over your website design without any coding. These often cost between $50 and $200 per year or as a one-time purchase and are ideal for businesses that want flexibility in customization.
Custom Themes
If you want a fully custom theme designed specifically for your brand, that falls under custom development and can cost significantly more. This is covered in detail in the custom WordPress design section below.
For most small businesses and startups, a premium theme costing between $50 and $80 is a smart investment because it saves development time and ensures a professional appearance.
What Is the Cost of WordPress Plugins?
Plugins are tools that add extra features and functionality to your WordPress website. There are over 59,000 free plugins available in the WordPress plugin directory, and thousands more are available as premium products.
Free Plugins
Free plugins cover many basic needs including contact forms, SEO, caching, security, and social sharing. Plugins like Yoast SEO, Wordfence, and WPForms have free versions that are sufficient for many websites starting out.
Premium Plugin Costs by Category
Premium plugins offer more advanced features, dedicated support, and regular updates. Their cost varies widely depending on the category:
SEO plugins like Yoast SEO Premium or Rank Math Pro cost around $100 to $200 per year. Security plugins that help protect your website from malware and keep it safe typically cost $50 to $100 per year. Page builder plugins like Elementor Pro or Beaver Builder cost around $60 to $200 per year. Backup plugins like UpdraftPlus Premium cost around $70 per year. WooCommerce, the most popular ecommerce plugin, is free, but premium extensions for payment gateways, shipping, and subscriptions can add $100 to $500 or more annually.
How Many Plugins Do You Need
For a typical small business website, budgeting $100 to $500 per year for premium plugins is a reasonable estimate. Ecommerce websites or websites with advanced functionality may spend more. It is important not to install too many plugins, as this can slow down your website. Focus on using quality plugins that are actively maintained and well-reviewed.
Not Sure How Much Your WordPress Website Will Cost?
How Much Does a Custom WordPress Design Cost?
A custom WordPress design means a website that is designed and developed from scratch specifically for your brand. It is not based on a pre-built theme. Every element including the layout, colors, fonts, and features are created uniquely for you.
Custom design is recommended for businesses that want to stand out from competitors, provide an exceptional user experience, and follow the latest UI UX trends in their industry.
Freelance Designer Costs
A freelance designer typically charges between $500 and $5,000 for a custom WordPress website depending on the complexity of the project and their level of experience. Freelancers are a good choice for small to medium-sized projects where you have a clear brief and a reasonable timeline.
Web Design Agency Costs
A professional web design agency may charge between $3,000 and $30,000 or more for a fully custom design that includes strategy, branding, and development. Agencies bring a structured process and a team of specialists, which results in a higher quality outcome.
UI UX Design Investment
Custom design projects that focus on how to improve website UI UX through research, wireframing, user testing, and iterative design naturally cost more but deliver better results in terms of user engagement and conversions. Investing in professional UI UX design is particularly valuable for businesses that depend on their website to generate leads or sales.
If you are a small business on a tight budget, you can start with a premium theme and customize it to match your brand. As your business grows, you can invest in a fully custom design later.
What Does It Cost to Hire a WordPress Developer?
If you need technical help with your WordPress website, hiring a developer is often the best option. Developers can build custom features, fix bugs, optimize performance, and handle tasks that require coding knowledge. Understanding web development cost helps you make a more informed decision when hiring.
Freelance Developer Rates
Freelance WordPress developers charge between $25 and $150 per hour depending on their experience and location. Developers from South Asia and Eastern Europe tend to charge less, while developers in North America and Western Europe charge more. For a complete website project, freelance developers may charge a fixed project rate ranging from $500 to $10,000.
WordPress Development Agency Rates
WordPress development agencies charge between $5,000 and $50,000 or more for complete website development projects. Agencies offer a team of designers, developers, and project managers, which results in a more structured process and higher quality output.
How to Choose the Right Developer
When deciding how to choose the right website developer for your project, consider their portfolio, communication skills, technical expertise, and reviews from past clients. Always discuss the project scope, timeline, and pricing clearly before signing a contract. For a simple informational website, hiring a freelancer for a few hundred dollars may be sufficient. For a complex ecommerce website or a custom web application, a larger budget and a more experienced team is recommended.
WordPress Website Cost by Website Type
The total cost of a WordPress website varies significantly depending on the type of website you are building. Here is a clear breakdown by website type to help you estimate your budget.
Personal Blog
A personal blog is the most affordable type of WordPress website. With a free theme, shared hosting, and basic plugins, you can launch a blog for as little as $50 to $200 per year. This includes domain registration and hosting costs.
Small Business Website
A professional small business website with a premium theme, a few plugins, and basic customization typically costs between $500 and $3,000. If you hire a freelancer for design and development, the cost goes up accordingly. The importance of responsive website design is particularly critical here, as most small business visitors come from mobile devices.
Portfolio Website
Freelancers, photographers, and creatives often need a portfolio website to showcase their work. These sites typically cost between $300 and $2,000 depending on the level of customization and the number of pages required.
Ecommerce Website
An ecommerce store built with WooCommerce can cost between $1,000 and $10,000 or more. The cost includes premium hosting, a WooCommerce-compatible theme, payment gateway plugins, and potentially custom development for advanced store features.
Membership Website
A membership website that offers exclusive content or courses typically costs between $2,000 and $15,000. Membership plugins, learning management systems, and custom development contribute to the higher cost.
Corporate or Enterprise Website
Large businesses that require custom development, integrations with third-party systems, and enterprise-level hosting can expect to spend between $10,000 and $100,000 or more. These projects usually involve a full agency team and an extended development timeline.
Ongoing Maintenance and Annual Costs
Building a WordPress website is not a one-time expense. There are ongoing costs you need to account for to keep your website running smoothly, securely, and up to date.
Domain and Hosting Renewals
Domain renewal typically costs $10 to $50 per year depending on your domain extension and registrar. Hosting renewal costs between $36 and $1,200 per year depending on your hosting plan and provider. These are non-negotiable expenses that keep your website live.
Theme and Plugin Renewals
Many premium themes and plugins require annual renewal for continued updates and support. Budget $100 to $500 per year for these renewals. Skipping renewals can leave your website vulnerable to security risks and compatibility issues.
Security and SSL
An SSL certificate is necessary for website security and is required for an SEO friendly website structure as well. Many hosting providers include a free SSL certificate, but premium SSL certificates can cost $50 to $200 per year. Security services for firewall protection and malware scanning typically cost $100 to $300 per year.
Speed and Performance
Investing in website speed optimization through premium caching plugins, a CDN service, or developer support can cost $100 to $500 per year. A faster website improves user experience and helps with search engine rankings.
Professional Maintenance Services
Regular maintenance is essential for security, performance, and reliability. This includes updating WordPress core, themes, and plugins, running backups, and fixing any issues. If you hire someone to manage this, expect to pay $50 to $300 per month for ongoing maintenance services.
In total, ongoing annual costs for a typical WordPress website range from $500 to $3,000 per year depending on the size and complexity of your website.
How to Reduce WordPress Website Costs Without Compromising Quality
Many business owners worry that reducing costs will hurt the quality of their website. However, there are smart ways to save money while still building a professional and effective website.
Start With a Quality Free Theme
WordPress offers several professionally designed free themes like Astra, OceanWP, and GeneratePress that are lightweight, customizable, and regularly updated. These themes can give your website a polished look without spending money on a premium theme immediately.
Use Free Plugin Versions First
Many premium plugins offer free versions with enough features for a small website. Start with free plugins and only upgrade when you genuinely need the advanced features. This approach can save you hundreds of dollars annually.
Choose Affordable Hosting
For a new website, there is no need to start with the most expensive hosting plan. A reliable shared hosting plan from providers like Hostinger or Bluehost can deliver good performance at a low price. You can always upgrade later as your traffic grows.
Learn Basic WordPress Skills
Understanding how to manage your own website reduces your dependence on developers for small tasks. Learning to update content, add pages, install plugins, and make minor design changes can save you hundreds of dollars per year.
Focus on the Core Elements of Good Design
A clean and functional website will always perform better than an overly complicated one. Prioritizing the element of good website design such as clear navigation, readable typography, and fast loading times delivers better results than spending money on unnecessary features.
Optimize Your Images
Image optimization is a simple task that can significantly improve your website speed at no extra cost. Using free tools like TinyPNG or plugins like ShortPixel Free can help you compress images before uploading them without reducing visual quality.
Build Mobile Responsiveness From Day One
Building a mobile responsive website from the start avoids costly redesigns later. Most premium themes and even many free themes today are mobile-friendly, so this does not have to be an expensive step. Getting it right from the beginning saves money in the long run.
Plan Your Project Before You Build
Understanding the full website development process before you start helps you avoid unnecessary revisions and added costs. Defining your goals, sitemap, and content structure in advance saves both time and money during the build phase.
Hire Freelancers for Specific Tasks
Instead of hiring an agency for everything, consider hiring freelancers for specific tasks like logo design, content writing, or plugin configuration. This gives you access to skilled professionals at a lower overall cost.
Why Choose Mandy Web Design for Your WordPress Website
If you are looking for a trusted partner to build your WordPress website without overspending, Mandy Web Design is a name worth knowing. Founded in 2010, Mandy Web Design is an award-winning web design and development company with a global reach spanning 30+ countries. Over the past 15 years, we successfully delivered 6,000+ projects for 3,500+ happy clients across industries ranging from healthcare and real estate to ecommerce and corporate businesses.
We offer a complete range of web design and development services including custom design, custom development, UI/UX Design, WordPress design, WordPress development, responsive design, website redesign, ecommerce design, ecommerce development, website migration, and website maintenance.
We offer affordable web design and development packages designed to suit startups, small businesses, and growing brands. Our web design package starts from Rs 12,999, and our web development package starts from Rs 19,999. Our pricing is transparent, scalable, and built to deliver maximum value—so you get a professional, high-performing website without hidden costs.
With our web design and development services, we serve a wide range of industries including real estate, healthcare, medical, education, industrial, manufacturing, travel, construction, and many more. Whether you are a startup, local business, or established brand, we create industry-focused websites that match your business goals and help you stand out in a competitive market.
Need Help Choosing the Right Hosting and Setup for Your WordPress Site?
FAQs About How Much Does a WordPress Website Cost
The cost of a basic WordPress website depends on your hosting plan, theme choice, and plugins required. Using free tools keeps costs low, while premium themes and plugins add to the overall budget based on your website’s needs and goals.
WordPress software is completely free to download and use. However, you still need to pay for domain registration, web hosting, and premium themes or plugins. These additional costs vary depending on your website’s size, purpose, and the features you need.
WordPress hosting cost depends on the type of plan you choose. Shared hosting is the most affordable option, while managed WordPress hosting offers better speed, security, and performance at a higher price. Your traffic and business needs determine the best plan.
Not always. WordPress is beginner-friendly and can be managed without coding knowledge using page builders and pre-built themes. However, hiring a developer is recommended for custom features, advanced functionality, or a fully unique design that matches your brand identity.
A WordPress ecommerce website cost depends on your hosting plan, theme, payment gateway plugins, number of products, and whether you hire a developer. The more custom features and functionality your store requires, the higher the overall investment will be.
Ongoing costs include domain renewal, hosting renewal, plugin and theme renewals, and maintenance services. Budgeting for these recurring expenses ensures your website stays secure, fast, and fully functional. The exact amount depends on your website size and service providers chosen.
The cost to hire a WordPress developer depends on their experience, location, and project complexity. Freelancers generally charge less than agencies. At Mandy Web Design, you can hire a dedicated WordPress developer at very affordable and competitive rates.
Yes. You can reduce costs by starting with a quality free theme, using free plugin versions, choosing affordable hosting, and learning basic WordPress management skills. Focusing on essential features first and scaling gradually is a smart and budget-friendly approach.
About the Writer
Mandeep Singh Chahal
Founder/CEO, Mandy Web Design
Mandeep Singh Chahal is the Founder/ CEO of Mandy Web Design, a top-rated web design and development agency in India. With over 22 years of experience in digital marketing, he has helped businesses across various industries establish and strengthen their online presence through strategic design and SEO implementation. He focuses on creating digital solutions that address real business challenges and drive measurable growth. His approach combines deep industry knowledge with practical execution in web design, development, and search engine optimization, enabling him to transform business objectives into effective digital strategies that deliver results.