How much does a website cost in 2026?
Real numbers by project type — and what you actually get for your money at each level.
IN SHORT
DIY builder: $10–$50/mo. Freelance custom site: $2,500–$10,000. E-commerce: $5,000–$25,000. Custom web app: $10,000+. Agencies charge 2–5× a freelancer for similar work. The two biggest cost drivers: custom vs. template, and who builds it.
"How much does a website cost?" has the same useless answer everywhere: "it depends." Here's the version with actual numbers, from someone who builds custom sites and will still tell you to use a builder when that's the smart move.
The pricing tiers
| Option | Cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| DIY builder (Wix, Squarespace) | $10–$50/mo | Simple brochure sites, tight budgets |
| Freelance custom site | $2,500–$10,000 | Businesses that need performance & SEO |
| E-commerce store | $5,000–$25,000 | Selling products online |
| Custom web app / SaaS | $10,000–$50,000+ | Custom functionality, accounts, billing |
| Agency (any of the above) | 2–5× freelance | Big budgets, large teams |
What you actually get at each price
A builder gets you online cheaply, but you rent the platform and hit walls on speed, SEO, and custom features. A freelancer gets you a custom, fast, owned site without agency overhead — the sweet spot for most growing businesses. An agency gets you a team and a process, at a price that includes their offices and account managers.
Don't forget ongoing costs
A domain is $10–$20/year, hosting ranges from free to $20+/month, and maintenance depends on complexity. For the full breakdown on a real project, see my SaaS cost breakdown and e-commerce costs.
How to not overpay
Be honest about whether you need custom (see custom vs. Squarespace), get a fixed quote not an hourly black hole, and have your content ready so the project doesn't drag.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a website cost in 2026?
A DIY website builder runs $10 to $50 per month. A freelance-built custom marketing site typically costs $2,500 to $10,000. E-commerce stores run $5,000 to $25,000, and custom web apps start around $10,000 and go up from there. Agencies charge two to five times more than freelancers for comparable work because of their overhead.
Why are website prices so different?
Price depends on whether it's a template or custom build, who builds it (DIY, freelancer, or agency), how many pages and features it has, and whether it needs custom functionality like accounts, payments, or integrations. The biggest single factor is custom versus template — and the second is agency overhead.
Are there ongoing website costs?
Yes. Budget for a domain ($10 to $20 per year), hosting (often free to $20+ per month depending on the stack), and maintenance. A simple site needs little upkeep; a web app needs ongoing updates. Plan for at least a small monthly amount to keep things secure and current.
Get a fixed quote
Tell me what you need and I'll give you a real number, not a range. See web design & development or get in touch.
By Jeff Cadet — full-stack developer. Get in touch.