Website costs in 2026 range from a few hundred dollars to hundreds of thousands. The difference comes down to who builds it, how complex the site is, and the functionality required to support your business goals.
Website costs in 2026 range from a few hundred dollars to hundreds of thousands.
The difference comes down to who builds it, how complex the site is, and the functionality required to support your business goals.
Not long ago, professional website design felt out of reach for many businesses and often required compromises. Today, AI-powered builders, premium templates, and improved development tools have made high-quality websites more accessible than ever.
Whether you're a small business owner, freelancer, or entrepreneur planning your next move, this guide breaks down the real numbers so you can make a confident, informed decision.
Website costs split into upfront costs (design, build, setup) and monthly/ongoing costs (hosting, updates, extras). Think domain registration, hosting plan, SSL security, plugins, content, maybe a payment gateway for sales, and website maintenance costs down the line.
The good news is that we live in a time where tech advancements make entry-level options feel pro, and scaling up doesn't have to mean massive jumps. You can DIY for almost nothing, use a freelancer for solid value, or partner with a web design agency for full custom polish.
So entrepreneurs, small business owners, side-hustlers—want the honest cost of a website in 2026? Here's your guide.
Everyone's online presence matters more than ever. Small businesses need sites that look sharp on mobile, rank well in search engine results, tie into social media marketing, and deliver great user experience.
With AI tools speeding things up and better integrations everywhere, it's less about "expensive" and more about smart investing for long term growth.
A cheap, clunky website that constantly requires fixes can quickly become frustrating and end up being more expensive.
A strong foundation with low ongoing hassle is ultimately the smarter investment.
The cost of building a website in 2026 will vary depending on how you build it, who builds it, and what the site needs to accomplish. A simple brochure-style website built on a DIY platform will cost far less than a fully custom, enterprise-level system with advanced integrations.
Your total investment is influenced by factors like design complexity, number of pages, functionality (eCommerce, booking systems, memberships, etc.), content creation, SEO setup, and ongoing maintenance.
Below, we break down the most common website cost categories:
Whether you’ve never built a website before or you have a background in professional website design, today’s website builders make it easy to create a polished site yourself.
Website builders make building a website effortless with drag-drop-build (or visual designer), AI-assisted setup, bundled hosting plans, mobile-ready templates, and easy content management systems.
These platforms allow you to launch quickly, control your website cost, and still get a modern, mobile-friendly result.
Average cost range for a website builders include:
Here’s a quick 2026 cost breakdown of the most popular website builders on the market.
Ideal for small businesses, quick launches, or testing ideas, builders like Wix Studio, Shopify, or Base44 pack in tools for user experience and basics without the stress.
READ NEXT: Wix vs Webflow: Which one should you choose?
If you’re craving professional touches—like a few core pages, a contact form, and a blog— but don’t need a full-scale, enterprise-level build? Hiring a freelancer or a smaller web design agency is often the best next step.
You’ll get expert guidance on strategy, layout, mobile-friendly design, and SEO basics, without paying premium agency rates for complex development.
This option is ideal for small business websites that want a polished, trustworthy online presence, while still keeping the overall website cost realistic.
The cost of a smaller website built by a freelancer or a smaller web design agency will be:
Summary: A freelancer or small web design agency is the perfect choice for small businesses wanting custom design and professional website design without enterprise level pricing.
Selling online? Create on platforms designed for eCommerce like:
These options make it easier to manage products, inventory, shipping rules, taxes, and customer accounts, while also supporting flexible payment processing through providers like Shopify Payments, Stripe, or PayPal.
For websites built for selling online, the costs will include:
As you add features like product variations, subscriptions, booking, abandoned-cart recovery, email marketing automations, or integrations with tools like QuickBooks and ShipStation, your overall website cost typically increases. The upside is that these feature-rich builds on eCommerce websites are designed to improve user experience, boost conversions, and scale as your online store grows.
Summary: An eCommerce website’s overall cost varies based on the platform you choose and the level of functionality required, with expenses increasing as you add advanced features and integrations.
A fully custom, enterprise-level website goes far beyond template design or basic functionality. They typically include advanced integrations (CRM, ERP, marketing automation), custom user experiences, high-performance infrastructure, robust security frameworks, and complete brand alignment across every digital touchpoint.
These builds are engineered for scalability, heavy traffic, and long-term growth.
Strategy, full branding, custom development, performance optimization, compliance considerations, and ongoing technical support are all part of the investment.
The cost of custom, enterprise-level projects will range from:
For organizations that depend on their website as a primary revenue and operations engine, enterprise-level investment ensures performance, security, and scalability aren’t left to chance.
Summary: An enterprise-level website is a significant upfront and ongoing investment designed to support high traffic, advanced integrations, and long-term scalability for businesses that rely on their digital presence as core infrastructure.
Looking for a high-end, advanced website? Let’s Talk >>>
When budgeting for a website in 2026, it’s easy to focus only on the upfront build cost. But many of the real expenses come later in renewals, upgrades, maintenance, and marketing tools.
Here are the most common ongoing website costs businesses should expect:
Pro tip: Invest upfront in quality—often means lower long term headaches and costs. Let’s Build a Plan Together >>>
Even if you build your website yourself, hosting is required to keep it live online.
Performance matters. Slower hosting can hurt user experience, conversions, and even SEO rankings.
Your domain isn’t a one-time purchase — it renews annually.
Forgetting renewals can result in downtime or lost domains — so always enable auto-renew.
Websites require ongoing updates to stay secure and functional.
Maintenance typically includes:
Neglecting maintenance can lead to security vulnerabilities, broken functionality, or costly rebuilds.
Many platforms offer built-in tools, but advanced functionality often requires paid upgrades.
Common add-ons include:
These can range from $5 to $100+ per month per tool, depending on the platform.
Even DIY websites often require:
These aren’t always included in builder pricing but significantly impact the professionalism of your site.
Building a website doesn’t automatically generate traffic. This involves several digital marketing activities to ensure your website is visible on Google and gets visits.
Businesses often invest in tools like:
Marketing software alone can range from $20 to $300+ per month, depending on your growth strategy.
If you’re serious about investing in a website that grows with your business, WD Strategies is here to help. We’re a website design and development agency that creates strategic, scalable websites aligned with your business goals — and your budget.
Contact us today for a free consultation with our in-house designers — no strings attached.
Whether you need a streamlined website builder setup, a tailored custom design, or full agency-level strategy and development, we bring the expertise and clarity to help you build it right from the start.
Let’s create a website that works today — and scales for tomorrow.
