Quick answer: WordPress software is free, but running a website isn’t. A simple DIY blog costs about $50–$300 a year, a small business site built by a freelancer usually costs $1,500–$6,000 upfront plus $200–$1,000 a year, and a custom site or online store from an agency can cost $10,000–$50,000+.
The final price depends on three things: who builds it, how many features you need, and what kind of hosting you choose. Below is every cost explained in plain English, with sample budgets you can copy. You can also use our WordPress website cost calculator to get your own estimate.
WordPress website cost at a glance
| Item | Typical cost | Needed? |
|---|---|---|
| Domain name | $10–$20 per year | Yes |
| Hosting | $3–$15/month shared, $25–$100+/month managed | Yes |
| SSL certificate | Usually free with hosting | Yes |
| Theme | Free, or $50–$100/year premium | Optional premium |
| Plugins | Free to $50–$300/year each | Depends on features |
| Design and development | $0 DIY, $1,500–$15,000 freelancer, $10,000+ agency | Optional |
| Maintenance | $0 DIY, $50–$300+/month for a plan | Recommended |
1. Domain name
Your domain (like yourbusiness.com) usually costs $10–$20 per year. Some hosts include a free domain for the first year. Watch renewal prices — some registrars charge much more after year one.
2. Hosting
Hosting is where your site lives. It is the biggest ongoing cost and has the biggest effect on speed and reliability.
- Shared hosting ($3–$15/month): fine for new blogs and small sites.
- Managed WordPress hosting ($25–$100+/month): faster, with automatic backups, updates and expert support. Good for businesses.
- VPS or cloud ($15–$100+/month): more power and control, but needs technical skill.
Low introductory prices often require paying 1–4 years upfront and renew higher. Compare the renewal price. Our best WordPress hosting guide compares options.
3. Themes
Thousands of quality themes are free in the official theme directory. Premium themes cost about $50–$100 per year and add more designs, features and support. See our list of the best free WordPress themes — many small sites never need a paid one.
4. Plugins
Plugins add features like contact forms, SEO and backups. Most needs can be met with free plugins from the plugin directory. Premium plugins usually cost $50–$300 per year each. An online store, membership site or booking system will need more paid plugins than a blog.
5. Design and development
This is where prices vary the most:
- DIY: $0 — you spend time instead of money. Start with our install guide.
- Freelancer: about $1,500–$6,000 for a typical small business site; more for custom features. Hourly rates often range from $25 to $150.
- Agency: $10,000–$50,000+ for custom design, strategy, copywriting and larger projects.
Thinking of hiring? Read how to plan a WordPress web design project first so quotes are easy to compare.
6. Maintenance
A site needs updates, backups, security checks and fixes. You can do this yourself in about an hour a month, or pay for a maintenance plan, usually $50–$300+ per month depending on what’s included.
Sample budgets
| Site type | Year one | Each year after |
|---|---|---|
| Personal blog (DIY) | $50–$300 | $50–$300 |
| Small business site (DIY + premium theme) | $150–$600 | $150–$600 |
| Small business site (freelancer) | $1,500–$6,000 | $300–$1,500 |
| Online store (WooCommerce) | $3,000–$20,000 | $600–$5,000 |
| Custom / enterprise site (agency) | $10,000–$50,000+ | $3,000–$20,000+ |
These are typical ranges, not quotes. Your location, project size and the people you hire will change them.
Hidden costs to watch for
- Hosting renewals that double after the first term.
- Premium plugin renewals every year.
- Payment fees for online stores (usually around 3% per transaction).
- Email hosting for a professional address.
- Content — photos, copywriting and translations.
- Fixing problems after a hack or broken update if you don’t keep backups.
How to save money without cutting corners
- Start with a solid free theme and add premium tools only when you need them.
- Pay for good hosting — it saves time on speed and security problems.
- Use one well-built multi-purpose plugin instead of several small ones.
- Learn the basics yourself with our beginner’s guide to WordPress.
- Get at least three quotes with the same written brief.
WordPress.com vs self-hosted WordPress costs
WordPress.com is a hosted service with monthly plans that include hosting. Self-hosted WordPress.org is free software you install on your own host. The second gives more control and is what most businesses use. See WordPress.com vs WordPress.org for the full comparison.
Real-world budgets
A freelance photographer’s portfolio. She used shared hosting at about $4 a month on a three-year plan, a free theme and a free gallery plugin. Her first-year cost was around $70 including the domain. She spent two weekends building it herself.
A plumbing company’s lead-generation site. The owner paid a freelancer $3,200 to build a 10-page site with a quote form and local SEO setup, plus $25 a month for managed hosting and $79 a month for a maintenance plan. First-year total: about $4,500. The site now brings in most of the company’s new enquiries, so the cost paid for itself within months.
A growing online store. A clothing brand spent about $14,000 with an agency on a WooCommerce store with custom product filters and a stock system integration. Running costs are about $250 a month for hosting, extensions and maintenance.
Don’t forget security costs
Security isn’t free, but it’s much cheaper than recovering from a hack. Budget for good hosting that patches its servers quickly, backups and possibly a firewall or security plan. In October 2026, the PHP2Shell vulnerabilities showed the value of a host that handles server patches for you — site owners on well-managed hosting had nothing to do, while those running their own servers had to patch urgently. A hacked site can cost hundreds or thousands of dollars to clean, plus lost sales and trust.
Ways to spread the cost
Some freelancers and agencies offer payment plans or “website as a service” packages, where design, hosting and maintenance are bundled into a monthly fee. These can help small businesses get a professional site without a large upfront payment. Read the contract carefully to see who owns the site if you stop paying.
How to get accurate quotes
Write a one-page brief listing your goals, pages, features, deadline and budget range, and send the same brief to three providers. Ask each to itemise design, development, content, hosting and support. Comparable quotes make it easy to see where prices differ and why, and help you avoid paying for things you don’t need.
Budget for content, too
Many owners forget that words and photos cost time or money. Professional copywriting and photography make a real difference to how many visitors become customers, so set aside part of your budget for them.
FAQ
Is WordPress really free?
Yes. The software is free and open source under the GPL licence. You pay for hosting, a domain and any premium extras.
What is the cheapest way to build a WordPress site?
Shared hosting, a free theme and free plugins. Expect about $50–$150 for the first year.
How much does a WordPress website cost per month?
Most small sites cost $5–$50 a month to run. Business sites with managed hosting and a maintenance plan often cost $100–$400 a month.
WordPressPrime.com is an independent guide and is not affiliated with the WordPress Foundation, WordPress.org or Automattic. Always back up your website before making changes, and check official sources for the latest details.
