How Much Does a Website Cost in 2026?
"I want to get a website built, how much will it cost?" — This is the question I hear most. The answer seems simple, but it actually depends on many factors. In this guide, I break down current website costs for 2026 in detail.
Factors That Affect Cost
A website's cost varies based on:
- Site type — Informational or e-commerce?
- Design — Pre-made theme or custom design?
- Functionality — Simple info pages or interactive application?
- Content volume — How many pages, how many products?
- Language support — Single language or multilingual?
- Integrations — Payment, shipping, CRM, etc.
- Who's building it — Agency, freelancer, or yourself?
Cost Table by Project Type
1. Personal / Portfolio Site
A site to introduce yourself and showcase your projects.
| Method | Cost | Timeline | |--------|------|----------| | Wix / Squarespace | $50-200/year | 1-3 days | | WordPress + theme | $200-500 | 1 week | | Custom Next.js | $500-1,500 | 2-3 weeks |
2. Corporate Website
Company introduction, services, contact pages.
| Method | Cost | Timeline | |--------|------|----------| | WordPress + theme | $500-1,000 | 1-2 weeks | | WordPress + custom design | $1,000-2,500 | 2-4 weeks | | Custom Next.js | $1,500-4,000 | 3-6 weeks |
3. Blog / Content Site
Content-focused, SEO-driven site.
| Method | Cost | Timeline | |--------|------|----------| | WordPress | $300-800 | 1-2 weeks | | Next.js + MDX | $800-2,000 | 2-4 weeks |
4. E-Commerce Site
Online store for product sales.
| Method | Cost | Timeline | |--------|------|----------| | Shopify | $200-500 + monthly | 1-2 weeks | | WooCommerce | $1,000-3,000 | 3-6 weeks | | Custom development | $3,000-10,000 | 2-4 months |
5. Web Application (SaaS)
Interactive platform with user authentication.
| Method | Cost | Timeline | |--------|------|----------| | MVP (simple) | $2,000-5,000 | 1-2 months | | Full-featured | $5,000-20,000 | 3-6 months | | Enterprise level | $20,000+ | 6 months+ |
Ongoing Costs
Building a website isn't a one-time cost. Ongoing expenses include:
| Item | Monthly/Annual | |------|---------------| | Domain | $10-30/year | | Hosting | $5-50/month | | SSL certificate | Free - $50/year | | Maintenance | $50-300/month | | Content creation | $100-500/month | | SEO services | $200-1,000/month |
Expensive or Cheap? Perspective
Many people say "$1,000 is too much." But let's compare:
| Investment | Cost | Return | |-----------|------|--------| | Newspaper ad (1 month) | $500-2,000 | Temporary, unmeasurable | | Billboard (1 month) | $1,000-5,000 | Temporary, limited area | | Website | $1,000-3,000 | Permanent, 24/7, global |
A website is an investment, not an expense. It works every day, every hour.
Where to Save? Where to Spend?
Where You Can Save
- Content — You can write it yourself
- Photos — Use stock photography
- Hosting — Start with free options (Vercel, Netlify)
- Domain — Use .com instead of country-specific TLDs
Where You Should Never Save
- Design quality — First impression is everything
- SEO foundation — Pointless if Google can't find you
- Security — SSL, secure coding
- Performance — Slow site = lost customers
- Mobile responsiveness — 70% of traffic is mobile
Questions to Ask When Getting Quotes
- Who owns the source code? — Should be delivered to you
- Is hosting included? — Is monthly cost separate?
- How many revisions? — Should be reasonable
- Will SEO be done? — Technical SEO should be included
- Is there a maintenance contract? — Post-launch support
- What's the timeline? — Clear dates needed
- What's the payment plan? — Phased payments are safer
Determining the Right Budget
Answer these questions:
- How much business can the site bring? — Monthly potential customers
- What's the value of one customer? — Average order/service amount
- How many customers per month can you gain via website?
Example calculation:
- 10 new customers/month × $200 average = $2,000/month revenue
- Website cost: $1,500
- Payback period: less than 1 month
Conclusion
Website costs can range from $200 to $20,000+ depending on your choice of method and needs. The key isn't finding the cheapest option — it's getting the best solution for your needs within the right budget.
If you'd like to plan your website budget or schedule a free consultation, feel free to reach out: info@cagribilgehan.com. You can explore my projects and experience at cagribilgehan.com