How much does it cost to create a website?

The main reason for the popularity of WordPress is its exceptional flexibility. You can fine-tune almost every aspect of a WordPress site, from its functionality to how much you want to spend building it.

The total cost of WordPress sites varies depending on their type, size, and feature set.

Here are the pros and cons of creating a site on WordPress:

Benefits

Exceptional flexibility. You have full freedom to create a professional website adapted to your needs and your budget. You can always modify the site as these factors change over time.

It is more affordable.

Disadvantages .

Steep learning curve. It sometimes takes beginners a while to figure out how to create and manage a WordPress website.

No dedicated support. WordPress.org does not provide customer support. However, some hosting companies offer managed WordPress hosting plans with premium support.

The essentials of a website

Although WordPress is free, you must purchase a domain name and hosting plan before creating a website.

A new domain name costs around $10-20 per year . Domain names with a popular extension like .com are usually more expensive due to their perceived value.

You can check domain availability using a tool like our domain checker.

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Visit domain registrars like Google Domains or Namecheap to purchase a domain name. Many hosting companies, including Hostinger , are also domain registrars. We offer a free domain name for most of our hosting plans. Your web hosting costs will depend on the provider and plan you choose. Do proper research to find an affordable, yet powerful web hosting service. So you can allocate more money to other WordPress needs, like themes and plugins.

Many newbie users turn to shared hosting because it is the cheapest hosting option . The average price for shared hosting plans ranges from $3 to $10 per month .

On the other hand, premium hosting plans on cloud or VPS ( virtual private server ) infrastructure can cost $10 to $80 per month or more.  Hostinger offers several managed WordPress hosting plans that meet different needs, starting at $1.99/month.

Besides a domain name and hosting, you will also need an SSL certificate for your WordPress site. SSL certificates activate the HTTPS protocol on your website, which is a more secure version of the HTTP protocol.

The HTTPS protocol encrypts the data exchanged between a web browser and a server, guaranteeing private communication between websites and visitors. Websites without SSL often scare away traffic because they are untrustworthy and unsuitable for search engines.

Many hosting companies, including Hostinger, include a free SSL certificate in their hosting plans. These plans can lower your total cost if you want to build a small business website on a tight budget. However, larger businesses may need to purchase an SSL with a higher level of validation and better liability protection. These paid SSLs can cost anywhere from $8 to $1,000 per year.

Website design

WordPress offers complete freedom when customizing the design elements of a website, giving you more cost control.

You can code the design yourself if you are familiar with web design and development languages ​​such as HTML , CSS , and JavaScript . If you’re not a web design pro, WordPress offers plenty of options for your website.

WordPress themes allow you to transform the look and feel of your site quickly and easily. There are thousands of free and premium themes available.

Free WordPress themes can be suitable for a simple website. However, they have fewer features than a premium theme.

Premium themes usually include extensive customization options, such as a drag-and-drop builder, free plugins, demo templates, and dedicated support. They also have a more professional look, which can boost your brand image.

You can get a free or premium WordPress theme from the official theme directory or third-party marketplaces like Envato Elements , ThemeForest , and MOJO Marketplace . Premium WordPress themes cost an average of $57.54.

You can hire a WordPress web designer or developer if you need a custom WordPress theme for your website. The price will vary depending on their skills and the scope of the project.

The average cost for experienced freelance web designers is around $75/hour . An advanced WordPress site with custom features can cost anywhere from $5,000 to $15,000 .

Compared to freelance web designers, web design agencies charge higher fees. Hiring a freelancer is a great way to minimize the total cost of designing a small project.

Freelance marketplaces like Upwork are great for finding candidates. To choose the best web designer for your site, carefully check their portfolio, qualifications, and customer reviews. You can also conduct a chat or video interview with the candidate.