A common question I get when someone is thinking about building a website is… “How much does a WordPress website cost?”
It’s a reasonable question. As a financially savvy business owner, you should calculate your costs. Your website is your most important marketing tool, but that doesn’t mean it needs to be the most expensive.
So, what are the costs of having a WordPress website? In this article, I’ll outline the must-have expenses to get a WordPress.org site up and running. I’ll also share the optional but nice-to-have expenses.
Clearing Up Some Terminology
There are two WordPress options: WordPress.com and WordPress.org.
WordPress.com is a managed platform. Though it sounds like this would be a better option for a non-techie, we don’t recommend it.
WordPress.org is “self-hosted” or “shared hosting.” We recommend WordPress.org because it is more affordable and offers full control.
With self-hosting, you use a reliable provider to host your site. You manage it yourself. This is in contrast to opting for a hosted platform, where you have little to no control over your site in the long term.
Benefits of a Self-Hosted Website:
- Cheapest ways to build a website.
- Very flexible and offers a ton of features.
- Your website won’t look cheap or unprofessional because there is a wide range of themes and layouts.
- You can customize it as you see fit – using any theme, plugin, or tool you want.
- It’s also more scalable as your business grows.
- There are no limits on how you monetize or design your site.
Costs of a Self-Hosted WordPress Website
1) Domain Name
The first thing you will buy when you begin a website is your domain name. This is the name that you type in when you want to go to a particular website. For example, my domain name is https://websitecreationworkshop.com.
Your domain name is the web address where people can find your site (e.g., www.yourbusiness.com). Domain names usually cost $10 to $20 per year, depending on the registrar and domain extension (.com, .net, .org, etc).
We recommend GoDaddy or Namecheap when purchasing a domain name. Avoid registrars that offer deep discounts for the first year but then charge a high renewal fee.
Here’s a breakdown:
- Initial purchase (first year): $10–$15 is typical.
- Renewal fee (annually): Can be slightly higher, often $12–$20/year.
- Privacy protection (optional): Already included with most domain registrars, but otherwise $2–$10 extra per year.
Bottom Line: A domain name is a “must-have” – you cannot have a website without one.
2) Web Hosting
The term “self-hosted” sounds daunting and techie. But you don’t need to be a computer geek to use this type of hosting—it’s really easy!
You’ll need a hosting provider. I recommend GreenGeeks, SiteGround, or Bluehost. Costs can vary depending on your plan.
As of this writing, here are the costs of the basic plan for those companies:
GreenGeeks:
Lite Plan: Around $2.95 per month (Renews at $11.95-$13.95/mo)
Features: Includes one website, 50 GB storage, and a free SSL certificate.
Purchase it here: https://christinasresources.com/greengeeks
SiteGround:
StartUp Plan: Around $2.99-$3.99 per month (renews at $17.99-$24.99/mo)
Features: Includes one website, 10 GB storage, and a free SSL certificate.
Purchase it here: https://christinasresources.com/siteground
Bluehost:
Basic Plan: Around $2.95-$4.95 per month (Renews at $11.99-$14.95/mo)
Features: Includes one website, 50 GB storage, and a free SSL certificate.
Purchase it here: https://christinasresources.com/bluehost
Prices can vary due to promotions, renewal rates, and terms. So, it’s best to check their websites for the latest information.
Bottom Line: Web hosting is a “must-have” – you cannot have a website without one. But if you need more details on choosing a hosting company, read my article on The 10 Things to Ask Before Signing Up for Web Hosting.
3) Themes
A theme determines the design and layout of your website. WordPress offers both free and premium themes.
- Free themes: There are many high-quality free themes available, and they are a great place to start.
- Premium themes: If you want more customization options, premium themes range from $30 to $100 (one-time fee). Some premium themes may also require yearly renewals for updates and support.
Bottom Line: A theme is a “must-have” – you cannot have a website without one. However, you do not need to pay for a theme. There are hundreds of free themes. I recommend you start with a free theme and then upgrade to the premium version if needed.
4) Plugins
Plugins are extra tools that expand the capabilities of your WordPress site. Think of plugins like apps on your phone. You need to add “Google Maps” to navigate with your phone. The phone does not come with it – you have to add it.
Plugins can do various tasks, like SEO, security, e-commerce, and contact forms.
- Free plugins: Many plugins are free and provide valuable and helpful features.
- Premium plugins: Some advanced plugins can cost $5 to $100+, depending on their features and whether they require a yearly subscription for updates and support.
Start with free plugins to keep costs low. As your site grows, upgrade to premium plugins. Be sure to always evaluate a plugin before installing it.
Bottom Line: Plugins are “nice to have”—you can run your website without them, but why would you? Many are free and very helpful!
5) Maintenance
Website maintenance is an ongoing task, not a one-time event (like buying a domain or hosting). It’s essential to update the WordPress core, themes, and plugins when new versions roll out and to back up your site regularly.
- Do-It-Yourself maintenance: Doing all the basic maintenance tasks yourself won’t cost you anything!
- Professional maintenance services: Hiring someone to maintain your site can cost between $50 and $200 per month, depending on the site’s complexity and the services required.
Bottom Line: Proper website maintenance is essential, but you can do it yourself—you don’t need to pay anyone.
Save Money by Building and Maintaining Your Own Website
For most website owners who outsource their website, the biggest expense is a web designer. Hiring a freelance designer for a simple website can cost anywhere from $500 to $5,000.
The cost increases from $5,000 to $30,000 for a more customized design with unique features.
Plus, freelance web designers typically charge around $40 to $150 per hour.
The number one way to save money on a WordPress website is by learning to build and maintain it yourself. The Website Creation Workshop offers extensive online videos and live coaching to help you create your own website. This will save you the cost of hiring pros for basic tasks. It will also give you the skills to update your site when needed.
Here is a video on how to Open a GreenGeeks Hosting Account
So…What Are the Costs of Having a WordPress Website?
As you can see, there are very few required costs for having a WordPress website.
If you bootstrap your website, the total cost of launching a basic WordPress.org website includes two essential expenses: your domain name, web hosting, and a free theme.
A domain name typically costs around $10-$20 per year, while web hosting can range from $2.95 to $24.99 per month, depending on your chosen provider and plan.
This brings the total cost of getting your website online to roughly $50 to $230 for the first year. These affordable options allow you to create a professional, fully functional website without breaking the bank!
And don’t forget to join the Website Creation Workshop to learn WordPress. It’s an investment in the success of your business.
