You need a website. And now you’re wondering: what does this cost exactly?
The prices vary enormously: from less than 10 euros per month to tens of thousands of euros for a fully custom project.
In this article, I will explain what you are actually spending on a website today. We will look at the factors that determine the price, provide clear price indications per type of website, and help you make the right choices for your budget and goals.
Price indications per type of website in 2025
Category 1: DIY WordPress website
Costs: €10 – €50 per month
For whom: Hobbyists, freelancers, SMEs
What you get: Hosting, domain name, access to templates
You build everything yourself using a WordPress theme. A very simple website (think of a one-pager, or just a few pages) can be ready within a day.
This is by far the most budget-friendly option.
Of course, you need to invest some time in learning WordPress. On the other hand, this ultimately saves you tons of money, and perhaps also time. If you’re dependent on a developer, for every minor change (like adjusting or moving a photo), you’ll have to go back and forth through emails multiple times.
If you want to go for this option: through my.host you can already get a hosting package for just a few euros per month. In addition, my.host also offers an AI website builder with which you can get a beautiful site up and running with minimal effort.
Category 2: Professional website (custom design)
Costs: €3,000 – €10,000+ (one-time)
For whom: Established companies that want to stand out
What you get: Unique UI/UX design, custom functionalities, strategic advice
This is where many SMEs find themselves. A professional website that fits your company and target audience.
Category 3: E-commerce/webshop
Basic (WooCommerce/Shopify): €2,000 – €7,500
Advanced (Magento/Custom): €10,000 – €50,000+
E-commerce is more complex due to functionalities like payment systems, inventory management, and order processing.
The price indications here assume that you have the site made for you. If you use WooCommerce on your DIY WordPress website, it can be done for a few tens per month (hosting that runs WooCommerce well costs a little more than the most basic hosting packages).
Category 4: Web application/platform
Costs: From €15,000
Price: Completely dependent on complexity and development hours
Custom web applications for specific business processes. Think of customer portals, SaaS platforms, or complex configuration systems.
The hidden and recurring costs
One-time costs are just the beginning. Also budget for the annual and monthly expenses:
Domain name: €5 – €15 per year (at my.host you can register a .nl domain name for less than 5 euros per month)
Hosting: €5 – €50+ per month (depending on size and traffic)
Premium Plugins & Licenses: €50 – €300+ per year
Technical maintenance contract: €50 – €250+ per month for updates, backups, and security
6 factors that determine the cost of a website
Factor 1: Type and size of the website
The first and most important factor is of course what kind of website you want. There are countless possibilities.
Simple landing page
A single page that informs visitors about your product or service. Ideal for specific campaigns or if you’re just starting out.
Basic business website (SME)
The standard for many companies: 5-10 pages like Home, About us, Services, Contact, and possibly a Blog. Enough to present your company beautifully.
E-commerce/Webshop
A complete online store with product catalog, shopping cart, payment system, and order processing. More complex due to the necessary functionalities.
Platform or Web application
Custom functionalities, user accounts, interactive elements. Think of SaaS platforms, portals, or complex websites with specific functionalities.
Factor 2: Design & user experience (UI/UX)
Template-based design
Quick and affordable. An existing design is adapted to your corporate identity. Perfect for companies who want to be online quickly without too high costs.
Custom design
Unique, fully tailored to your brand and target audience. More expensive, but ensures distinction from competitors.
Factor 3: Functionality
Standard functionalities
Contact forms, Google Maps integration, social media links. These basic elements are usually standard with any professional website project.
Advanced functionalities
Booking system, multilingualism, customer portal, API integrations with CRM systems. These custom elements significantly drive up costs.
E-commerce specific
Integration with iDEAL/PayPal, inventory management, shipping modules, customer accounts. The complexity of online sales requires specialized knowledge.
Factor 4: Content management system (CMS)
Website builders (e.g. Shopify)
Monthly subscription, user-friendly for beginners. You are limited in customization options.
Open-source (WordPress)
No license fees, enormous flexibility due to thousands of plugins.
Headless CMS (Contentful, Strapi)
Maximum flexibility for complex projects, but higher development costs due to technical complexity.
Custom CMS
Fully built-to-order, only worthwhile for very specific requirements or large organizations.
Factor 5: Content creation
Who creates the content?
Provide yourself
Do you provide texts, photos, and videos yourself? This saves a lot in costs but does require time and expertise on your part.
Outsource
Hiring a copywriter, photographer, or videographer provides more professional results, but does increase costs.
SEO copywriting
Texts that not only inform but also rank on Google. Specialized knowledge that comes at a price.
Factor 6: Maintenance and management
A website is never ‘finished’. Think about updates, security, backups, and support. This is often overlooked but is super important for a well-functioning website.
How to save money on a new website
Tip 1: Know what you want
Create a detailed briefing. The better you know what you want, the more accurate the quote and the less chance of additional work.
Tip 2: Start small (MVP)
Start with the essentials and expand later. A Minimum Viable Product helps control costs and gives you the opportunity to learn from user feedback.
Tip 3: Provide the content yourself
Good texts and photos save a lot of money. Invest time in providing quality content.
Tip 4: Choose a template when a unique design is (still) not needed
Free WordPress themes are often of high quality and fully customizable. For many websites, this is an excellent starting position.
Tip 5: Create the site yourself
The most obvious way to keep the cost of the website as low as possible. If you want to go this route, create a WordPress website via my.host.
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