How much does a WordPress website cost? The software itself is free, but a working business website isn't. You pay for hosting, a domain name, often a theme and paid plugins, and for building and maintaining it. If you build it yourself, you mostly pay with your own time. If you have it built, the price depends on the design, the number of pages and the features.
In this article we list all the costs of a WordPress website: one-off and recurring. That way you can compare quotes and also spot the costs that often only show up later. Still unsure whether WordPress is the right choice? Read WordPress or a custom website first.
Is WordPress free?
Yes and no. WordPress is open source software: you can download and use it for free. But to turn it into a website, you need more. Software isn't a website yet, just as a free word processor isn't a book.
Also note the difference between WordPress.org and WordPress.com. The first is the free software you install yourself with a hosting provider. The second is a service that offers hosting and WordPress together in paid plans, with more or less freedom depending on the plan. When agencies talk about a WordPress website, they usually mean the first.
One-off costs of a WordPress website
These are the costs you make at the start. The amounts are an indication, so check the current price with the provider:
- Theme: there are free themes, and premium themes that usually cost a few tens of euros. Often with a yearly licence for updates.
- Page builder: many themes use a paid page builder to lay out pages.
- Design: a custom design that fits your brand, instead of a standard theme with your logo on it.
- Build and setup: creating pages, building forms, configuring plugins and making everything work well on mobile.
- Content: copy, photos and possibly translations.
- SEO basics and tracking: titles, descriptions, a sitemap and Google Analytics set up properly.
Recurring costs: how much does WordPress cost per year?
After launch, the costs keep coming. They're often underestimated:
- Hosting: a few euros to a few tens of euros per month, depending on the type. More on that in how much does website hosting cost.
- Domain name: a yearly fee.
- Licences: premium themes and plugins often need a yearly renewal to keep getting updates.
- Updates: WordPress, the theme and plugins get regular updates. Someone has to install them and check everything still works.
- Security and backups: WordPress is popular, which also makes it a favourite target for hackers.
- Small changes: a new page, a different form, text that doesn't look right on mobile.
Individual licences look small, but add them up. Five paid plugins at a few tens of euros a year, plus a theme and a page builder, can quickly add up to a sizeable amount per year.
If you go for an online store with WooCommerce, you often need extra extensions for shipping, payments, invoices or filters. Those usually have a yearly licence too. Plus transaction fees per payment with your payment provider.
Build it yourself or have it built: which costs more?
Building a WordPress website yourself looks cheapest. You only pay for hosting, a domain and maybe a theme. But count your own hours. For someone without experience, a lot of time quickly goes into learning, fiddling with settings and making sure everything works on mobile. That's time you could also spend on customers. Building it yourself mainly suits you if you're just starting out, have little budget and enjoy learning. If you want your website to bring in enquiries straight away, getting help usually pays off.
What determines the price when you have a WordPress website built?
If you have a WordPress website built, quotes often vary a lot. That's down to these price factors:
- Standard theme or custom design.
- Number of pages and templates, such as a services page, blog or vacancies.
- Special features: an online store with WooCommerce, multiple languages, a booking system or a members' area.
- Integrations with your CRM, accounting software or calendar.
- Who supplies the copy and photos.
- Whether training and maintenance are included in the price.
In a quote, always ask which paid plugins and licences are used, and whose name they're registered in. If they're in the agency's name and you end the relationship, you may have to buy them again.
Hidden costs of WordPress
You won't see these costs in the first quote, but you will after a few years:
- An update that breaks something, after which someone has to work out which plugin is causing the problem.
- A plugin that's no longer updated and has to be replaced.
- A slow website because of too many plugins and a heavy page builder, which can hurt your findability.
- A hacked website that needs cleaning up.
- A theme that's outdated after a few years, so you need a new website sooner.
That doesn't mean WordPress is bad. It means maintenance isn't a luxury. Read what good maintenance involves in website maintenance.
How to keep your WordPress website costs down
- Use as few plugins as possible. Every plugin is an extra licence, update and risk.
- Choose a light, well-maintained theme instead of one that does everything.
- Make sure all licences are in your name.
- Schedule updates at a fixed time and always make a backup first.
- Learn to edit text and photos yourself, so you don't pay for every change.
- Work out the costs over three to five years, not just for the build.
WordPress or custom: what suits you?
At Violexa we build custom websites, from €1,799 excl. VAT (€2,177 incl. VAT) per project. That includes design, development, a layout that works on every screen, the SEO basics, Google Analytics, a CMS and training, so you can edit your own content. Larger projects get a fixed price in writing up front.
A custom website has no separate theme or plugin licences. After launch you can choose maintenance: Silver €179 (€217 incl. VAT), Gold €299 (€362 incl. VAT) or Platinum €699 (€846 incl. VAT) per month excl. VAT. We're happy to set out honestly what WordPress and a custom site will cost you over a few years.
Want to compare that for your situation? Book a free quickscan. In 30 minutes, online or at your location, we discuss what you need. Afterwards you get short written advice with a price indication, with no obligation.
Frequently asked questions
What are the yearly fixed costs of a WordPress website?
Budget for hosting, a domain name, renewals of paid themes and plugins, and maintenance. How much that is depends on the type of hosting and the number of paid plugins. Add it all up, because individual licences add up fast.
Can I build a WordPress website myself for free?
The software is free, but hosting and a domain name aren't. With a free theme and free plugins you keep costs low, but you pay with your own time. A business website also needs maintenance and security.
Why do WordPress quotes vary so much?
One agency sets up a standard theme with your logo, another creates a custom design with integrations and training. The number of pages, the features and whether maintenance is included also make a big difference. Ask what happens for each part.
Is a WordPress website cheaper than a custom website?
Often at the start, yes. Over several years, licences, updates and repairs can make the difference smaller. It depends on how many features and plugins you need.
