How Much Does a Website Cost in 2026?
Basic site: $500–$3k. Business site with CMS: $3k–$10k. Custom web app: $10k–$50k+. Here's what actually drives the price — and what to watch out for when getting quotes.
The short answer
A basic website: $500–$3,000. A business website with CMS: $3,000–$10,000. A custom web app or platform: $10,000–$50,000+. The range is wide because "website" covers a lot of ground. Here's what actually drives the price.
What You're Actually Paying For
When someone quotes you a website, the price reflects a few core things: how complex the design is, whether it needs a CMS to manage content, how many pages there are, and whether there's any custom functionality — bookings, payments, user accounts, integrations.
A five-page brochure site and a platform where users can sign up, buy something, and track their order are both "websites." They are not the same project.
Basic
$500–$3k
Landing page or brochure site. Static, no CMS, no custom functionality. Good for getting online fast.
Business
$3k–$10k
Multi-page site with CMS so you can edit content yourself. Custom design, contact forms, mobile-first.
Platform
$10k–$50k+
Web app, e-commerce, bookings, user accounts, payments, API integrations. Built to do something specific.
What Makes Prices Go Up
Custom design from scratch
A unique design takes more time than adapting a template. Worth it if your brand matters.
CMS integration
Connecting a content management system so non-technical staff can update pages, blog posts, or products.
E-commerce
Product pages, cart, checkout, payment processing, order management. Each piece adds scope.
User accounts and auth
Any time users need to sign in, you need authentication, session management, and security considerations.
Third-party integrations
Connecting to CRMs, booking systems, payment gateways, analytics platforms — each adds time.
Ongoing maintenance
Hosting, updates, bug fixes, and content changes are usually a separate monthly cost.
Agency vs Freelancer vs Studio
A large agency will charge more — you're paying for account managers, meetings, and overhead. A solo freelancer is cheaper but you're betting on one person's availability and skill set. A small studio sits in the middle: dedicated people, no bloated process, accountable output.
The best value is usually a focused studio that specialises in exactly what you need and has built similar things before. You don't want to be someone's learning project.
What to Watch Out For
⚠ Very low quotes
If someone quotes $300 for a business website, they're either using a generic template with minimal customisation, or they'll disappear halfway through.
⚠ No fixed scope
A quote with no clear list of deliverables will grow. Get specifics: number of pages, features included, revision rounds, what's not included.
⚠ Hourly with no estimate
Hourly billing without a project estimate is open-ended risk. Ask for a fixed price or a capped estimate.
⚠ Ongoing fees buried in the contract
Some builders lock you into expensive monthly fees for hosting or the CMS. Ask what happens if you want to move or cancel.
How to Get an Accurate Quote
Before you contact anyone, write down: what the site needs to do, who it's for, how many pages roughly, whether you need to update it yourself, and if there's any functionality beyond showing information. The more specific you are, the more accurate the quote.
A developer who asks good questions before quoting is a better sign than one who sends a price in five minutes flat.
Get a straight quote
Tell us what you need. We'll tell you what it costs — no vague ranges, no hidden fees.
Let's Talk →Read next
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