Cost of WordPress Website: How Much Does it Cost to Build in 2025

Since its inception in 2003, WordPress has gone from a simple blogging platform to the most prominent CMS on the market today. Estimates show that WordPress powers 45,8% of the web, and a whopping 64 million websites are currently using this popular platform.

From individuals and small mom-and-pop establishments to medium-sized companies and large, complex organizations, WordPress is the choice for businesses across the globe. WordPress is ideal for creating anything from a simple website to a complex online platform, making it suitable for beginners and advanced users alike.

So why exactly has using WordPress for web development and web hosting become so popular? Compared to other website builders, WordPress offers greater flexibility and customization, but users often choose between WordPress and website builders depending on their needs and the level of customization they want. And what is the average WordPress web development cost? Can you really create one for free? Let’s explore these questions and more.

Why is WordPress the Best Choice for Building a Website?

Many are surprised to learn that a long list of very well-known websites use WordPress such as Microsoft News, TED Blog, The Walt Disney Company, and even the uber-famous Queen B herself, Beyonce.

One of the main reasons is that WordPress is compatible with almost any type of website, from blogging or ecommerce, to dropshipping, podcasts, businesses, and more. No surprise so many businesses move over to the platform and decide to export from Drupal to WordPress, for example.

Users can let their imaginations run wild and in almost every scenario, WordPress can support their vision. Besides, it supports low-code and no-code development with its plugins! With more than 11,000 themes and counting, plus tens of thousands of modules in the form of plugins, widgets, and extensions, there is truly something for everyone and anyone, which defines the main difference between WordPress and Shopify.

Users also like that WordPress software is a free, open-source CMS that offers seemingly endless templates and requires minimal coding expertise for website setup. The complementary functionalities are ideal for simplistic, static-page websites, but if users want to branch out, they’ll need to pony up some money.

Having your own website with WordPress means you have full control over customization, management, and the direction of your site.

When setting up a website, it’s important to secure a custom domain to establish a professional online presence and strengthen your brand identity.

Many of the WordPress themes and plugins are only available through a one-time fee or ongoing subscription. In addition, personalized logos, color-specific branding elements, special fonts, intricate page designs, and other customizations often require you to hire WordPress developers and designers, which leads to some investment.

Professional web designers play a crucial role in creating visually appealing and user-friendly websites that enhance your brand and user experience. A web designer can help ensure your site stands out and aligns with your brand. So what is the real cost to develop a WordPress website?estment. So what is the real cost to develop a WordPress website?

Is it Completely Free or Is There a Cost for a WordPress Site?

Cost of WordPress website – a table:

Cost Category	Description	WordPress Website Cost Estimation
Domain Name	The unique address of your website on the internet. Costs vary by provider and TLD.	$15 to $100 per year
WordPress Hosting Cost	Service that hosts your website on the internet. Options range from basic to managed hosting.	Starting at $50 per year
Premium Pre-Made Themes	WordPress website design pricing includes templates that enhance the visual appeal of your website. Premium themes offer more features and customization.	$50 to $300
Premium Plugins	Add-ons that extend the functionality of your website. Examples include SEO tools, security features, and form builders.	$10 to $400+ (one-time or recurring)
WordPress Theme Cost	Custom design and development of a unique website theme, tailored to specific branding and functionality needs.	$1000 to $50,000+
Custom Development	Specialized coding and integrations to enhance website functionality, often required for complex business systems.	Varies widely; typically $1000+ depending on complexity
Integrations and WordPress Plugin Cost	Custom solutions to integrate website features with existing business systems or unique functionalities.	Varies; potentially significant, especially for complex systems

When considering how much WordPress costs, it’s important to look at both initial setup and ongoing expenses. WordPress pricing can vary widely depending on your needs, including hosting, themes, plugins, and maintenance.

For static page creation or uncomplicated individual sites, the complimentary version of WordPress is ideal. But for businesses that need highly interactive, eye-catching websites that make an immediate impact on customers and clients, there is a cost to build a WordPress site.

Detailed navigation, feature-rich landing pages, customization, and/or e-commerce options are just some of the key website elements that are needed when trying to impress visitors.

Since these details take time and increased expertise, many wonder what WordPress website pricing is. The truth is, even using a free platform like WordPress can get complex and costly.

However, there are clear-cut costs that are easy to plan for and, from there, you can decide on an affordable budget for building out the more intricate elements of your website. For the more in-depth development responsibilities, you might want to hire remote developers (we’ll talk more about that later).

The cost to make a WordPress website depends on the specific needs of the site. A basic WordPress site cost can be very economical, but a custom WordPress website cost can end up being higher than many people think. That’s why it’s key to understand your goals and requirements.

Ongoing monthly costs should be considered, including hosting, plugin subscriptions, and domain renewal fees.

When you choose to outsource app development and/or website development, coding experts can help you answer some important questions during the discovery process, such as:

• How many content pages are needed?
• How much web traffic is expected?
• Are eCommerce options needed?
• What functions and features are your top priority?
• What is the budget for reaching these goals?

To set up a WordPress website, you will need to install WordPress on your hosting account and then install plugins to extend your site’s functionality. After you have installed WordPress, you can choose between free and paid versions of themes and plugins, depending on your requirements.

It’s also important to consider your website’s security, as investing in security features or plugins may add to your total costs.

How Much Does it Cost to Make a WordPress Website?

Once the discovery questions are answered and some additional research is conducted, figuring out the cost of building a website with WordPress is much easier.

Starting small and scaling is always an option, or you can choose to find developers for startup, small, medium, or larger businesses through staff augmentation.

For a small business website, the typical cost range can vary from a few hundred to several thousand dollars, depending on features like custom domains, advanced design, and security measures that a small business may require. Whatever your plan, the price for a WordPress website can vary greatly.

When considering website building, it’s important to choose a memorable website address, as this will help with branding and make it easier for users to find your site.

Hiring professionals can also impact your costs. A WordPress developer or web developer can help create and customize your site, ensuring optimal performance and security.

If you need a more tailored solution, a web design agency or WordPress development company can build a custom website to meet your specific needs, though this typically comes at a higher price point.

However, there are some essential WordPress website development price you can prepare for and some costs that are more optional, depending on the long-term goals of the website. A professional website can significantly enhance your credibility and branding, helping your business stand out online.

Essential WordPress Website Development Charges

The cost of basic WordPress software (available for download at WordPress.org) costs zero dollars. For individuals, bloggers and some small businesses looking to dabble in the online world, this is great news.

However, the overall cost of a WordPress site depends on several factors, including the use of a premium theme, a standard custom WordPress theme, or fully custom themes, each offering different levels of design, support, and flexibility. Creating custom themes or choosing to create custom themes can help achieve unique branding and advanced functionality.

Once a website is built and ready to go live, there are two costs that are essential: securing a domain name and hosting the website. The domain name serves as your website’s address on the internet, making it easy for users to find and access your site.

When it comes to hosting, options include shared hosting, VPS hosting, and dedicated hosting. VPS hosting provides more control and resources, making it suitable for technically skilled users or growing WordPress sites.

Dedicated hosting is ideal for large, high-traffic, or enterprise-level robust WordPress sites, offering maximum performance and security at a higher price point.

Additionally, the monthly cost of running WordPress sites should be considered, as ongoing expenses for hosting, themes, plugins, and maintenance can vary widely depending on your choices.

Domain Name

Domain names are necessary for all websites and are extremely important. It’s the name within a website URL that visitors see in their browser. The domain name serves as the website’s address, which users type into their browsers to access the site. For example, our website URL is https://procoders.tech/. Https:// is known as the protocol, procoders is the domain name, and .tech is the top-level domain, or TLD.

A domain name is also what pops up in organic listings within search engines like Google, Firefox, or Microsoft Edge. Essentially, it’s the first chance to make a lasting impression, so choose wisely.

The price of a WordPress domain name depends on the provider and the TLD you select, but you can expect to spend at least a few dollars per month, sometimes more.

There are many providers to choose from, some of the most popular being GoDaddy, Bluehost, Domain.com, and Google Domains. TLDs include .com, .org, .tech, .us, .uk, and so on. The TLD selected depends on the core function or purpose of your website.

Cost: $15 to $100 per year

Web Hosting

Think of web hosting as the service that gives your website a home. More specifically, web hosting provides the means for organizations to create and maintain a site, plus make it widely accessible to visitors on the internet.

WordPress offers complimentary hosting services, but you’ll have to use a subdomain. In this type of setup, the domain is part of the WordPress.com domain, which is not recommended since subdomains are often not seen by visitors as proper websites.

It’s better to use an outside web host. There are many inexpensive choices, but remember, you get what you pay for.

For large, complex websites, managed WordPress hosting providers like Kinsta, Flywheel, or WP Engine are the cream of the crop, especially if you’re after high speeds, security, and search engine optimization (SEO). However, if your budget is tight, there are less expensive alternatives such as SiteGround, GreenGeeks, Dreamhost, and many more.

Pricing depends on a number of factors, from website performance, speed, and security, to how much maintenance you want to perform.

At the low end, you can expect to pay $50 a year, but costs can run higher based on what the website needs.

Cost: Starting at $50 per year

Optional Costs to Create a WordPress Site

Getting a basic website up and running requires development, a domain, and hosting. However, getting an amazing, interactive website up and running, or having to export Jimdo to WordPress or another website builder, takes a lot more.

The possibilities are endless, which makes answering how much a WordPress website costs pretty tricky. There are many options available, but here are some potential WordPress website making charges.

Premium Pre-Made Themes

Think of a theme as the design backbone of a website. While there are thousands of themes that are included for free in the cost to run a WordPress site, premium themes are also a great option.

There’s nothing wrong with free themes; they are secure and perfect for extremely tight budgets. Premium themes, however, tend to offer less generic, sleeker designs, making them an excellent choice when you want to convert a PSD design to WordPress.

Cost: $50 to $300

Premium Plugins

Unlike a theme, which you just need one of, you can use endless plugins. Think of a website theme as the house you live in, where plugins are all the decorations you hang on the walls inside to make your home unique. While WordPress offers free plugins, premium plugins are a common custom WordPress site cost.

At its core, a plug-in is a piece of software that furthers the functionality or adds cool features to your WordPress website. Premium plug-ins deliver some much-needed functionality and are worth every penny. Here are some examples of the most popular plugins that are available for purchase.

• WordPress plugins: Yoast SEO improves the overall SEO score of website pages and articles ($89 per year) We can handle it for you through our WordPress SEO services
• JetPack: tools for security, performance, and growth ($49.47 annually)
• Really Simple SSL: safely migrates an entire site to a secure site (starting at $29 a year)
• WPForms: builds forms, surveys, newsletters, and more (starting at $79 a year)
• VaultPress: provides backups, security and SSL certificate, if needed (starting at $99 per year)

Cost: $10 to $400+ (one-time fee or recurring)

Theme Development

From unique design options and customizations to a wider range of integrations and elevated support, professional theme development is a worthy WordPress website development cost for many. This is especially true if you require special company logos, colors, fonts, or other unique branding elements.

Professional theme development offers a lot more range for serious and/or established business owners. This is where you might want to engage an external vendor if you don’t have experience with HTML/CSS or an eye for design.

Remember, if you do opt for a custom theme, make sure you are supported by the expertise of developers. If you don’t have coding experience, things can get tricky when you need to make updates to the website in the future. Getting support from outsourced coders can help.

Cost: $1000 to $50,000+

Custom Development, Integrations and Plugins

For business owners who are short on time, expertise, and manpower, augmenting your staff with expert developers is a great choice when building a WordPress website.

While this is the most costly way to get a bespoke eCommerce platform up and running, it enables you to select complex design elements, advanced functionalities, and custom integrations, all without having any specific technical experience. If you want to know which eCommerce site features we at ProCoders would recommend you use on your site – check out our article about it!

Most large (and even some small and medium) organizations have to launch websites that offer extensive functionality. These types of companies typically use a plethora of tools and applications, and their website is just one piece of a much larger puzzle. This is where custom integrations and bespoke plugins are key.

It’s crucial that a new website is integrated with current business systems, so data isn’t duplicated, which can cause big problems. For example, a warehouse company might need a custom integration with internal systems and/or software. This complex coding would be crucial in order to share online web orders with back-office fulfillment systems.

Another example would be a business that has various locations or offices that must be represented on multiple websites. While each location could be a page, it’s possible to create a plugin that processes and outputs locations, which would be useful if you decide to transfer Wix to WordPress, for instance. But this requires high technical expertise.

And what if you have a site on another platform and want to, for instance, transfer Weebly to WordPress? You’ll also need a pro developer who knows their plugins and is ready to custom-develop a theme or another element for a new site.

These are just some of the intricate parts of building a website that are often better left to developers. That’s why using outsourced coding experts not only makes building a site easier, but also lessens your WordPress site development cost, especially when compared to hiring developers stateside.

Cost: Variable, depending on developer rates

Rest API for IoT Device Communication

The Internet of Things (IoT) is truly the wave of the future. IoT refers to a system of interconnected electronics that gather and transfer data over a wireless network without help from humans. Across the globe, there are more than 21.5 billion internet-connected devices, and that number grows every day (Statista).

To improve user experience and increase engagement, among other benefits, websites are using IoT. In order to make WordPress capable of communicating with external devices, a REST API plugin is needed to deliver data between endpoints.

For example, with IoT integration, business owners can set up external alarms that ring each time an order comes through their website, or track manage and track helpdesk tickets.

WordPress does offer its WP REST API plugin and WP REST API controller for free. However, REST APIs can be confusing and unless you have technical knowledge, it’s best to seek the support of a developer who is fluent in code.

Cost: Variable, depending on developer rates

Cost Considerations for Different Types of WordPress Websites

When building a WordPress website, it’s important to recognize that costs can vary significantly depending on the type of site you want to create. Whether you’re launching a business website, an ecommerce site, or a personal blog, each project comes with its own set of requirements and associated expenses.

Understanding these differences will help you plan your budget more effectively and ensure you get the most value from your investment in WordPress websites.

For example, a simple blog or portfolio site can often be built with minimal costs, especially if you use free themes and plugins. In contrast, a business website or ecommerce site typically requires more advanced features, custom design, and robust security, all of which can increase the overall cost.

By considering the specific needs of your project, such as the number of pages, required functionalities, and expected traffic, you can make informed decisions about where to allocate your resources when building a WordPress website.

Below, we’ll break down the cost considerations for two of the most common types of WordPress websites: business websites and ecommerce sites.

Building a Business Website: What to Expect

Creating a business website with WordPress is a popular choice for companies of all sizes, thanks to its flexibility and scalability. However, the total cost of building a business website can range widely, typically from $1,000 to $10,000 or more, depending on your specific needs and the level of customization required.

Key expenses to consider include investing in a custom WordPress theme, which can cost anywhere from $500 to $5,000, depending on the complexity and uniqueness of your design.

Premium WordPress plugins are often necessary to add advanced features such as contact forms, booking systems, or enhanced SEO, with costs ranging from $100 to $1,000. Reliable web hosting is essential for business websites, with annual costs typically between $100 and $500, while securing a professional domain name usually adds another $10 to $50 per year.

Ongoing website maintenance and updates are also important to keep your business website secure and running smoothly, with annual costs ranging from $500 to $2,000.

To keep your budget in check, consider starting with a free WordPress theme and only investing in premium plugins as your needs grow. Choosing an affordable web hosting provider and outsourcing custom development to experienced freelancers or agencies can also help you control costs while still achieving a professional result.

Ecommerce Website Considerations: Additional Costs and Features

Launching an ecommerce website with WordPress introduces additional costs and considerations beyond those of a standard business website. Ecommerce sites require specialized features to handle online transactions, product management, and customer data securely, which can increase your overall investment.

One of the primary expenses is the ecommerce plugin itself, such as WooCommerce, which may require premium extensions costing between $100 and $1,000.

Integrating a payment gateway to process transactions securely can add another $100 to $500, depending on the provider and transaction fees. An SSL certificate is essential for protecting customer data and building trust, with annual costs ranging from $50 to $200.

To further enhance website security and protect against threats, investing in a website firewall or security plugin can cost between $100 and $500 per year.

Custom product pages and templates are often necessary to create a seamless shopping experience, with development costs ranging from $500 to $2,000.

To manage your budget, consider starting with a free ecommerce plugin, selecting a payment gateway with competitive fees, and opting for a standard SSL certificate. Prioritizing essential features and scaling up as your ecommerce website grows can help you control costs while still delivering a secure and user-friendly online store.

Ongoing Costs: Maintenance and Updates

After your WordPress website is live, it’s important to factor in the ongoing costs required to keep it secure, up-to-date, and performing at its best. Regular website maintenance ensures that your site remains compatible with the latest WordPress updates, plugins, and themes, while also protecting against security vulnerabilities.

Typical ongoing expenses include website updates and backups, which can range from $100 to $500 per year. Security scans and malware removal services are crucial for safeguarding your site and can cost an additional $100 to $500 annually.

Keeping your plugins and themes updated is essential for both functionality and security, with costs typically between $100 and $500 per year. If you’re investing in content creation and marketing to keep your site fresh and engaging, expect to budget $500 to $2,000 per year.

To simplify maintenance and reduce the risk of issues, many website owners choose managed WordPress hosting.

Managed WordPress hosting providers often include automatic updates, daily backups, and security scans as part of their service, helping you save time and potentially lower your ongoing costs while ensuring your WordPress website remains in top shape.

Marketing and SEO: Budgeting for Growth

Building a WordPress website is just the first step—attracting visitors and growing your online presence requires a dedicated marketing and SEO strategy. Allocating a budget for these efforts is essential if you want your website to rank well in search engines and reach your target audience.

Key marketing and SEO costs include investing in SEO plugins and tools, which can range from $100 to $1,000 per year, depending on the features you need.

Content creation and marketing are vital for engaging your audience and improving your search engine rankings, with typical costs between $500 and $2,000 annually. Social media advertising is another effective way to drive traffic, with budgets often set between $500 and $2,000 per year.

Additionally, using tools like Google Analytics for tracking and analyzing website performance may add another $100 to $500 per year.

To keep marketing and SEO costs manageable, take advantage of free SEO plugins, focus on producing high-quality content, and leverage social media platforms for organic reach and affordable advertising. By planning for these expenses, you can ensure your WordPress website continues to grow and succeed in a competitive online landscape.

Summary of the Cost to Build a WordPress Site

Expense	Cost	How Often
Domain name	$15 to $100	Yearly (often more expensive if billed monthly)
Web hosting	Starting at $50	Yearly (often more expensive if billed monthly)
Premium pre-made themes	$50 to $300	One-time, for each theme
Premium plugins	$10 to $400	One-time or recurring, for each plugin
Theme development	$1000 to $50,000	One-time, for each theme
Custom development, integrations and plugins	Variable	Dependent on developer rates
REST API for IoT device communication	Variable	Dependent on developer rates

How to Save the Cost of Creating a WordPress Website: ProCoders Advice

Now that we have explored the process and prices involved in building a WordPress website, we’re left with two questions: how much should a WordPress website price from start to finish, and how can you save money during the process? The answers aren’t completely cut and dry, but here’s our advice.

Building a WordPress website can range anywhere from super simple to complex. If you choose to stick with the basic, free elements offered by WordPress, your budget will remain low, but your website functionally might too.

The most important first step is to outline what your website needs are, from bandwidth and security to processing speeds, functionalities, customization, and so much more. Engaging in a discovery phase can help answer all these questions.

Starting the discovery phase might feel overwhelming or unnecessary, but it is key to both the short- and long-term success of any website.

Saving money and cutting out expensive WordPress website costs while building a WordPress website is completely possible, especially if you start small and scale.

If you have an extremely limited WordPress website budget, take advantage of the free elements WordPress offers and have a working plan in place to scale at a later date. It is well known that the cost to hire an app developer in Central Europe could be significantly lower than in the US or Western Europe, so you may want to outsource website development.

Consider hiring offshore developers to build your WordPress website to save time and minimize costs.

Overall, the most important thing to remember is that nothing in life is actually free. While WordPress software will cost you nothing, there are a lot of other elements that will play into the success of your website, and those will require some investment. But it’s money well spent.

Successful WordPress project with Procoders

RLM Jobs

RLM Jobs, a specialist driving and industrial recruitment business based in the United Kingdom, was the brainchild of Same Day Courier Network (SDCN), a separate logistics company. The founders of SDCN saw the opportunity to match contract truckers who have openings in their schedule with companies that urgently need drivers for runs.

ProCoders used WordPress to help SDCN build its e-signature enabled platform and create a marketplace for driver education. The outstaffed team from ProCoders developed a custom plugin so that drivers and employers can provide secure e-signatures on applications, hiring documents, and more. The plugin makes it possible to complete forms with multiple fields, so applicants never have to check into an office or go out of their way to turn in paperwork.

How Much Does It Cost to Build a WordPress Site: Conclusion

WordPress is a valuable CMS that can go the distance for any size business that needs to build a website. But figuring out the average cost to build a WordPress website isn’t always easy. The prices vary drastically depending on the goals and needs of the website.

Customization, integrations, and more add up quickly, but these elements are worth the investment in order to attract customers and clients. If you don’t consider yourself technically or design savvy, consider engaging experienced developers from the start, which can save you money in the long run.