How Much Does it Cost to Create a Website in 2025?

In 2025, building a website can cost as little as a few dollars or run into the thousands.

Some entrepreneurs get online quickly using AI tools on a minimal budget. Others invest heavily in custom-built platforms designed for performance and growth.

The final price depends on your goals, the complexity of the site, and your approach.

Are you wondering how much it costs to create a website? This guide breaks down every key website cost so you can plan smarter, spend wisely, and build a site that fits your goals and budget.

How Much Does it Cost to Create a Website?

Creating a website costs from $100 to over $10,000. However, a basic one-page site can cost as little as $100 if you build it yourself.

More complex websites with custom features typically cost $5,000 to $10,000 or more, especially if you hire professional developers and designers.

What Determines the Cost of a Website?

Several factors shape the final price of a website:

• Site purpose and complexity – A basic portfolio or blog is relatively straightforward. A feature-rich e-commerce site or SaaS platform involves more development, integrations, and testing.
• Platform or builder – Your choice of platform, traditional or AI builders, such as WordPress or Codesi, can affect your spending and your level of control.
• Required functionality – Booking systems, payment gateways, member logins, or custom databases add to the workload and cost.
• Design approach – Template-based layouts are more affordable. Custom designs offer a unique brand experience but require more time and expertise.
• Content demands – Content creation can become a significant part of the budget if you need professionally written copy, custom images, or videos.
• Maintenance and support – A website is never truly finished. Regular updates, backups, and technical upkeep contribute to long-term costs.

Breakdown of Website Creation Costs

Here's a clear breakdown of website creation costs across different approaches:

1. Web Hosting

Hosting is the service that stores your website's files on a server and delivers them to visitors. As more businesses move online and eCommerce continues to grow, this rising demand is expected to push the global web hosting market past $320 billion by 2030.

Cost

Shared hosting starts around $2 – $5/month. Depending on performance, VPS or cloud hosting ranges from $20 to $100+. Usually, most small businesses spend $5 – $30/month.

Takeway

Many hosts offer introductory deals. Keep an eye on renewal prices – they often jump after the first term. If you choose a website builder like Codesi, hosting is typically included in the platform's subscription, simplifying your ongoing costs.

2. Design and User Experience

94% of first impressions of a website are design-related, meaning that visual appeal and usability instantly shape users' perceptions of your brand.

Web design covers the look and feel of your site – layout, color scheme, typography, images, and overall user interface.

A well-designed site builds credibility and engages visitors, but design costs can range from free DIY themes to custom graphic work costing thousands.

Cost

You can absolutely build a beautiful site for under $100 using free or low-cost templates. Depending on complexity, custom designs start around $500 and can reach $5,000 or more. Many start small and invest more as their business grows.

Takeaway

Start with what you can afford and upgrade your design as your business grows. Some decide to build decent sites with free themes and DIY logos. Others spend $1,000 – $2,000 on custom design and say it was worth it. Both approaches work.

3. Website Development

Development covers the behind-the-scenes work, including features, integrations, and coding.

Some websites (especially via builders) require little coding, while others need heavy development, which can be a substantial cost driver.

Cost

With a no-code builder like Codesi, you can avoid coding and build your site for free aside from plugins ($10 – $100). Custom coding from freelancers runs $15 – $50/hour, with basic sites costing $1,500 – $5,000. Complex projects with custom features can exceed $10,000.

Takeway

Most sites don't need custom code. Builders and plugins cover things like forms and galleries. Save development costs for features you can't add otherwise.

4. Content Creation

"Content is king - Bill Gates"

Content is what tells your story, from text and images to videos and graphics. You can create it yourself to save money or hire professionals for higher quality.

Content cost breakdown:

1. Writing:

• DIY costs nothing but time.
• Freelancers charge $20 – $45/hour.
• A small site may cost $200 – $800 to outsource.

2. Images and media:

• Stock photo subscriptions: $10 – $50/month.
• Individual images: $5 – $15.
• Custom shoots can cost a few hundred dollars.
• Many use free or phone images when starting.

Bonus tip: Stock images are quick, but they make your site look like everyone else’s. Codesi creates custom visuals that actually reflect your brand - so you stand out, not blend in.

3. Other content:

• Logo design: $100 – $300 or free with DIY tools.
• Video editing and SEO writing may add to the budget.

Takeway

If your content speaks to clients, make it count. Cutting corners here can cost you more in lost trust.

5. E-Commerce Features

If you plan to sell products or services online, you'll need e-commerce functionality.

This includes a shopping cart system, product pages, payment processing, inventory management, and transaction security measures.

Cost

E-commerce plans start at $20 – $30/month. Add-ons, payment fees, and advanced features can increase costs. Free tools exist, but extras like hosting and plugins add up.

Takeaway

Start with the basic e-commerce package and only pay for extras as needed. Many successful small shops launch with a simple template and minimal apps – you can always scale up features once you have revenue.

6. SEO and Marketing Costs

Studies show that 91.5% of users never click beyond the first page of Google results. No matter how well-designed your website is, it won't deliver results if your audience can't find it.

Search engine optimization (SEO) ensures your site can be found on Google, and broader marketing (like social media or paid ads) drives traffic.

While marketing isn't exactly a website creation cost, it's an essential ongoing investment for your site's success.

Cost

SEO can be free if you do it yourself using tools like Google Search Console and SEO plugins. Hiring a freelancer or agency typically costs $500 – $1,000+ per month. Paid tools range from $50 to $150/month, but many use free options.

Takeway

Start with free marketing channels:

• List your business on Google.
• Share your site on social media.
• Spread the word through friends, customers, and the community.

7. Ongoing Maintenance

Launching your website is just the beginning.

Ongoing maintenance includes tasks like renewing your domain and hosting, updating software or plugins, monitoring security, refreshing content, and handling technical issues as they arise.

Maintenance cost breakdown:

1. Hosted platforms (like Codesi):

• Maintenance is included in your subscription
• Ongoing costs usually cover plan renewal and domain (typically under $100/year)

2. Self-hosted sites (like WordPress):

• Hosting: $50 – $150/year
• Domain renewal: $10 – $20/year
• Premium plugins or security tools: $0 – $100/year
• Total: Around $100 – $300/year for most small sites

3. Agency maintenance contracts:

• Range from $50 to $500+ per month
• May include updates, backups, support, and content changes

Takeaway

To simplify things, use platforms that include maintenance in their subscription, saving you time and hassle. For self-hosted sites, set aside time monthly for updates, backups, and security checks to avoid bigger issues later.

Which Website Building Method Is Right for You?

By now, it's clear that your total website cost will depend on what you need and how you build it.

Let's compare four common approaches to creating a website, and how they stack up in terms of cost for startups and small businesses:

• AI-Powered Website Builders: A newer and increasingly popular option where artificial intelligence tools (like Codesi) generate and even design the site for you. This approach promises speed and affordability by automating much of the work.
• DIY (Do-It-Yourself): You build the site yourself using either a website builder platform or a content management system. This saves money but costs you time.
• Freelancers: You hire an independent web developer/designer (or a small team) to build the site, often via platforms like Upwork or local contacts. Costs are mid-range and flexible.
• Web Agencies: You pay a professional agency to handle everything. It is the easiest option, but typically the most expensive.

How Much Does It Cost to Create a Website with Codesi?

Codesi is an all-in-one AI website builder designed for entrepreneurs, personal brands, and small businesses that want a professional online presence without the high cost or long wait times.

You can go from idea to live website in under 5 minutes.

So, how much does it cost to create a website with Codesi?

You can choose between a free plan with limited generations or a paid plan with more features and flexibility.

Free plan includes:

• 5 free website generations (on Codesi's subdomain)
• 20 free logo creations
• 10 free AI images and downloads

Paid options:

• Starts at $5 for 5 generations, up to $35 for 50 generations
• If you want to publish your site on your own domain or keep multiple sites live on Codesi's subdomain, hosting starts at $20/month

What you get with Codesi:

Unlike typical DIY platforms or expensive agency solutions, Codesi brings everything under one roof:

• Instant AI Website Builder: Simply describe your business, and Codesi generates a ready-to-edit landing page - complete with sections, copy, and layout. You can customize colors, fonts, and visuals in minutes.
• Smart Logo Generator: Instantly create unique, editable logo options based on your brand input, perfect for businesses starting from scratch.
• AI Image Creator: Generate on-brand visuals and graphics using simple text prompts, saving time and design costs.
• Built-in Hosting & SSL: Secure, fast, and reliable hosting is included in all plans; there is no need to purchase anything separately.
• Customizable Templates: Clean, high-performing layouts tailored to your industry and optimized for conversions.
• Analytics Integration: Easily connect Google Analytics to monitor performance and make data-driven improvements.
• Ongoing Support: Get help when needed, without paying extra for a developer or third-party service.

Ready to launch a website, without the hassle or high cost?

Try Codesi today and see how fast, affordable, and easy website creation can be.